Southwest Expeditions Rafting & Kayaking

Every Summer, during river season, when the Rio Grande is flowing, we set up at Calle Del Norte Bridge at Mesilla.

The bridge is located at the Rio Grande, across from the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park

You don't have to drive 2 hours to Elephant Butte just to play in the water!

Just park in the large dirt lot next to the river and come over to the Southwest Expeditions tent to check in.

We open on river at 8:00 am until 5:00 pm, Saturday & Sunday 

We offer 3.5 mile tube floats using very comfortable, commercial grade floats with cup holders.

 Included in your rental rate is a life jacket/tube/and transportation up the river to the put in. You float back down to your vehicle. The fun, relaxing float takes 2 hours to complete. We also rent ice chest cooler floats so you can bring your cooler with you!

Saturdays and Sundays; No reservations needed, no minimums of persons needed.

Monday through Friday, reservations needed, minimum of 4 in your group needed.

Rental Rates

• 2 hour /3.5 mile float with life jacket/tube/shuttle to put in; $25.00 per person
• Cooler floater mid size/ $5.00
• Cooler floater large size/$10.00

Needed information to rent floats;

• I.D. card, we keep at tent in file until you return 
• Signed release
• Credit card info on file at tent until you return.
• No infants allowed in any of our rental boats for safety concerns.
• Please call us for any questions

Fun Kayak Paddles on different stretches of the Rio Grande during the summer season!

At our base camp on the river at Calle Del Norte Bridge, near historic Mesilla, we set up every Saturday & Sunday starting at 7:30AM. 

No reservations needed on weekends, just call us to let us know you are coming out to do the kayak run, as we start these paddles before the tube floats.

All rentals include; kayak/ paddle/ life jacket/shuttle to put in.

 We offer you a great 9 mile/ 3 hour kayak paddle we call Salem River Run. $35.00 per person, on the weekends.

We offer different stretches of river to paddle during the week, Monday Through Friday as well. Reservations are required for these paddles, minimum of 4 persons in your group. 

• Billy the Kid Paddle/ 4 mile/2 hour/$40 per person
• Salem River Run/ 9 mile/3 hour/$45.00 per person
• Geronimo's Revenge/20 mile /6 hour/$55.00 per person

Do you want to kayak or canoe but need a little instruction before you take a paddle trip or tour?

Southwest Expeditions offers kayak & canoe paddling instructions for lakes & rivers.

We will have some group classes listed in our "events" section on this website, where you can sign up with other persons to have a  group class instruction on the lake and/or river.

We can also offer you a private lesson during the week, by reservation subject to availability. 

The classes will go over:

• Pre-planning your trip
• What to bring/ dress for the conditions
• Checking the weather/reading the sky
• Reading the water
• Types of kayaks
• Basic paddling strokes
• How to recover from a turnover
• How to tie down/secure boat to your vehicle

Class time: 5-6 hour, depending on location

Call 877-808-6877 for pricing/ minimum person required/4

Season: Spring 

We can take your group of 8-10 up to Pillar, NM for the weekend for some great class 3-4 white water rafting.

 We leave early Saturday morning, (5 am) from Las Cruces, have breakfast in TorC, drive to Pillar and arrive by 11:00 am.

 We suit out in dry-water gear and head down river on 8 man rafts. 

Exhilarating river run of about 4 miles! 

We have a snack on river, then drive up the scenic back road to Ojo Caliente, a 4 star hot thermal springs resort for some relaxing hot soaks and dinner. We will stay at either the resort or a nearby beautiful ranch, depending on room availability.

 In the morning after breakfast, we will have a chance for another soak and then we head to Santa Fe for a 2 hour shopping break at the Plaza followed by a hearty lunch on the Plaza. We will load up and return to Las Cruces by around 8:00PM Sunday evening.

Minimum persons required for tour, 8-10 persons.

Call for pricing and exact itinerary based on your tour preferences and room availability.

877-808-6877 

A beautiful remote stretch of the Rio Grande! 

This 9 mile, guided river paddle takes you through a remote area of the river, along a steep canyon wall at Seldon Canyon, 

 Because the cell phones don't work in this area, and access is limited, you will be accompanied by one of our river guides to make sure you get through safely. 

Options include box lunch, hot grilled lunch, or if open, a hot springs thermal soak!

Minimum of 4 persons needed to book your group.

Call for booking information and final cost depending on group size and options.

877-808-6877

 Available during river season, weekdays from Monday through Friday by reservation. Minimum of 4 persons in your group needed to book this river paddle.

A relaxing  fun river paddle of approx. 4 hours.

Ticket price includes:

• Kayak (tandems available)
• Paddle
• Shuttle transportation up and back
• Life jacket
• Cost per ticket $ 48.00 per person (Plus tax)
• Kayak Paddle tour needs to be paddled starting in the morning.