The Racecourse Half Day

GPBucket

Great Time on the Rio Grande!
“I selected Kokopelli based on their reviews regarding their trips as well as their safety record. They didn’t let us down. The trip information and safety instructions at the beginning were thorough and, as it turned out, very useful. I say useful because I wound up in the water. Due to recent rains and warm temperatures, the Rio Grande had unusually high water levels. So Class III rapids were more like 3.5. A swell punched up the opposite side of our raft. As I leaned back, I realized my feet were not anchored as well as at the start of the trip. As I slid off the raft, I remembered to grab the rope, which was stressed in the safety instructions. Our guide, Armaan, was great and quickly got me back in the boat. The remainder of the trip was not as eventful but a whole lot of fun. At the take-out, I noticed how few other companies had ropes on their rafts. I definitely recommend Kokopelli.”

Twyst O.

A Grand Adventure Down the Rio!
“My three grandkids and I tackled the all-day Racecourse under the expert guidance of Kokopelli’s Avery, an experienced, well-educated, and witty young lady. The river was flowing at more than 3,100 cubic feet per second, but there was never a moment when we felt out of control or in any sort of danger. It was a blast! The kids and I had a fabulous time and heartily recommend Avery to guide you on your own adventure down the Rio Grande.”

dstew69

“We drove up to the racecourse for an afternoon trip. After a little effort of finding out exactly where we were supposed to meet, the afternoon was one of the best trips down a river, our guide had many years experience and was able to take us on a great trip. everyone was professional and helpful.”

Ted O.

Great staff and great experience!
“We did the Racecourse, a 5 mile trip down the Rio Grande River in New Mexico, about 45 minutes from Santa Fe, which had enough whitewater for my 12 year old son and 15 year old daughter, but not too much to scare them or my wife. We were in a 6 person raft, plus guide, which was perfect. Our guide, Armaan, was an excellent guide, with superior river and boat control skills- we never were in danger of tipping, no one fell out. Everyone felt very safe. We were able to jump out near the end and float through some rapids with just life jackets and helmets, which was an awesome experience, and Armaan would haul us back in when we were ready, The staff emphasized safety, and were very professional. Nice snack after of lemonade, Oreos, apple slices, Cheetos, etc. Great trip and great experience!”

Donna B.

Great time on the Racecourse
“Went on the afternoon trip and had such a great time. Our guide, Armaan made the trip fun and everyone in our group loved it! If you have time, definitely do the trip. Be sure to float the rapids at the end!”

Morgan C.

Great Rafting Adventure!
“We had a great trip with Kokopelli on the Racecourse! My boys (ages 10 & 12) had huge grins on their faces the entire time and especially loved “riding the bull” on the front of the boat. Our guide Avery was masterful! We will definitely be back again.”

jasoncito505

Great water, great scenery, great guides!
“My wife and I went with Kokopelli this last weekend for a half day Racecourse trip. It was an amazing day! The guide was knowledgable, the water was really fun, and the conversations between the guide and other boaters was great. I’d highly recommend anyone go with Koko!”

Steven S

1/2 Day Whitewater Rafting Racecourse on the Rio Grande!
“I don’t usually take the time to do reviews, but our experience with Kokopelli Rafting was GREAT! Our guide was fantastic – very personable, funny and professional. If you like Rafting or want to try it for the first time, I highly recommend Kokopelli. We will use them the next time we visit!!”

ScottS

Best Rafting Ever!
“Kokopelli Rafting Adventures is the place to go. It is super kid friendly, safe, and fun. Jackson was our tour guide and he was amazing-absolutely perfect for the job. The river was great because there were some rapids to make the trip exciting but also slower places where you can get out and float. I would definitely recommend them.”

Ted O

Best staff and Best rafting experience!
“We did the Racecourse, a 5 mile whitewater rafting trip down the Rio Grande River in New Mexico, about 45 minutes from Santa Fe, NM which had enough whitewater for my 12 year old son and 15 year old daughter, but not too much to scare them or my wife. We were in a 6 person raft, plus guide, which was perfect. The guide, Armaan, was an excellent guide, with superior river and boat control skills- we never were in danger of tipping, no one fell out. Everyone felt very safe. We were able to jump out near the end and float through some rapids with just life jackets and helmets, which was an awesome experience, and Armaan would haul us back in when we were ready, The staff emphasized safety, and were very professional. Nice snack after of lemonade, Oreos, apple slices, chips & salsa, etc. Great trip and great experience!”

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Racecourse - Fun and Playful at all Levels

Racecourse - Technical Maneuvering at Alberts Falls

Family Fun - Be Sure to Ham it Up for the Camera!

Rio Grande Racecourse near Santa Fe New Mexico

The five-mile Racecourse rafting trip is our most popular half-day trip on the Rio Grande, ranging from a wild class III+ ride during the spring high-water to a more technically-demanding run as the water goes down and the rocks come up in July and August. In spring and early summer, be prepared for cold water, big waves, and plenty of excitement. As summer continues, your guide will be depending on you to help maneuver the raft through many tight slots. In addition, the water warms up and there is more opportunity for warm-water fun, such as swimming and boat surfing.

The moderate Rapids of the Racecourse rafting trip is a great trip for beginning whitewater enthusiasts, as well as experienced rafters looking for a quick adrenaline fix. Minimum age is seven, although Kokopelli Rafting Adventures reserves the right to raise the age limit during extremely high water. The Racecourse rafting trip is our most popular option for families and large groups with varied group experience levels. Everyone seems to have a great time on the river trip, and its not too intimidating for first timers at most flows.

The Racecourse is runnable all season long. The highest water is in late May or early June. Inflatable kayaks are available at lower water levels.

Trip Details

Price: $74* per adult. $59* per child Age 6 – 12

Duration: 2-3 hours

Meeting Location: County Line River Access – Pilar, NM

Meeting Time: 10:00 AM or 1:45 PM

Difficulty: Class I-III (IV at high water)

2022 Season: April 30 – September 5

Includes: Guide, Gear, Transportation, and Snack

*Does not include: Santa Fe gross receipts tax (8.4375% or $1.50/person public land user fee)

Participant Requirements: Must be in generally good physical fitness, have the ability to brace yourself inside the raft, and paddle periodically as requested by the guide. Must be age 6 and up.

Due to COVID 19, each FULL DAY reservation has a 10-person minimum, as we are no longer co-mingling unrelated parties on the same trip during the pandemic due to food handling and longer transportation times. Individuals and small groups may still book separately online, provided their total group size is 10 or greater. Parties with less than 10 people are encouraged to call 505-983-3734 to discuss alternatives, including our half-day Rio Grande Float and Rio Grande Racecourse trips, which have a 4-person minimum. Safety has been our top priority for over 30 years, We appreciate your understanding and look forward to rafting with you!

Morning Racecourse Trip (10:00 AM)

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Afternoon Racecourse Trip (1:45 PM)

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