Rafting Trips

Racecourse Rafting Tour A seven-mile, half day trip over Class II and III rapids. This is a great tour for groups and families seeking moderate adventure. Paddlers work together to negotiate boulder mazes, waves, drops and chutes. Trips leave twice a day from the Rio Grande Gorge Vistors Center 15 miles south of Taos. Choose between an 8:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. tour. Season~ March 15 -September 30 Duration 3-4 hours Restrictions Recommended minimum age: 6 (12@ water flows over 3000 cfs) Pricing Adults: $54 + tax Children: $45 + tax(11 years and younger) Includes: Guide, Gear, Helmet, Transportation, and Snack

Racecourse Inflatable Kayak Tour In early or late summer when river flows are less than 600 cfs, hearty adventurers can choose to pilot their own funyak through the Racecourse, the entire lower gorge, or the remote middle box. Each tour has a guide, also in a funyak, to provide instructional training and demonstrate the basic techniques needed to run the Rio. Using a twin blade kayak paddle, you will steer your own 8 ft. boat through the section of your choice. Choose a half day funyak on either the Racecourse or the Orilla Verde. These segments are the same as described under rafting tours. Trips leave twice a day from the Rio Grande Gorge Visitors Center 15 miles south of Taos. Choose between an 8:30 am or 12:30 pm tour Duration 3-4 hours Restrictions Minimum age to operate is 12 years or older Pricing $59 pp + tax (Minimum age to operate is 12 years or older) Includes: Guide, Gear, Helmet, Instruction, Transportation, Snack

Taos Box Rafting Tour A sixteen-mile, all day trip over Class III and IV rapids, and into the deepest part of the gorge. Our tour features the earliest launch slot on the river ensuring an uncrowded pristine experience. Awe-inspiring views await around every bend as you meander and plunge through twenty sets of rapids. Canyon walls and wildlife create an amazing backdrop for this premiere whitewater thrill. Your tour includes a gourmet lunch on the beach at Rattlesnake Wash. Trips depart daily from our office in Taos at 7:45 a.m. Season~ April 22nd-Mid Summer Duration 6-8 hours Restrictions Recommended minimum age: 12 Trip availability based on water levels. Higher water usually flows in May & June Pricing Adults: $104 pp + tax [weekdays] $114 pp + tax [weekends] Includes: Guide, Gear, Helmet, Transportation and Full Lunch

Mountain Bike & Raft Tour This combination pedal to padle tour combines the West Rim Box Overlook Bike Tour and the half day Racecourse rafting trip. This tour is the perfect way Experience the best of the Rio Grande Gorge. The tour begins with 12 miles of intermediate mountain biking and spectacular views of the mountains and gorge. After a picturesque decent to the Rio Grande River for lunch, you’ll grab your paddle and tackle the 6 miles of whitewater adventure waiting downstream. Season~ April 22nd-September 30 Duration 6-8 hours Restrictions Riders should be at least 5 ft tall, and 12 yrs of age Pricing $114 pp + tax BIKING includes: Transportation, Guide, Suspension Mountain Bike, Helmet, Bottled Water, Lunch. RAFTING includes: Transportation, Guide, Boat, Rafting Gear, and fun

Lower Gorge RaftingTour A full day of rafting that combines the Orilla Verde and Racecourse sections of the river. This tour is perfect for those who want to ease into adventure, as it gives everyone a mellow morning to perfect their paddling technique, and the thrill of the rapids after lunch. These segments are each described in detail under the 1/2 day tour descriptions. Trips depart daily at 8:30 a.m. from the Rio Grande Gorge Visitors Center 15 miles south of Taos. Season~ April 22nd-September 30 Duration 5-6 hours Restrictions Recommended minimum age: 6 (12 @ water flows above 3000 cfs) Pricing Adults: $104.00 pp + tax Children: $75 pp + tax (11 years and younger) Includes: Guide, Gear, Helmet, Transportation, and Full Lunch

Middle Box Inflatable Kayak Tour In early or late summer when river flows are less than 600 cfs, hearty adventurers can choose to pilot their own funyak through the remote middle box. Using a twin blade kayak paddle, you will steer your own 8 ft. boat through 11 miles of unparalled beauty. The middle box is a step up the adventure scale as the tour begins with a thirty minute hike down 600 feet into the bottom of the gorge. You carry your PFD and paddle, while your boats are transported by sherpa bikes to the river and inflated on the beach. You’ll be accompanied by at least one guide, also in a funyak to provide instructional training, and demonstrate basic techniques to run the rio. Once on the water you will paddle through a rarely visited part of the gorge where Anasazi Indians used to dwell. Most of the miles are calm moving waters, yet three challenging rapids await the day. Your tour includes lunch on the beach where the San Cristobal Creek meets the Rio Grande. Launches on this stretch of river are closely regulated by the BLM, so call early to reserve your space. Season~ Typically early and mid to late summer Duration 6-8 hours Restrictions Minimum of 12 years of age required Pricing $130 + tax per person Includes: Transportation, Guide, Boat, Gear, Instruction, Lunch, a lot of fun and scenery

