River report for the second week of July

July 15, 2010 – 11:51 am

As we move toward the “Dog Days” of summer, both the river and our outstanding Kokopelli guides will be pleasantly refreshing! We are currently booking half-day, full-day, and multi-day trips in New Mexico and Colorado.

It is a great time of year to run our Rio Chama day trip on Saturdays and Sundays. Normal weekend water levels on the Rio Chama between El Vado and Abiquiu lakes will afford passengers a breathtaking trip through the landscape that inspired artist Georgia O’Keefe.

We are running the popular 1/2-day Racecourse section of river every day! It is flowing at 371 cubic feet per second, which means it is a great time to “surf” some of the rapids. This fun, splashy, and somewhat technical trip is an excellent one for families, first-timers, and rafting veterans alike. Families with young children can enjoy wildlife and the serene setting of our 1/2-day Rio Grande Float trip, where we often spot river otters. Or, combine the Rio Grande Float trip with the Racecourse and a picnic lunch in our full-day Lower Gorge trip. For added excitement and a “personal whitewater experience”, paddle either of these sections in an inflatable kayak (for ages 16 and older)!

Also available on the Rio Grande is the secluded Whiterock Canyon section of river, which runs between Santa Fe and Cochiti lake. A trip in this extraordinary canyon will satisfy any adventurer with its winning combination of archeology, secluded wilderness, hiking opportunities, and the fun rapids at Ancho and Water Canyon.

Kokopelli also provides guided hiking and biking tours in the Santa Fe area. We also raft just four hours north on the Arkansas River in Colorado, where the water and fun are always big.

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Colorado Rafting on the Arkansas River

June 27, 2010 – 5:30 pm

No complaints here.  Rafting on the Arkansas remains amazing as flows are staying in the medium- high Range.  Great fun with big waves is to be had on Brown’s Canyon and lots of exciting steep rafting through the Numbers.  These levels are great for adventurous first timers and experienced rafters alike. If you haven’t tried America’s most popular raft trip, Brown’s Canyon, Now is the time! Salida is such a great town to visit and offers a great weekend getaway.

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Summer New Mexico Rafting Update

June 27, 2010 – 5:23 pm

It is officially the summer season, and nothing beats a summer day spent on the river!

The Racecourse is one of the best sections of river to run this time of year. This popular half-day trip has water levels of around 575 cubic feet per second. It is an excellent trip for families, first-timers, and rafting veterans alike. Adults (ages 16 and older) can opt for added adventure and paddle the Racecourse in an inflatable kayak.

Rio Grande Kayaking

Inflatable Kayak Trip

Families with young children can look for river otters and other wildlife in the serene setting of our half-day Rio Grande Float trip. Or, raft both the Rio Grande Float and the Racecourse in our full-day Lower Gorge trip.

Also available on the Rio Grande is the secluded Whiterock Canyon section of river, which runs between Santa Fe and Cochiti lake. With 1450 cubic feet per second, the rapids at Ancho and Water Canyon will be fun! A day in the archeologically-rich Whiterock canyon will enhance your knowledge of the ancient history of New Mexico.

Normal weekend water levels on the Rio Chama between El Vado and Abiquiu lakes will afford passengers a breathtaking trip through the landscape that inspired artist Georgia O’Keeffe. So, if you’re looking for a great trip on Saturdays or Sundays, this is the best!

Water levels on the Taos Box are no longer adequate for rafting. However, thrill-seekers will find adventure in paddling the Racecourse in an inflatable kayak, or in rafting the Arkansas River just four hours north in Colorado, where the water and fun are always big.

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New Mexico and Colorado weekly river report!

June 6, 2010 – 4:08 pm

This is Kokopelli Rafting Adventures with your first weekly river report for the weekend of June 5th and 6th. Summer temperatures are here and the snowmelt makes for wild days on the river!

