Canoe, Kayak and Gear Rentals
"Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." - Kenneth Grahame
Thinking about arranging your own private trip down the Rio Grande? Let the Far Flung Outdoor Center put its 30+ years of experience to work for you! Here are the Far Flung five easy steps to make your private adventure more enjoyable!
Step 1 - Pre-trip Planning ( resources)
Step 2 - Renting Your Equipment (prices)
Step 3 - Planning Your Shuttle (prices)
Step 4 - Fees and Permits (prices)
Step 5 - Making Your Reservation (deposit and cancellation policy)
Step 1 - Pre-trip Planning
Because the Rio Grande through the Big Bend country offers so many choices, it is always helpful to do a little research prior to booking your reservation. Click here for FFOC's pre-trip checklist, which is a great tool in planning your river adventure! Other resources that might be of help:
Big Bend National Park (lots of great information!)
Big Bend Natural History Association (good books and maps)
Southwest Paddler (good narratives about the Rio Grande)
Far Flung River Mileage Chart (river section distances)
Far Flung Shuttle Mileage Chart (driving distances and times)
Have questions about which river section to run? Call us at 800-839-7238 or email our friendly adventure reps at [email protected].
Step 2 - Renting Your Equipment
Canoes, Kayaks and Gear - we offer professional, commercial grade canoes and inflatable kayaks as well as a variety of river equipment such as toilet systems, fire pans, first aid kits, waterproof bags, tents, etc.
For a printable PDF file of our suggested equipment list, click here.
| Canoes and Kayaks |
Rates |
Comments |
| Canoes (Old Town tandems) |
$49/day |
Includes paddles & PFD's; 7th day free; discounts available for multi-boat trips. |
| Inflatable Kayaks |
$49/day |
Includes paddles & PFD's; 7th day free |
| Hard-sided kayaks |
$49/day |
Sit on-top or sit-inside; includes paddles and PFD's'; 7th day free |
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| Other Equipment |
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| Ammo cans |
$5/day |
Hard case protection for cameras and personal items |
| Camp Chairs |
$5/day |
Captain style chairs with nice back support |
Dishwashing
System |
$5/day |
3 tubs, screen, soap, bleach, heating bucket |
| Fire Pan (NPS approved) |
$5/day |
Serves as a grill and fire box |
| Ice Chests (80 quart Gott) |
$7/day |
Ideal for food storage, ice and dry supplies |
| Paco Pads (sleep pad) |
$3/day |
Waterproof, easy to store, self-inflating |
| Propane Stove (2 & 4 burner) |
$5/7/day |
Used standard propane bottle #10 or #20 |
| Propane Tank (#10 & #20) |
$5/10/day |
Comes full with propane, charged at market rate |
| Roll - A- Table |
$5/day |
The table for outdoor travel; lightweight, rolls up nice |
| Sleeping Bags |
$7.50/day |
Three season, lightweight bags |
| Tents |
$7.50/day |
Four- person dome or A-frame tents with tarp |
| Toilet System (required by NPS) |
$15/day |
Seem expensive? We clean it, not you! Includes seat, tank, and chemicals |
| Waterproof Bags (large) |
$5/day |
16" diameter x 36" tall; great for sleeping bags and gear |
| Waterproof Bags (small) |
$2/day |
Perfect for gear that you need during the day; sunglasses, sunscreen, jackets, hats, etc. |
| Water Containers (3 & 5 gallon) |
$3/5/day |
Hard plastic commercial containers for better durability |
| Water Dispensers (3 & 5 gallon) |
$3/5/day |
For drinking water use only |
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Minimum rental charge is $10.00. Prices do not include Texas sales tax @ 7.75%
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Step 3 - Planning Your Shuttle
We can provide round-trip shuttles for your group and gear using your vehicle or ours. We use modern 15 passenger vans and our drivers are hand picked for their positive attitude and attention to safety and details. Click here to select the level of shuttle service that's best for you.
Need shuttle miles and approximate times? Check out Far Flung's Shuttle Mileage Chart.
Step 4 - Permits and Fees
River permits are required in all sections of the Rio Grande from the Tapado put-in to Dryden Crossing take-out.
Big Bend National Park - permits are free and are issued at Far Flung Outdoor Center, Panther Junction. Persimmon Gap and the Barton Warnock Center near Lajitas. River sections from Lajitas to Dryden Crossing require a BBNP permit. Big Bend National Park requires a $20/vehicle entrance fee, which is good for 7 days. NEW! Effective February 1, 2007 Big Bend National Park will require a $10 backcountry use fee on all private river trips.
Big Bend Ranch State Park - entrance fees are $3person/day and are issued at the Barton Warnock Center or Fort Leaton, near Presidio. River sections from Tapado Canyon to Lajitas require a BBRSP permit. An additional camping fee of $8/peson/night is required if the trip camps on BBRSP land. A Texas Parks & Wildlife annual pass will waive the entrance fees for up to 14 people for each day in the state park.
Heath Canyon Ranch - this is the take-out for Boquillas Canyon and the put-in for the Lower Canyons. The landowner charges a $4/person put-in or take-out fee.
Black Gap Wildlife Management Area - managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife ; any river access for put-in or take-outs require each person to have a limited use pass at a cost of $12/pass.
Step - 5 Making Your Reservation
Call us at 800-839-7238 or email us at [email protected] and we'll set up your trip!
Reservations are strongly encouraged to insure sufficient equipment is on hand and to help streamline the planning process.
Day rentals will be charged a $10 non-refundable deposit at the time of booking.
Multi-day rentals will be charge a $50 non-refundable deposit at the time of booking.
Cancellation of day rental bookings within 24 hours forfeit one day's rental on equipment.
Cancellation of multi-day rental bookings within 48 hours forfeit one day's rental on equipment.
(Please understand that cancellation policies may vary slightly during high seasonal times)
Cancellations for reasons of inclement weather carry the same cancellation policy.
Final Payment
Final payment for all equipment rentals will be due on the day the equipment is returned. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, personal checks and cash are accepted.
Security Deposit
A security deposit is required on all rentals to insure the equipment is returned clean, dry and serviceable. Damage to equipment beyond normal wear and tear or lost equipment will be charged at 90% of retail cost or repair cost, whichever is lower. Repair or clean-up is based on actual time and materials used. Shop rate is $30/hour.
Call FFOC at 800-839-7238
