Water Sports And Other Recreational Activities

By Staff
Waterhead™ Watersports
November 1, 2011

The San Juan Mountains located in southern Colorado are home to the headwaters of the 5th longest river in Mexico and the United States according to the International Boundary and Water Commission. The river is 1,885 miles long or 3,000 km long. It provides a natural international boundary between the US and Mexico for some 1,200 miles. The river has a rich basin comprising of gorges & mountains in its upper reaches, Big Bend National Park diverse biota, deserts of El Paso and some splendid barrier islands near the Gulf of Mexico.

The river runs through the Rio Grande gorge which is an 800 chasm in the wild and beautiful northern part of New Mexico. The Red river and the Rio Grande were among the privileged group of eight rivers that were designated to be under the National Wild and Scenic River System by Congress in 1968 so as to safeguard their outstanding beauty and natural resources. The Bureau of Land Reclamation (BLM) which is under the US Department of the Interior set up two recreation areas which provide numerous recreation activities and water sports. The two recreation areas are:

•Wild Rivers Recreation Area.

•Orilla Verde Recreation Area.

The Rio Grande River is an excellent natural feature that offers the following recreation activities:

•Horseback riding.

•Wildlife viewing.

•Hot air ballooning.

•Picnicking.

•Backpacking/hiking.

•Fishing.

•White water rafting.

•Camping.

•Boating.

•Biking.

Fishing is a favorite pastime for many backpackers, picnickers and hikers. Rio Grande River is ideal for fishing during the June to October season according to the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII). The pre runoff season is ideal for fishing trout. The runoff season can be pretty swollen, but the river still provides a fertile and safe trout fishing grounds. Some of the most common fish species in the Rio Grande River include the brown trout which is quite large, the Brook trout which is common in the Rio’s head waters and the Rio Grande cutthroat. During winter, the river usually freezes up in the Rocky Mountains.

Boating is another exciting recreational activity that can be undertaken along the Rio Grande. There are put in sites where all boaters are required to register by the BLM before they hit the waters. This is just for precautionary measures as there are no fees charged for boating. The river is divided into several classes for purposes of boating. The upper and lower parts of the Rio Grande gorge are divided into nine segments which have Class II through to Class V rapids. The upper gorge is characterized by the following rapids:

•The Taos Box rapid which is classified under Class III-V and is 15 miles long.

•The upper box rapid which is classified under Class V and is 6.5 miles long.

•The Ute Mountain run which is classified under Class II and is 24 miles long.

It takes approximately 6-8 hours to navigate this stretch which includes sightseeing and lunch stops. These three sights offer the best white water rafting sights in New Mexico as well as one of the most scenic Rio Grande River gorge sections. The lower section offers Racecourse stretch which is an excellent five mile long expanse of white water. This is the stretch to visit for anyone looking for an exciting boat ride devoid of the demands of the Taos box. The United States Geographical Survey (USGS) Water Resource Division of New Mexico in conjunction with BLM recommends a boating duration of no more than 6 hours due to the unpredictable nature of the Rio Grande’s river levels of flow.      

The rapid changes in the weather conditions of New Mexico are to blame for its ever changing river classification due to its susceptibility to flash floods. Below are some important safety tips for white water river rafters and boating enthusiasts while in the river.

•Alert close family and friends of your intentions and where to call for help just in case you don’t return.

•Avoid boating alone and ensure your white water rafting skills are equal to the task.

•Always don a US Coast Guard approved lifejacket type III-V when near or in the river.

•Be ready for the rapid changes in New Mexico’s weather conditions and wear appropriately. Heat exhaustion and hypothermia are a possibility.

•Rafters are advised to don helmets whenever they are rafting in anything over class IV water. Canoeists and kayakers are required to have their helmets on at all times.

•It is important to recognize river hazards as well as their standard reaction procedures. Typical river hazards include wrap rocks, holes, undercut walls and boulders, horizon lines and rock sieves.

The above safety tips are critical for anyone who desires to go paddling, canoeing or kayaking in the Rio Grande River. According to the United States Canoeing Association (USCA), 62 percent of all accidents that occur in water bodies are as a result of water sports enthusiasts assuming that they know a certain water body well enough to engage in their favorite pastimes without the requisite safety equipment.   This complacency has resulted in avoidable water accidents through the years.

The following safety equipment should be close at hand for anyone who wishes to go canoeing, kayaking, boating or whitewater rafting in the Rio Grande river gorge:

•The Personal Flotation Device is top on the list. As mentioned earlier, the recommended PFD is the US Coast Guard approved lifejacket type III-V.

•Second in line is the helmet or hat.

•Proved footwear such as closed toe shoes, booties and neoprene socks during cold weather and water shoes.

•A water bottle irrespective of the time you intend to spend in the water. This will protect you against dehydration.

• A paddling whistle or an air horn is extremely handy during emergencies. It is practically impossible to yell and be heard in the New Mexico river canyons. Cell phones do not work in these chasms.

•A rope throw bag for pulling a swimmer to safety as well as another canoe or kayak.
 
•A paddling knife which is attached to your PFD for numerous tasks especially when handling the ropes.
 
•Dry bag that contain an form of ID, first aid kit, food, dry shirt, map, towel and 2 way radio.
 
•Sun protection in the form of sunscreens, sunglasses and lip balm which should be applied even on cold days. The sun can have serious damaging effects on the body even while out in the water kayaking or rafting.
Recreational activities involving boating require a permit from the park rangers especially for night excursions. The National Park Service (NPS) prohibits the use of motorized watercraft using gas on the following Rio Grande River sections:
• Boquillas canyon.
• Santa Elena canyon.

On the Mariscal Canyon which is also a part of the Rio Grande river canyon, use of the same is prohibited all year round except during October. Water skiing happens to be the only major water sports that prohibited in Rio Grande River.

Hot air ballooning, horseback riding, biking and hiking are some of the recreational activities available in New Mexico’s Rio Grande river gorge for those who prefer to stay on dry land. They are excellent ways of exploring the vast river gorge in all its glory. The Bureau of Land Management has made outdoor recreational spots easy to access in the gorge. You can picnic and view wildlife as you explore the numerous archaeological sites. The wild Rivers and Orilla Recreation Areas offer excellent grounds for camping and hiking.

The chasm offers unparalleled scenic beauty which can be viewed from the Wild Rivers Backcountry Byway located in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area. This impressive roadway winds its way along the rim of the chasm with several highly impressive overlooks. The confluence of the Rio Grande and Red Rivers offer a particularly outstanding and dizzying view of nature at its best at the La Junta overlook which is located along the roadway.

Another mesmerizing overlook- the Taos Valley Overlook located in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area offers an awe-inspiring view of the top part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Rio Grande River gorge. Other attractions worth mentioning in the Orilla Verde area include the primeval archaeological sites and the spectacular petroglyphs. Lovers of architecture get an additional bonus in the form of the Rio Grande Bridge which is an impressive architectural masterpiece testament to the engineering prowess of the engineers behind the project. This breathtaking bridge is an impressive 500 foot long engineering masterpiece straddling the gorge like an enormous colossus. It has wide sidewalks for pedestrians and proudly occupies the number two position in the United States among other Cantilever truss bridges.      

The bridge presents an ideal spot for dare devil bungee jumpers who thrust their bodies under free fall 650 feet to touch the glistening waters of the Rio Grande river below with their scalps. Rafters and kayakers can be seen far below as they battle the Rio Grande’s waters; a true contest between man and nature that is bound to raise your adrenaline level.

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