The Pecos River forms in Mora County, New Mexico, then begins a journey of about 500 miles to its confluence with the Rio Grande at International Amistad Reservoir on the Mexico border near Langtry, the famous home and location of the courtroom/saloon of Judge Roy Bean, "The Law West of the Pecos". Of its total length, about 350 miles flows through the rugged Chihuahuan desert of West Texas, where there is very little to suggest civilization ever set foot here. In Texas, the river flows from Red Bluff Reservoir in Loving and Reeves Counties near Orla in a southeasterly direction through semi-arid scrublands where riverbank vegetation runs the gammit from none to small brush to dense stands of saltcedar (Tamarisk) trees. Below Pandale, the river cuts its way through gorgeous canyons with walls rising hundreds of feet above the riverbed.
The middle section of the navigable part of the Pecos River is a journey through undeveloped native ranchland with no commercial building or civilization to be found for miles around in any direction. Located in Pecos, Terrell, Crockett, and Val Verde Counties, this 64 mile section of the Pecos River cuts through some of the wildest and most rugged landscape to be found in Texas. As the river and its tributary creeks and streams cut through the rolling terrain deep canyons are formed. The top part of this section usually is too low to paddle except after heavy local rainfall. However, recreational paddling and camping can usually be done from the point where Independence Creek joins the Pecos on down to Pandale Crossing, the end of this section. During periods of heavy rainfall flash floods will inundate Pecos Canyon and its side canyons. Many rapids are found along this section, particularly at the mouths of side canyons where boulders have been washed out into the main river channel during heavy floods.
The Pecos River flows through Pecos, Terrell, Crockett, and Val Verde Counties (in Texas) to the confluence of the Rio Grande above Lake Amistad in the Texas Chihuahuan desert, ending about 20 miles west of Comstock. There is absolutely NOTHING near this reach of the river except desert and its inhabitants.
Del Rio 190 miles (from the take-out); Midland 150 miles; Odessa 125 miles; Dallas 475 miles; Fort Worth 445 miles; Austin 300 miles; San Antonio 290 miles; Houston 490 miles; Oklahoma City 685 miles (all distances are approximate and depend upon starting point, destination to the put-in at the river and route taken.)
Good most of the time, flowing over solid rock. The flow is usually adequate for river trips except during prolonged droughts or low water conditions. This section usually needs recent local rainfall to paddle, then watch out for flash flooding, as the river can rise to dangerous levels very quickly.
Spring to early summer and late fall through winter are usually the best times for adequate water, though that can vary from season to season and year to year according to local rainfall amounts and pollution levels.
The biggest hazards on this section of the river are the hot weather, hot sun and long distance between access points. There are no significant rapids or other major hazards to be encountered on this stretch of the Pecos River, though there are many small Class I-II rapids from the outwashes of boulders in the side canyons.
US Highway 290 crossing about 4 miles east of Sheffield at 0.0 miles; County road crossing off US 290 about 14 miles southeast of Sheffield at 13.0 miles; Private camp at the mouth of Independence Creek (access to the river is available at this point for a fee. Facilities for camping are also available) at 24.0 miles; Pandale Crossing on FM 2083, 4 miles south of Pandale at 64.0 miles.
Two privately-owned and operated camps are on this section of the Pecos River, though their exact locations are not known. There are numerous natural primitive campsites along the river, though most are on private property. Access to them from off the river is difficult, at best, but be sure to be a good neighbor and pack out everything you take in with you, and a little more just to keep the river clean and neat for other paddlers and the animals that live there. There are no public or private commercial campgrounds along this section of the Pecos River.
There is at least one commercial shuttle service in Comstock offering assistance on the Lower Pecos River area.
This section of the Pecos River is where the big canyons start to develop. The surrounding area is rugged and very scenic. Among the wildlife in the area are armadillos, raccoons, squirrels, rattlesnakes, tarantulas and many birds of prey. The rapids are very fun, but not too terribly challenging for experienced river runners (and you should not even be here unless you are capable of handling the rapids as well as the natural environment!) Several historical sites and state historical parks are nearby for those wanting more than just a river expeditionary trip with many side canyons to explore and photograph.
Take lots of film and a good camera in a waterproof, shock-resistent case. There are great photo opportunities everywhere, including Indian pictographs dating back more than 4,000 years on cave walls all along the way. Please do not deface the natural topography or pictographs and do not remove any artifacts or antiquities from the area under penalty of law and because not doing so is the proper thing to do out of respect for nature and the cultures and histories of those who were here 5,000+ years ago. This is an ideal trip for serious river runners who are properly experienced, outfitted and who have made careful trip planning a part of their preparations.
