At the bottom, you can take in the subtle geological color blends that signal the work of the Río Grande Rift, which created the canyon. Near Taos, the rapids are famous among kayakers and rafters, but this section is more commonly frequented by mule deer, Río Grande cutthroat trout, red-tailed hawks, and migratory birds. The designated wild and scenic river cascades over basalt boulders as it courses south. Here, the Río Grande is not the slow-moving broad expanse seen in southern New Mexico. As you descend well-maintained switchbacks, you’ll travel from the sagebrush-dotted mesa past ancient juniper and ponderosa pine to the low-lying riparian area-an inverted world. There, follow the Wild Rivers Backcountry Byway to Big Arsenic Springs Campground and the trailhead. For hikers, the best point of entry is near Questa, at the Wild Rivers Recreation Area. WHERE: Wild Rivers Recreation Area, near QuestaĭIFFICULTY: Easy (with one strenuous stretch)ĭriving north on NM 68 toward Taos, there’s a wow moment when the road curves at the crest of a hill, and the dramatic splendor of the 50-mile-long Río Grande Gorge unfolds in the near distance. The path into the Río Grande Gorge at Wild Rivers Recreation Area. Consult the information resources provided for detailed directions and updates on trail, weather, and other variable conditions. “Moderate” trails require a bit more fitness for longer distances and more elevation gain, and “strenuous” ones may require good conditioning and cover significant mileage and elevation changes. In the descriptions that follow, “easy” trails are generally in good condition, with little elevation gain. The terrain varies, climbing from high desert to alpine, sometimes in one hike. And no wonder: The call of the trail is easy to answer in a state that ranks sixth in the country for public lands, and where uncrowded tracks lie within minutes of even the largest cities.
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