New Mexico whitewater - Rio Grande, Taos County

Taos county, John Dunn Bridge to Taos Junction Bridge section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.

 

CLASS III-IV     14 miles
  This stretch of Rio Grande in New Mexico is 14 miles long and has been rated as a class III-IV section by American Whitewater. The rivers for whitewater rafting and kayaking here in New Mexico are often easier than in other states, so keep in mind that rivers here are not as hard as elsewhere. There aren’t any hotels right nearby but if you're willing to drive a short distance then no problem and if you make reservations in advance you're all set. Great exercise and spending some quality time in nature are great reasons to come. There are campgrounds quite
    near the river where you can camp. This is not the only paddling stretch in this river system, there are others too. The starting location is a reasonable drive from Taos, if you're not familiar with the area there's a road map further down the page. The scenic beauty of New Mexico
and the cool fresh water beats anything. Some people prefer whitewater rafting and some kayaking, either way around here you'll find a large number of good places. This stretch has enough mileage for an overnight trip, so pack your camping stuff.

Briefly about the general area:
Rio Grande is frequently a pretty dehydrated place; August is when you get the most rain here while January is typically the driest month. A visit to Yellow Bank Rapid will fill your spirit with delightful feelings, and at Rio Grande you always meet someone from Taos.
 
High temperatures at Rio Grande through the long summer days are in the 80's, and through summer nights temperatures are in the 40's. The winter comes with highs in the 30's while Rio Grande night low temperatures during the winter are in the 0's.

Rio Grande, John Dunn Bridge to Taos Junction Bridge road map
Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked.

QUICK STATS
AW Class: III-IV
Length: 14 miles
Average Gradient: 31 fpm
  
Putin Location Coordinates:
Latitude: 36.5348
Longitude: -105.7084

Takeout Location Coordinates:
Latitude: 36.33599
Longitude: -105.73321

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Current weather conditions at Rio Grande, New Mexico
WXPort

Local climate location: TRES PIEDRAS 9 miles away


RAFTING TRIP OUTFITTERS

There are no whitewater outfitters currently listed for this river.

Adobe and Stars Inn, Taos
9 miles away
Come see the starry skies! In March of 1996, Adobe & Stars opened its doors to guests seeking striking accommodations and a high level of hospitality in a majestic setting. It is situated just outsi...

Taos Super 8 Motel, Taos
9 miles away
Comparably low rates. 1/2 hour to Casinos, 1/2 hour to many different ski slopes, close to Plaza and shopping. Southwest style furniture. We offer clean comfortable rooms, helpful friendly employees...

Taos - Days Inn, Taos
9 miles away
The Days Inn Taos, New Mexico is located in Northern New Mexico in the Foothills of the Sange de Cristo Mountains. We offer a free continental breakfast, free hi-speed wireless internet and free local...



OTHER_INFO
  All New Mexico Whitewater
Complete list of all the whitewater paddling spots in New Mexico.
Books about whitewater paddling on Rio Grande, New Mexico
List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on Rio Grande, New Mexico.
Find a whitewater outfitter in New Mexico

Whitewater Basics
If you're new to whitewater paddling please take a look at this basic whitewater info.
Outdoors Recreation Near Taos, New Mexico
Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Taos, New Mexico, the metro area neareast to Rio Grande. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.
 

   

OUTDOORS
These outdoors activities are available near Rio Grande.
 Whitewater Near Rio Grande:
Rio Pueblo de Taos, -blank- County , 5 miles away, Class V+ - 3.5 miles long (to Taos Junction Bridge)
Rio Grande, Taos/Rio Arriba County , 9 miles away, Class II-III - 8 miles long (Red River confluence to John Dunn Bridge)
Red River, -blank- County , 10 miles away, Class IV+ - 14 miles long (Highway 515 to Dunn Bridge)
Rio Grande, Taos County , 12 miles away, Class III - 5 miles long (Taos Junction Bridge to Embudo Station Restaurant)
Rio Grande, Taos/Rio Arriba County , 15 miles away, Class V - 6 miles long (Chiflo Campground to Little Arsenic Trail)
Rio Embudo, -blank- County , 15 miles away, Class IV-V(V+) - 5 miles long (Close to Rio Lucio to Highway 75)
Rio Grande, Taos County , 20 miles away, Class II-IV - 14 miles long (Lee Trail to Chiflo Campground)
Rio Ojo Caliente, Rio Arriba County , 28 miles away, Class I-II - 28 miles long (La Madera to confluence with Rio Chama)
Rio Santa Cruz, Santa Fe County , 29 miles away, Class IV-V - 1 miles long (Cundiyo to Santa Cruz Reservoir)
Rio Grande, Taos County , 30 miles away, Class II-III - 24 miles long (Lobatos Bridge Colorado to Lee Trail)
 Ski Areas Near Rio Grande:
Sipapu Ski, New Mexico , 20 miles away, 1055 vertical feet
Taos, New Mexico , 21 miles away, 2612 vertical feet
Red River, New Mexico , 26 miles away, 1600 vertical feet
Ski Rio, New Mexico , 30 miles away, 2150 vertical feet
Angel Fire, New Mexico , 31 miles away, 2077 vertical feet
Ski Santa Fe, New Mexico , 36 miles away, 1703 vertical feet
Pajarito Mountain, New Mexico , 55 miles away, 1410 vertical feet
Eldora, Colorado , 65 miles away, 1600 vertical feet
Sandia Peak, New Mexico , 83 miles away, 1700 vertical feet
Wolf Creek, Colorado , 94 miles away, 1604 vertical feet
 Hotels Near Rio Grande:
Adobe and Stars Inn, Taos , 9 miles away
Taos Super 8 Motel, Taos , 9 miles away
Taos - Days Inn, Taos , 9 miles away
Quality Inn Taos, Taos , 10 miles away
Sun God Lodge, Taos , 10 miles away
 Camp Grounds Near Rio Grande:
Taos RV Park, Ranchos De Taos, 8 miles away
New Buffalo, Arroyo Hondo, 9 miles away
Snowmansion Hostel, Taos, 10 miles away
 Trails Near Rio Grande:
Devisadero Peak Loop Trail, Taos County , 13 miles away
Comales Sheep Driveway, Taos County , 16 miles away
North End Trail, Taos County , 17 miles away
Simpson Memorial Trail, Taos County , 17 miles away
 National Parks Near Rio Grande:
Santa Fe National Historic Trail, Santa Fe - NM , 39 miles away
Bandelier National Monument, Los Alamos - NM , 49 miles away

Outdoors related information copyright © Stratus-Pikpuk, Inc. - Detailed hotel information copyright © Interactive Hotel Solutions
Some content, including Reach Name, Class, and Length, comes from American Whitewater