There are a variety of rafting trips in the area, some for the adventurer who loves the thrill and terror of a ride over rapids! However, there are also some for the family to enjoy together. The rafting season lasts from April to October and includes many trips that are peaceful and placid, some include fishing, others provide visits to areas of interesting rock formations and petroglyphs, and still others drift to river side restaurants for a leisurely meal. Check the yellow pages under "river trips" for the possibilities.

The Rio Grande

The Upper Box
Class V- V+
Length: 6 miles
Put In: chiflo Trail
Take Out: Little Arsenic
Gradient: 69fpm
Season: Spring Summer
EXPERT ONLY

This is truly one of the classic runs in the west. The Taos Box is actually where the Rio Grande has fallen into one of the largest rifts on earth. The entire Taos Box is almost 100 miles long. The Upper Box refers to the 6-mile Class V run from the Chiflo Trail to the Little Arsenic Trail. There is no access at all in between these two points so make sure to bring spare paddles and rescue gear as a hike out in the middle is not an option. The one major thing you have to watch out for on this run are the sieves, they are everywhere! Some are much worse than others. Don't be fooled by the gradient. This river is the definition of pool-drop and doesn't waste any of its' gradient on easy rapids in between the big rapids. In general the rapids are long technical boulder gardens with lots of sieves. The riverbed is composed of large angular basalt rocks that have fallen from the cliffs above. Keep in mind that this is not Gore Canyon; keep the play boat at home! In fact, this run is always a good solid grade higher in difficulty that Gore at similar levels. The 3 mandatory scouts are NCO, Hell Hole, and Big Arsenic. These rapids have big drops at the entrance, and currents that push hard into sieves below. Swimming is not recommended! Fortunately there is ample opportunity to scout and portage as the cliffs are located high up on the rim, not at river level. For many the run is defined by the takeout. You have 2 less than appealing options. You can float out on 9 miles of flat water, or take a 45-minute hike to the rim at Little Arsenic Trail. Although the Little Arsenic takeout is by far preferred, it does climb 750 feet up in .8 miles. The best camping is at the end of the takeout trail.

The Lower Box
Class III-IV
Length: 15 Miles
Put In: John Dunn Bridge
Take Out: Taos Junction Bridge
Gradient:
Season: All Year Depending on flows.

The Lower Taos Box is an excellent Class IV whitewater run of about 15 miles on a 31 fpm gradient that offers plenty of excitement, great scenery and easy access. The reach begins at the John Dunn Bridge just west of Arroyo Hondo and continues down to Taos Junction Bridge at the intersection of SH 567 and SH 570 at the Rio Pueblo confluence. The Town of Taos is just a few miles to the northeast and the Town of Pilar is just downriver to the southwest. The run is through an isolated gorge with very limited access between the top and bottom. It is a very popular reach that often sees heavy commercial guided raft traffic. This pool-and-drop section becomes very technical at flows below 800 cfs, and is not recommended at flows below 600 cfs. Riverside camping is very limited, and at lower flows there are a couple of riverside hot springs that can be enjoyed, but do not expect any privacy due to the popularity of this section. Adequate day-use parking areas can be found at both the top and bottom of the run. River right, from John Dunn Bridge to Taos Junction Bridge is BLM-controlled land, but river left belongs to the Taos Pueblo Tribe from the Hwy. 64 high bridge to the Rio Pueblo confluence, where the take-out is on tribal land, though BLM has a contract for access there. This reach is ideally suited for a waterproof camera and offers excellent photographic opportunities when not running the rapids

Orilla Verde State Park
Class II
Length: 6 Miles
Put In: Taos Junction Bridge
Take Out: Orilla Verde Campground
Gradient: 8fpm
Season: Year round

The Orilla Verde Recreation Area between Taos Junction Bridge and Orilla Verde Campground offers about 6 miles of moderate Class II whitewater on a gentle 8 fpm gradient. Most adjacent land is BLM-controlled, but the area around the hamlet of Pilar is privately owned and is designated as a "quiet zone", where voices should be kept to a conversational level and stopping is not permitted other than in emergency situations. This area is popular with fishermen, and it is recommended that paddlers use the opposite side of the river from where anglers are plying their sport. At least four public camping areas are located on river left along this reach of the Rio Grande, and mooring of boats is permitted in these areas. Some campsites are sheltered, while others are open. As a courtesy to others please refrain from walking through occupied campsites. There are no fees for river access, but reservations through the BLM (505-751-4731) are required and self-permitting stations can be found at all access points.

