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 an exciting whitewater adventure. Paddlers work together to raft through wave trains, drops and rapids with names like Alberts Falls, The Herring Bone, Narrows, Deadfoot, Big Rock, Sleeping Beauty, and Soushole. This stretch is our most popular way to have a fun time on the Rio Grande. Snacks are served at the end of this trip while the guides load the gear from our adventure. 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 -October 31st Duration 3-4 hours Restrictions Recommended minimum age: 5 with adult or parent Pricing $54pp Adults, Kids $45 + tax Includes: Guide, Gear, Helmet, Transportation, and Snack

Racecourse Kayak Tour For a great solo whitewater adventure, you can choose to pilot your own Inflatable kayak through the Racecourse, or the entire lower gorge. 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 10 ft. inflatable kayak through the Whitewater. Paddlers for kayaking should be prepared to paddle and get wet!. 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 hours Restrictions Paddlers for Kayaking should be at least 12 years old and weigh more than 100 lbs Pricing $54 + Tax Includes: Guide, kayak, all gear, transportation & Snack

Taos Box Rafting Tour The Taos Box is the most exciting trip available on the Rio Grande. This journey takes you on a seventeen 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~ Mid-March through July 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 paddle 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. Duration 6-8 hours Restrictions Riders should be at least 5 ft tall, and 12 yrs of age Season April 22nd-October 31st 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. The tour begins with a mellow morning under the basalt canyon walls as we paddle around islands and through spectacular scenery. Halfway the tour stops along the riverside for a delicious lunch prepared by your guides. After enjoying a generous deli buffet, its on to raft the class II & III rapids and the thrills of the racecourse. The afternoon stretch will tour you through 7 different rapid sets while enjoying the geology of the canyon from the raft. This is a great trip for first time rafters and experienced enthusiasts alike. Trips depart daily at 8:30 a.m. from the Rio Grande Gorge Visitors Center 15 miles south of Taos. Season~ April 22nd-October 31st Duration 5-6 hours Restrictions Recommended minimum age: 6 (12 @ water flows above 3000 cfs) Season departures March 15th- October 31st Pricing $104 pp, Kids $75 pp 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. Duration 6-8 hours Restrictions Minimum of 12 years of age required Season departures from April 1st till October 31st Pricing $130 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

Rio Grande Float Trip, Orilla Verde 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 Season departures till October 31st Pricing $54 pp, Kids $45 + tax 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: 452 cfs
Updated 02.05.12 - 6:00 am

Taos Weather

Reported at Taos Municipal Airport at 6:54 AM

Currently: Overcast, 17 F (-8 C)
Wind: Calm
Barometer: 30.33 in. Hg (1027 hPa)
Relative Humidity: 78%