Rio Grande, New Mexico, US |
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| Usual Difficulty | II-III (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 8 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 12 fpm |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIO GRANDE NEAR CERRO, NM | ||||
| usgs-08263500 | 300 - 3000 cfs | II-III | 01h01m | 267 cfs (rc= -0.0 ) |
Generally this is the paddle out for the Upper Box or Red River reaches. Access is very difficult
for those who just want to paddle the II/III.
See the descriptions of this run at SouthwestPaddler.com and at New Mexico
Bureau of Land Management Rivers Page.
The reaches of the Taos Box area are...
Ute Mountain (Class II),
Razors (Class III/IV),
Upper Box (Class V/V+),
Lower Box (Class III/IV),
Pilar (Class III/IV),
Otowi Bridge (Class III),
Red River (Class IV),
Rio Pueblo (Class V+), and
Rio Embudo (Class V+).
No photos found. We have no additional information about how various flows affect runnability (or playability) of this section of river. If you can provide additional information, please either directly contact the StreamTeam member for this reach, or add a 'comment' or a 'report' with your information to help out your fellow boaters.
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIO GRANDE NEAR CERRO, NM | ||||||||||||
| usgs-08263500 | 300 - 3000 cfs | II-III | 01h01m | 267 cfs (rc= -0.0 ) | ||||||||
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No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
reach
state
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4. Red River confluence to John Dunn Bridge , Rio Grande New Mexico, US (mobile)
User Comments
650 cfs. There is plenty of flat water, but this is not a class II run. As a local expert noted,
"there are a couple stout class 3 rapids on the stretch." Boaters putting in at the bottom of
Little Arsenic Trail will immediately encounter three class II to II+ rapids. Shortly thereafter is
the La Junta rapid, visible from the Little Arsenic Campground on the gorge rim. It is hidden
around a bend to the left, so be heads up. A commercial guide advised running generally river left,
but while river scouting, I did not see a clear line. Due to the length and technical nature
(longer than Albert Falls and more technical than The Narrows on the Racecourse stretch), I'd rate
this a III+. Scouting is advised for first timers. The second class III came about halfway through
the run. You can hear the very short, but steep and powerful Garapata from a distance. The horizon
line is easy to spot, and the slow pool makes for an easy scout (we scouted from river right). The
riverbed constricts and drops sharply. To avoid a hole on the left and "funny" water on the right,
run straight down the tongue into the rooster tail, then charge hard left to avoid the large
boulder at the bottom. Plenty of flat, slow water follows in the event carnage recovery is needed.