The Northern Landscape of New Mexico is divided by the immense and awe inspiring Rio Grande Gorge. The Gorge cut by the famed Rio Grande River Makes its way from southern Colorado, through New Mexico all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande offers the whitewater paddler a full range of paddling experiences from mellow class II water to hair-raising class V on the upper Box and some of the tributary creeks to the Mighty Rio. Steeped in history the best paddling is in a small town south of Taos called Pilar. It is here that most commercial raft companies depart for their trips down the class III-IV Race Course and the drive north to tackle the Class IV Lower Box.

The Many Tributary creeks along the Rio Grande gorge offer spectacular winter and spring creeking. Some legendary creeks to be attempted by only the most experienced boaters are The Embudo in Dixon New Mexico and the Rio Pueblo both solid class V runs at high water. Use sound judgment and scouting when paddling these creeks for the first time. Lower down the river is joined by the Chama River another host to great entry level paddling when the levels are good. The Chama flows from Southern Colorado through three lakes into the Rio Grande. The Chama River is accessed north of Abiqui Lake. The Three lakes which are interspersed along the river provide scenic and tranquil sea kayaking and canoeing. New Mexico is a state long on paddling opportunities and at times a bit short on water. The following is meant to be an entry-level general guide to paddling in New Mexico.