Lower Aros/Yaqui

This is one of the more difficult rapids on this stretch of the Rio Aros. Here, the right side of the river is blocked by a large reddish bedrock formation, forcing most of the current into a channel on the left. You may want to stay on the right side of this left channel and tuck in behind the bedrock to avoid a large hole that forms on RL at high water. The hole gets huge at really high water! You can scout this one by pulling in well above the rapid and scrambling down to the bottom of the first drop where the RL hole is. The rest of the rapid is generally Class II-III down to the sharp left bend.

Scout from large eddy on RL.

Perhaps the largest rapid on the lower Rio Aros, there are generally two choices for passage (RL and RR). The left side is a relatively narrow chute (especially at low water!) that is Class III. On the right side, next to the cliff, is a single large drop into a (generally) flushing hole with swirly water below (approaching easy Class IV). At high water, the run-out is a long Class II.

Scout from Eddy on RL or cliff on RR.

This small pueblo has at least one small store with very basic supplies. The road leading uphill from the river ford on RL makes a good take-out spot. Don’t miss it! The house overlooking the ford is owned by Arturo Monge who was very hospitable on our 2015 trip. There is a telephone for public use (pay for minutes used) in a residence at the end of the school nearest the river. There is road access (4X4 recommended) to Sahuaripa, generally a 4 to 5 hour drive.

This is approximately 1 mile upstream of the bridge on the highway between Sahuaripa and Tepache. A gated ranch road leads to the river where take-outs have been done by a number of groups. Senor Jose Cordoba is quite friendly and has a nice little casa off the river. It is good to give Senor Cordoba some cash for allowing access.