If you hang around raft guides long enough, you’ll notice something. On our days off, a lot of us still end up on the river.
Usually it’s in an inflatable kayak, or what we all call a “ducky”.
There’s just something different about paddling your own boat. Even on stretches of river we’ve been down more times than we can count, a ducky makes it feel new again. You’re choosing your own line, catching little waves, and getting splashed a whole lot more than you would in a raft.
Every summer, we watch people climb into one for the first time, and it’s almost always the same story. They’re a little nervous at the put-in, laughing by the first rapid, and by the time we get to the take-out, they’re asking when they can do it again.
So What Makes Inflatable Kayaks So Much Fun?
1. You’re in Charge of Your Own Adventure
Rafting is awesome because everyone works together as a team with a guide to navigate the river.
An inflatable kayak is a little different.
You’re the one holding the paddle. You decide whether to charge straight through a wave or sneak around it. You start noticing little currents, eddies, and features in the water that you’d probably never pay attention to from a raft.
One thing we notice with first-time paddlers is how quickly they figure it out. After just a couple of rapids, you can almost see their confidence grow.
2. You Experience the River in a Whole New Way
Because you’re sitting so much closer to the water, every wave feels bigger.
The lines you paddle through in a ducky are ones you’d never really notice from a raft, and you get a much closer look at the rocks and formations that make every river unique.
One of our favorite things about paddling the Rio Grande in northern New Mexico is that every trip feels a little different. Water levels change throughout the season, wildlife comes and goes, and the light in the canyon is never quite the same twice.
3. They’re More Beginner-Friendly Than You Think
One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that inflatable kayaks are difficult to paddle.
Honestly, they’re surprisingly forgiving. We like to describe them as hard-shell kayaking with the forgiveness of a raft. You get to paddle your own boat while learning the same river-reading skills, but with a much more stable platform.
They’re wide, stable, and designed specifically for rivers. That makes them a great option for people who want the excitement of kayaking without jumping straight into a hard-shell kayak.
If your goal is to get into hard-shell kayaking someday, inflatable kayaks are one of the best places to start.
Will you get wet? Absolutely.
Could you fall out? Maybe.
But that’s part of the fun, and it’s usually followed by a good laugh.
4. Don’t Let Low Water Fool You
One question we get all the time is, “Is there enough water?”
If you’ve been looking into rafting or kayaking in New Mexico, you’ve probably heard people talk about low water. The truth is, lower water doesn’t mean less fun—it just means a different kind of adventure.
Higher water usually means bigger waves and a faster ride. Lower water slows things down a bit, but it also lets you become a more active paddler. Instead of simply floating through the rapid, you’re reading the river, choosing your line, and maneuvering around rocks you might not even notice at higher flows.
Honestly, some of our favorite days in a ducky have been during lower water. It becomes more technical, you feel more connected to the river, and every clean line through a rapid feels rewarding.
We actually think technical, low-water conditions make you a better paddler. They force you to read the river, pick clean lines, and make precise moves instead of relying on the current to carry you through.
One thing we love about lower water is seeing rock gardens that are completely hidden at higher flows. It gives the river a totally different personality and lets you appreciate features you’d otherwise never see.
So if you check the river levels before your trip and see they’re lower than you expected, don’t worry. Some of the best inflatable kayaking days in New Mexico happen when the river isn’t at its highest.
A Few Tips for Your First Ducky Trip
If it’s your first time, here are a few things that’ll make the day even better:
- Relax your grip on the paddle. New paddlers tend to squeeze it way too hard.
- Look where you want to go, not at the rock you’re trying to avoid.
- Listen during the safety talk. Your guide isn’t trying to bore you—they’re giving you the tools to have more fun.
- Wear quick-drying clothes and sunscreen. New Mexico sunshine is no joke.
- Expect to get wet. Honestly, if you stay completely dry, you’re probably doing something wrong.
Why New Mexico Is Such a Great Place to Try It
Northern New Mexico has some incredible rivers to explore, whether you’re looking for your first inflatable kayaking trip or you’re already hooked on whitewater.
The Rio Grande offers everything from calm, scenic stretches to exciting rapids, and the scenery is hard to beat. If you’re visiting Santa Fe or Taos, spending a day on the river is one of the best ways to experience a side of New Mexico that most people never see from the highway.
We’ve watched plenty of people show up convinced they were only “rafting people.” By the end of the day, they’re asking where they can buy an inflatable kayak of their own.
That’s probably the best compliment duckies can get.
Whether you’re looking for a new challenge or just want to experience New Mexico’s rivers from a different perspective, inflatable kayaking is worth trying at least once.
Just don’t be surprised if one trip turns into your new favorite way to spend a day on the water.
