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
  The starting location is a reasonable drive from Taos, please print out a copy of the road map further down the page so you won’t get lost. The natural beauty of Taos County and the cool fresh water will make you feel great. And of course, there are campgrounds nearby. Not too many hotels nearby, you'll have to drive a bit to get to one, but do book a room before you come because it is a very popular destination. You might be into whitewater rafting or kayaking or both, doesn't matter, around here you'll find a large number of good spots. The John Dunn
    Bridge to Taos Junction Bridge section of Rio Grande in Taos County is 14 miles long and it is classified as a class III-IV section by American Whitewater. Whitewater rafting and kayaking spots in New Mexico tend to be more forgiving than the national average, so don't forget that
rivers here are not as hard as elsewhere. This river system is full of great paddling stretches, the John Dunn Bridge to Taos Junction Bridge stretch is just one of them. Getting a good workout and spending some quality time in nature are sure to keep you coming back for more. If you have the time you can make this a two day trip, so why not pack your camping stuff too.

Briefly about the general area:
A journey to Rio Grande wouldn't be complete without taking a look at Yellow Bank Rapid, and there are plenty of folks from Taos here.
Rio
 
Grande is a location that is reasonably dry regularly; through August this area sees the most rain; January meanwhile is the driest month. For the duration of the days of summer at Rio Grande highs are typically in the 80's. Throughout the dark hours of summer temperatures fall down into the 40's. Throughout the wintertime highs are commonly in the 30's while Rio Grande nighttime low temperatures throughout the wintertime 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...

Hampton Inn Taos, Taos
9 miles away
The Hampton Inn Taos hotel in New Mexico is 2.5 miles south of the Central Plaza area and across the street from South Side Convention Center. Taos area attractions include Kit Carson Park and cemete...

Days Inn Taos, 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, 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
Angel Fire, New Mexico , 31 miles away, 2077 vertical feet
Ski Santa Fe, New Mexico , 36 miles away, 1725 vertical feet
Pajarito Mountain, New Mexico , 55 miles away, 1410 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
Hampton Inn Taos, Taos , 9 miles away
Days Inn Taos, Taos , 9 miles away
Super 8 Motel - Taos, Taos , 10 miles away
Quality Inn Taos, Taos , 10 miles away
 Camp Grounds Near Rio Grande:
Taos RV Park, Ranchos De Taos, 7 miles away
Taos RV Park, Ranchos De Taos, 8 miles away
New Buffalo, Arroyo Hondo, 9 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