About Big River Outfitters

Big River Outfitters, builds on three years of successful efforts promoting paddle sports in the Reynosa-Mcallen area and is now in Laredo, featuring guided 6-mile to 12-mile group kayak outings on the Rio Grande and at Casa Blanca Lake.

We're very interested in contributing to a more active and physically fit community. Paddle sports have a year-round window in Laredo through which we promote interest in kayaking, swimming, life guarding, cross-training, adventure races and more.

Big River Outfitters is the first ever paddle sports outfit dedicated to exploring Laredo's abundant and under-utilized water resources for recreation combined with environmental education, along with heritage programs on and off the water. There are few places other than our own Rio Grande with the warm water, avian splendor and ease of access to provide year-round exercise and relaxation opportunities.

We offer custom tours to meet the public's thirst for nature, history, architecture, art, and culinary discovery. It's also a way to reform how locals, the nation and the world view the Rio Grande and the bi-national community affectionately called Los Dos Laredos. This is the community's river and legal activity has been proven to displace illegal activity time and time again.

Eric Ellman

Before founding Big River Outfitters, Eric was Executive Director of Los Caminos del Rio, a bi-national nonprofit organization protecting and promoting the cultural and environmental heritage along the U.S.-Mexico border’s Rio Grande.

Eric is a wastewater engineer and a long time citizen and activist throughout the Americas. Eric is also the author of Bicycling Mexico and feature stories on tour destinations such as Mexico's Lacandon Jungle and Copper Canyon.

Stephanie Dolansky-Mahathey

Stephanie is a licensed school teacher and bilingual Texas native with experience in primary, secondary, and higher education. She met Eric working at Los Caminos del Rio where she administered programs with National Parks and Texas Parks and Wildlife. This experience led her to join the Big River Team as a partner in 2010. Stephanie's education emphasizes biology and business.