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New Mexico
San Francisco River
No verdict for this water
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Gila National Forest
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
River facts
- Water
- Only after rain or snowmelt
- Average flow
- 116 cfs
- Average current
- 1.5 ft/s
- Gradient
- 43.8 ft/mi
- Drainage area
- 1,901 sq mi
Long-term averages modeled by USGS (NHDPlus HR), not today's conditions. Check a gauge before you go.
Here's your day on the water, mapped
San Francisco River
AI-suggested draft · review before you go
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
About this water
San Francisco River is a 93-mile paddling stretch near Glenwood, New Mexico. It is ephemeral and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 116 cfs and a gradient of about 43.8 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
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Keep exploring — more water worth the drive
Photo: Joe Burgess, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)Middle Fork Gila River
~1h 6m drive
Middle Fork Gila River is a 37-mile paddling stretch near Datil, New Mexico. It is ephemeral and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 57 cfs and a gradient of about 44.4 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Luna Lake Boat Launch
~29 min drive
A worthwhile stop near Arizona.
Photo: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)West Fork Gila River
~1h 9m drive
West Fork Gila River is a 33-mile paddling stretch near Glenwood, New Mexico. It is ephemeral and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 81 cfs and a gradient of about 70.0 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Boat Ramp at Snow Lake Boat Launch
~47 min drive
Boat Ramp at Snow Lake Boat Launch is a boat launch in New Mexico.
Blue River
~31 min drive
Blue River is a 50-mile paddling stretch near Blue, Arizona. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 56 cfs and a gradient of about 47.2 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Nelson Reservoir South Boating Site
~56 min drive
A worthwhile stop near Arizona.
Tularosa River
~32 min drive
Tularosa River is a 38-mile paddling stretch near Reserve, New Mexico. It is ephemeral and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 42 cfs and a gradient of about 35.1 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Nelson Reservoir North Boating Site
~57 min drive
A worthwhile stop near Arizona.
Black River
~47 min drive
Black River is a 2-mile paddling stretch near Blue, Arizona. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 84 cfs and a gradient of about 89.7 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Big Lake Marina
~58 min drive
A worthwhile stop near Arizona.