Two Day Gorge Overnight Tour Our premiere twenty-two mile whitewater rafting package combining the Taos Box and Racecourse river sections. After an adrenalating day of paddling through the box canyon, you’ll beach at the Rio Bravo campground and unwind as your guides prepare one of our gourmet fireside dinners. At our camp facility you will be provided with tent and sleep pad pitched and ready to go with your gear bag inside. This riverside campground has male and female bath houses will sinks and hot showers. Spend the late afternoon, swimming, fishing*, or kicking back in one of our lawn chairs with a cold beverage. Greet the morning with a delicious hot breakfast and tackle the rapids on the lower gorge. Trips depart daily from our office in Taos at 7:45 a.m. Season~ April 22nd-Mid Summer Trip Availability based on water levels Alternative Trips available in the Upper Box Duration 2 Days Restrictions Recommended minimum age: 12 Pricing $325 pp + tax Includes: Guide, Boats, Rafting Gear, Helmet, Transportation, Tent & Sleep Pad, 2 Lunches, 1 Dinner, 1 Breakfast, 1 Snack A ton of scenery and fun

2 Day Middle Box & Taos Box Overnight Rafting Tour Our exclusive twenty-eight mile whitewater rafting package combining the Middle Box and Taos Box canyon sections. This overnight is a step up the adventure scale as the tour begins with a spectacular thirty-minute hike down 700 ft. into the bottom of the gorge. You carry your PFD and paddle, while your boats are transported by sherpa bikes to the river and inflated on the beach. Once on the water you will paddle through a rarely visited part of the gorge where Anasazi Indians used to dwell. Most of the miles are calm moving waters, yet three challenging class III’s await the day. Your tour includes a gourmet lunch on the beach where the San Cristobal creek meets the Rio Grande. After enjoying 12 miles of pristine river wilderness we arrive by afternoon at the Stagecoach Hot Springs. These are the riverside hot springs located at the juncture of a stagecoach trail from the 1850’s. After soaking up the warm water and some history, we’ll head downstream a mile and beach camp by the sounds of "Ski Jump Rapid". Tents and sleeps pads which are included, will be rowed along with your personal gear bags to our camp spot. On our overnight camps, our guides turn to chef’s to serve up a gourmet dinner that you can help plan. Non- alcoholic beverages are included, and ice can gladly be provided for anything you bring to be chilled. Evenings are typically spent around the campfire, gazing at the Milky Way, listening to guitar, or sometimes a moonlight dip. Sunrise and day two are greeted with local java, and a hot breakfast to boost your energy for the Taos Box. The day awaits with 15 miles of unparalled scenery, whitewater, and of course another tasty riverside lunch. Altogether this tour is one of the most memorable trips we offer, its uniqueness happens to limited by the Bureau of Land Management. The Rio Grande is the first declared wild and scenic by congress, and the BLM limits the number of launches into the middle box amongst a few outfitters. You must call early to reserve your space. The 2009 launches for this tour are available only certain days. This season trips for this tour depart from our office in Taos at 7:45 a.m. daily Sunday through Thursday. 2009 Friday and Saturday launches are scheduled for 5/23,5/30,6/5,6/13,6/19,6/27,and 7/03, Go Big. Duration Day 1: 8 hours Day 2: 6 hours Restrictions Recommended minimum age: 12 Pricing Pricing~ $350 + tax per person Includes: Guide, Gear, Helmet, Transportation, Tent & Sleep Pad, 2 Lunches, 1 Dinner, 1 Breakfast, Memories of a Lifetime

Orilla Verde Rafting Tour The "Green Banks" is a six-mile, half-day float trip through the National Recreation Area; it’s a perfect choice for families with younger children or seniors. This tour meanders around islands and banks flush with birds nesting in the Willow and Tamarisk. Buttes and cliffs of volcanic rock provide a relaxing backdrop to learn the history of the Rio Grande, or to enjoy the many swim spots along this Class I and II trip. Trips leave twice a day from the Rio Grande Visitors Center 15 miles south of Taos. Choose between an 8:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. tour. Season~ April 22nd- September 30 Duration 2.5-3 hours Restrictions None Pricing Adults: $54.00 + tax Children: $45.00 + tax (11 years and younger) Includes: Guide, Gear, Transportation, and Snack

Custom Tours

Call (800) 753-7559 or email nsac@newmex.com to inquire about custom half-day tours.

Current Conditions

River Levels

Rio Grande below Taos Jct Bridge: 994 cfs
Updated 07.03.09 - 5:00 pm

Taos Weather

Reported at Taos Municipal Airport at 5:44 PM

Currently: Mostly clear, 75 F (24 C)
Wind: from the WSW (240 degrees) at 9 MPH (8 KT) (direction variable)
Barometer: 30.26 in. Hg (1024 hPa)
Relative Humidity: 38%