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Rio Grande River
Taos Box
GETTING STARTED
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When to Paddle: The Rio Grande flow consists largely of snowmelt. The typical season for paddling is from April - June with flows ranging from 500 cfs - 3,000 cfs in big water years. Flow info: USGS (505) 262-5388, newmexicoh20.com. Driving Directions: To reach the put-in for Taos Box, turn west off of NM 522 at Arroyo Hondo and drive 3 miles to John Dunn Bridge. To reach the take-out, return to NM 522 and drive south through Taos. Drive 16 miles southwest of Taos on NM 68, then turn right onto NM 567 and drive upstream 5 miles to Taos Junction Bridge. Permits: No permits are currently required to paddle the Taos Box or the downstream Pilar Run. Contact the BLM (505) 758-8851 to receive updated permit information.
The Rio Grande is one of the most popular, if not notorious, Western rivers because of its length and boundary with Mexico. The Rio Grande actually begins in southern Colorado before coursing into northern New Mexico and onward south. Just outside of Taos, New Mexico, the Rio Grande cuts its way through the Taos Plateau, forming the 800-foot deep gorge known as the Taos Box.
Inside the Taos Box gorge, sheer cliffs tower above the river. Steep bands of dark columnular basaltic rock reach skyward. The flatland plateau above the river is a stark contrast to the steepness of the gorge below. Scattered with sagebrush and shrub land, the plateau offers awe-inspiring views of the distant Sangre de Cristo Mountains above Taos.
The Taos Box, and the downstream run known as the Pilar/Racecourse Run, are filled with challenging whitewater rapids that fall into the class III-IV range. Most of the rapids result from large boulders blocking the main flow. This makes the majority of the rapids pool-drop in nature with steep, but relatively short, rapids. The Rio Grande's Taos Box offers an thrilling but unusual adventure through a deep canyon of Northern New Mexico.
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