Big Bend Kayaking & Caverns

You don’t need to be a professional athlete to take part in this trip! However, you do need at least a little base level of fitness. If you lead an active life or are willing to spend a couple of hours per week preparing for the adventure, it’s likely you’re up to it!

We hike up to 6 miles per day over rugged terrain with 8 to 10-pound daypacks.

Our day hikes on the trip are 4.8 miles and 5.6 miles in length. Each hike has less than 1,000-feet of elevation gain. We travel at a mild to moderate pace and promise to not leave you behind!

We kayak 10 to 15 miles per day at a mild to moderate pace. We stay together as a group and won’t leave you behind!

It’s no problem if this is your first kayaking trip! Our guides have decades of experience and will provide paddling instruction, beginning with the absolute basics.

Experienced swaggering river rat? You’ll fit in well, too.

We pick you up and drop you from any of these 7 hotels near El Paso International Airport:

• Comfort Inn & Suites I-10 Airport
• Courtyard by Marriott El Paso Airport
• Hampton Inn & Suites El Paso-Airport
• Hilton Garden Inn El Paso Airport
• Homewood Suites by Hilton El Paso Airport
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites El Paso Airport
• Staybridge Suites El Paso Airport Area

Hotel pickups are between 7:00 and 7:30 AM on the first day. We get back to El Paso on the evening of the last day of the trip. Please don’t book a flight home any earlier than 10:00 PM on the last day of the trip.

The parts of Carlsbad Caverns that we visit are quite spacious. Experiencing a sense of claustrophobia in the caverns is unlikely.

Daytime highs are likely to be in the 70s to low-80s when we’re on the river and in the 60s to 70s when we’re hiking in the mountains.

Nighttime lows are likely to be in the 40s, but we need to be prepared to camp comfortably if we experience nighttime temperatures in the 30s.

Carlsbad Cavern is always 56-degrees inside.

Be sure to review the packing list carefully and follow it closely! The higher-value items you need to bring include a sleeping bag, a pair of hiking shoes, a pair of sport sandals or water shoes, and a rain jacket.

Try to avoid overpacking. Bringing too much stuff will just slow you down!

Absolutely. Please contact us to let us know what you’re packing so we can plan accordingly.

We tent camp nights 2–5 of the trip. Our first 2 nights of camping are spent in the backcountry on beaches along the Rio Grande river. We set up a comfortable basecamp in the heart of Big Bend National Park for our final 2 nights.

Dome-style backpacking tents and self-inflating camping mattresses are provided.

We can accommodate many common food allergies, sensitivities, and dietary requirements. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs.

There are no significant moving water features on the stretch of Rio Grande we’re paddling. Expect class I to class II river paddling conditions.

Nah. That’s pretty unlikely. This trip is solo traveler friendly!

You can reserve your spot today by paying a $299 deposit. The balance is due 60 days before the trip. Be sure to read the complete Trip and Course Policies.

We recommend taking out a travel insurance policy. Bad Adventures reserves the right to cancel trips and a travel insurance policy keeps you protected. See the Travel Insurance Page for more information.

There's no cancellation fee if you decide to cancel 90 days or more before the trip and we'll even refund your deposit! However, if you cancel less than 90-days before the trip, your deposit is nonrefundable. Additionally, there are significant cancellation fees if you decide to cancel your registration 59 days or less before the trip. Be sure to read the complete Trip and Course Policies.

We only advertise trips we plan to operate. Since our founding in 2013, Bad Adventures has never canceled a multi-day trip. However, we must reserve the right to do so. Be sure to review our Trip and Course Policies and purchase travel insurance.