Rio Grande in Colorado’s San Luis Valley Exploratory Trip: Sat., May 10 through Sun., May 11, 2025

Please join RMCC’s first trip exploring the Rio Grande south of Alamosa in the San Luis Valley. This Class I+ excursion involves two days and one night on the river, floating past a wildlife area and wetlands where we may see birds, traveling through interesting geology, and enjoying second-day afternoon hikes. Each river day will involve about 7 miles of paddling.

I rate these river sections as Class I+ because I haven’t done either of them, but locals say that the paddling is straight-forward if you can maneuver around sand bars, fallen cottonwoods, etc. Locals (and state data) also say mid-May is the best time to canoe here. Flexibility and a good attitude are required on all club trips, but especially on Exploratory trips.  River experience and some canoe camping experience are encouraged.  

Prepare to camp on the river, bringing adequate drinking water (we’ll be downstream of farms). We’ll bring one of the club’s groovers.  The water likely will be cold so wear appropriate clothing, too. Life vests/PDFs are mandatory when we’re on the water but I don’t foresee needing helmets. Camp will be somewhat sheltered from the Valley’s afternoon winds since the Rio cuts a deep groove into ancient sand beds, but prepare your tent set-up for gusts.

Day 1: Be ready to shuttle at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 10. The first put-in is off Road Z on the river’s west side. We’ll shuttle most of the vehicles to the last take-out at Road G, again on the Rio’s west side. On this day we’ll float past wetlands where birds shelter and meet the Conejos River confluence.

We’ll camp near the bridge on CO Highway 142.

Day 2: Be ready to paddle by 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 11, to allow time for afternoon hikes including Great Sand Dunes National Park. On this day, we’ll drift past the San Luis Hills Wilderness Study Area and discuss more geologic features.

General Driving directions (detailed directions will be shared later): Using a map or an app, find Alamosa in south-central Colorado. This college town is about a 3.5-hour drive from metro Denver along I-25 and U.S. 160. If coming from the west, take either US 160 or US 285.

This trip is an ACA event, so ACA membership or a one time $10 event fee is required, as is an ACA waiver.

Contact Trip Coordinator, Penelope Purdy, to sign up. p2purdy@msn.com