The Río Colorado in this region is formed at the confluence with Río Barrancas, where the river transitions from its upper name (Río Grande) to Colorado. At this confluence, flows reach approximately 3,000 cfs, and the character of the river shifts noticeably — becoming flatter and more open compared to the whitewater sections upstream.

From the confluence onward, the Colorado runs through open, arid desert landscape for roughly 130 miles before reaching the first dam impoundment. The terrain is largely barren, though the route includes at least one class II canyon section that provides some relief from the otherwise flat water. The overall difficulty of the Lower Colorado is easy, making it accessible to paddlers without significant whitewater experience.

Access to the lower sections is relatively straightforward due to proximity to populated areas. The river's easy nature and available access points have led to descents by numerous individuals over the years.

The entire Río Grande-Colorado system, including the Colorado section, has been under threat from proposed dam projects. A major dam project was approved by both the federal government and the Mendoza provincial government in early 2018, despite significant opposition from downstream provinces that depend on the river's flow for irrigation. Paddlers planning trips should verify the current status of any dam construction, as this could materially affect river conditions and access.

The broader region around Mendoza and San Rafael offers other paddling options on nearby rivers including Río Mendoza (class IV), Río Tunuyán (class III-IV), Río Diamante (class V), and Río Atuel (class II or IV). The nearest major airports are Mendoza (MDZ) and San Rafael (AFA).