The Race Course
Class III-IV
Length 4.8 Miles
Put In: Pilar
Take Out: county Line
Gradient 27fpm
Season: all Year

The Racecourse is a reach of about 4.8 miles on an average gradient of 27 fpm flowing from Quartzite Site public access near Pilar to the Taos County Line just above the Rio Embudo confluence. This short reach features Class III to IV whitewater with several named rapids and a lot of exciting play for intermediate or higher level whitewater paddlers in canoes with flotation, kayaks and rafts. The cold water and larger rapids make wearing a wetsuit or drysuit with a base layer necessary to prevent hypothermia, especially when air temperatures are very cool to cold. Like the reach above, Racecourse is very popular, especially on weekends during April through June. This reach is home to an annual Mother's Day race that gives the area its name. The very close proximity of SH 68 allows easy access to numerous places where roadside play is possible. Some rapids have large holes that become quite significant as flows increase. The Glenn-Woody Bridge is a significant hazard in high water conditions where a river left portage is necessary. Prior reservations are not required, but the BLM asks that all boaters self-register at the access point where they begin their runs. The land along river right near Glenn-Woody Bridge is privately owned, and paddlers should avoid trespassing there.

Tributaries to the Rio Grande

In he Springs the creeks run from the sangre de cristo mountains and gorge the narrow tributary streams of the Rio Grande. Some of these Streams offer excellent early season creek boating. While these are world class Runs, They should only be attempted by closed deck boaters with a great deal of experience. The highlights of these tributaries are the Rio Pueblo and The Embudo Rivers.

The Rio Pueblo, NM
* See Colorado rivers and creeks.

Rio Embudo, NM
Near Rio Lucio to Hwy 75
Class IV-V(V+)
5 Miles
Avg. Gradient 170 fpm
Max Gradient 260 fpm
Min Sug. Level: 2.5 Feet
Max Sug. Level: 4.1 Feet
Description:
At low water this is almost a Class IV run, at medium it harder/pushier and rates a solid Class V but still not epic. However, at high water this run changes character considerably and becomes a solid V+ that should be attempted only by those who are familiar with the run. At all levels keep in mind that this is a remote gorge with little to no chance of escape if things go wrong!
Low: 150 - 250 cfs
Med: 250 - 400 cfs
High: 400 cfs and up
River Description
Embudo means, "funnel" in Spanish, and this river certainly lives up to its name! The Rio Embudo if formed just above the canyon from the confluence of the Rio Pueblo and the Rio Santa Barbara in the beautiful Picuris Pueblo Indian Reservation high above the Rio Grande. The Embudo wastes no time and plunges into a narrow granite gorge that drops for 5 miles of continuous Class V to V+. At high water an entire mile or more can be covered without being able to eddy out. 1st timers should do this run at medium to low water, and even then with a guide. The rapids for the most part all look the same from the top, steep and burly, and if you don't know what to scout and what to bomb through you could spend a good 7+ hours down there. Another factor making this run scary are the locals. This is an isolated area with an Indian reservation near the put-in and a conservative Hispanic community near the takeout. They don't like boaters or outsiders, period. Harassment in the past has included throwing kayaks into the rapids while you're scouting, firing shots off in your direction, and vandalizing your car (I must admit this is all hearsay, during the times I have run this reach I rarely encountered locals and was not harassed). It's best to drive slowly in this area, be respectful, and keep a low profile. Don't loiter at the takeout drinking beer and smoking pot, and don't have your cute shuttle bunny wait for you at the takeout alone...unless she's packin' heat! For pics of Rio Embudo and many other Central Rockies classics check out pics taken Low and Medium water levels. To get there: Hwy 68 runs north south between Taos and Santa Fe, from it you turn east on Hwy 75 and through Dixon (please drive 25). The Put-in is about 6.6 miles from the Hwy 75 bridge over the Embudo (the takeout). The 4X4 road you need to take is ambiguous at best, after a long straight stretch the highway will start to descend, look for a dirt road that heads to the left (it is preceded 100 yards by one that heads to the

