Designated in 1976, this 10-day trip on the 149-mile Missouri River will leave you with no regrets. If you can’t do the entire river book the three-day, 47-mile run sometime between May and September. On this journey from Coal Banks to Judith Landing, you’ll float through a white eagle sandstone canyon that’s 800 feet deep.
You’ll travel across the wild plains, and through the layered badlands of Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. Pitch your tent at the Lewis and Clark campsites too.
Enjoy this 20-mile overnighter from Lajitas to Santa Elena Canyon. Designated in 1978, this stretch of the 191,2-mile Rio Grande offers an ample sample of the Texan terrain from soaring, scenic canyons to Chihuahuan landscapes. Look for coyotes, and petroglyphs, and grinding holes from former indigenous encampments.
Be ready for some exciting Class IV fun as you run Rockslide Rapid at mile 15. While you can ride this river all year, the flows reportedly peak around August so mark your calendar.