2. Colorado Canyon: Rancherias Canyon to Lajitas (21 miles)

Like all of the canyons of the Rio Grande, Colorado Canyon and Dark Canyon are incredibly scenic.  Because this section of the river has good access (via FM 170, which follows the river for most of the route), it is popular for day trips.  This section is beginner-friendly at low levels (< 1000 cfs), and rafts can run it down to about 200 cfs without much difficulty.  Lower levels than that require a hard boat.  This section gets pushy at high levels (thousands of cfs) but doesn't really get any more technically difficult, and many of the named rapids wash out at high levels.  It is not generally runnable below 100 cfs. Many of the named rapids may require some maneuvering by canoeists, particularly when the river is relatively low and channelized.  However, whitewater paddlers will probably find them to be straightforward. All of the river access points are on river left (Texas side.) This section is entirely within _Big Bend Ranch State Park_ and requires a permit obtainable in Lajitas or at Fort Leaton.  The state and national parks require anyone on a river trip to wear their PFD's through named rapids. NOTE:  There is a high incidence of vehicle theft along the Mexican border.  For this reason, and simply because it makes the trip logistics much easier, many paddlers choose to pay one of the river outfitters in Terlingua to run shuttle for them. Distances and gradient measured using GIS tools in 2015.