The San Juan River
Class II
Length 98 Miles (Navajo Damn to four Corners)
Put in: Navajo Dam
Take Out: four Corners
The San Juan River forms along the Continental Divide on the Mineral-Rio Grande County Line in the San Juan Mountains of south-central Colorado, then flows southwest through Pagosa Springs to Navajo Reservoir on the Colorado-New Mexico border. Below the lake, the river flows about 98 miles across far northwestern New Mexico on Class I to II water through Blanco, Bloomfield, Farmington and Shiprock into the Four Corners area where Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico touch (the ONLY point in the United States that is common to four states.) In Utah, the river flows through Sand Island, Mexican Hat and Clay Hills Crossing to its confluence with the Colorado River at Glen Canyon on Lake Powell. The San Juan is a perpetual flow stream that is boatable year-round. The first 17 miles below Navajo Dam to the Town of Blanco, flowing through Navajo Lake State Park, is boatable by almost anybody regardless of experience in canoes, kayaks and rafts. Beavers, ducks, geese and many other species of wildlife and waterfowl are very common sightings.

Between Blanco and Shiprock lies a 50-mile reach of pastoral land where two diversion dams that should be portaged are located. This reach is not popular with raft paddlers because of the awkward portages, but is a great trip for canoes and kayaks. Food and supplies can be acquired along the way in Blanco, Bloomfield, Farmington and Shiprock, so boat loading can be minimized and fresh food can be had when needed. "Civilized" accommodations (motels) are available for those who prefer not to tent camp along the way. The final 31 miles to Four Corners is a leisurely paddle trip through gorgeous red and brown sandstone bluff canyons and bluffs and the badlands area of far northwestern New Mexico. This reach can be run in canoes, kayaks and rafts, with the possibility of continuing trips into Utah, if so desired.

Rio Chama
Class II- III
7 miles
Min Sug. Level: 200 cfs
Max Sug. Level: 2000 cfs
Description:
Gauge is at the end of one of the best sections of rapids on the run, "Gauging Station Rapid".

Skull Rapid to Big eddy Take Out
River Description
Put in below the Monastery or alternately at Skull Bridge. The majority of play and rapids come after Skull Bridge. Shortly after the Bridge watch for the river to split, stay left and enjoy the nice wave where the river comes back together again. Flows around 500-800cfs are pretty good. Begins flowing in early to mid March. After July watch for releases on Friday through Monday, usually in the 800-1000cfs range.

El Vado Lake to Abiquiu Reservoir
Class I-III
33 Miles
Permits required
Min Sug. Level: 200 cfs
Max Sug. Level: 1500 cfs
Description:
This is the gauge for the lower (day) section of the run. All the best play is found in this section.
River Description
This is the entire, overnight, trip description. The upper section has little in the way of rapids. A permit, available from the BLM office in Taos, is necessary for the upper section. No permit is required for the lower section.

Rafting Companies

Santa Fe Rafting Co & Outfitters
(505) 988-4914
PO Box 23525
Santa Fe, NM 87502
0.1 mi NE - Directions
www.santaferafting.com

Santa Fe Detours
(505) 983-6565
54 E San Francisco St
Santa Fe, NM 87501
0.1 mi W - Directions
www.sfdetours.com

New Wave Rafting Co
(505) 984-1444
1101 Cerrillos Rd
Santa Fe, NM 87501
1.3 mi SW - Directions
www.newwaverafting.com

Kokopelli Rafting Adventures
(505) 983-3734
1526 Pacheco St
Santa Fe, NM 87505
2.0 mi SW - Directions
www.kokopelliraft.com

Known World Guide Service
(505) 852-3579
702 State Rd 582
Velarde, NM 87582
32 mi N - Directions
www.knownworldguides.com