Levels on the Rio Grande are medium-high. Just 1 hour north on the Rio Grande Racecourse section of river in Pilar, the river has flows of over 1,500 cubic feet per second. This means big, fun splashes and great photos at Souse hole. Families with young children can float on the calm water through the Orilla Verde Park and watch for birds, river otters, and other wildlife.

The challenging class IV Taos Box is maintaining exciting flows with 1,300 cubic feet per second.

Whiterock Canyon on the Rio Grande between Santa Fe and Cochiti Lake has 3,330 cfs. This is a great level for this beautiful and archeologically-rich trip, which has fun rapids at Ancho and Water Canyon.

The Rio Chama between El Vado and Abiquiu lakes will have normal weekend water levels and extraordinary scenery.

Up North in Colorado, the Rivers are going off!!!  The Arkansas River through Browns Canyon in over 4,000 cfs.  At this level, Browns Canyon is a serious Class IV run with Amazing Waves and Holes.  No kids allowed at these levels on Browns, but there are plenty of other areas to raft with the whole family.

If you would like a trip on any of these sections, please call us at 505-983-3734 for details. Hope to see you on the river!

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Memorial Day Weekend Rafting in New Mexico and Colorado

May 24, 2010 – 7:46 pm

Rafting Season is in full swing! Kokopelli Rafting is now operating on all four rivers in New Mexico and Colorado! Already hundreds have enjoyed rafting the beautiful and exciting Taos Box! The wildlife sighting has been amazing, and there are more and more bighorn sheep each year. Get out there and enjoy this wilderness canyon.

Once again our Taos Box.
spaces are selling out for the Memorial Day weekend. Call to reserve for Sunday or Monday May 30th or 31st! The Taos Box is running at a great level for beauty and excitement. The wildlife has been prolific, and the good times plentifull. Come and see why this is New Mexico’s premier Rafting trip.

The water levels on the Arkansas River through Browns Canyon and the Numbers have been rising. It’s time to get out there and Raft! Run-off season is early June so make your reservations now. Come out and see why Browns Canyon is America’s favorite Rafting Trip!

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Mothers Day Race, Pilar NM

May 10, 2010 – 3:03 pm

Yesterday was Mothers Day. Here in New Mexico we have a funny way of celebrating mothers day. That is by competing in or attending the annual mothers day race on the “racecourse” section of the Rio Grande. The mothers day race is the 2nd oldest american whitewater race. It was originally started by a boy scout group out of Los Alamos, NM, and was more recently sponsored by the Adobe whitewater Club in Albuquerque. Last year the adobe whitewater stopped runnoing the race, and it was picked up by the New Mexico River Outfitters Association. This year the tradition was carried on my a wild downriver race. Each of the New Mexico Rafting Companies Participating entered one or two rafts in thes race. We began with a mass start at 5 pm at the County Line River Access in Pilar, NM. The first of the teams finished in 38 minutes. Not bad considering the wind. Congratulations to Known World Guides for the spectacular performance. The race concluded with a BBQ and good times were had by all.

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Early season rafting the Taos Box, New Mexico

April 25, 2010 – 1:43 pm

We spent yesterday rafting the Taos Box for the first time this season.  The weather had us concerned, but in the end it was a beautiful day.  The river was running around 1500 cfs  up there, which is a very forgiving level with lots of great waves.  It also makes for a great trip time.  We left Santa Fe at around 8am and got back at 3:45pm.  The solitude of early season rafting trips in New Mexico is unmatched.  We did not see any other people or boats while we rafted the river.  We saw the bighorns around lunch time.  The leaves haven’t started yet on the hackberry trees.  All in all it was a beautiful day of rafting in New Mexico.

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Rafting Time is Here!

April 22, 2010 – 5:27 pm

It’s that time again and we’re boating on the Rio Grande and Rio Chama. We’ve been out on the Racecourse this week and the levels are great. This weekend we are headed up to run the Taos Box. Levels are at a medium to medium high for now and the rapids are amazing.

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