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Rio Grande Gorge Full Day

Our most popular full day trip on the Rio Grande. This trip has it all and is perfect for the whole family! We start at our headquarters where you'll meet your guides for the day who will outfit you with all the gear necessary for the day on the river. At the headquarters, you'll find safe secure parking, clean restrooms, changing rooms, shaded picnic tables on our patio rooms and any last minute items you might have forgotten including sunscreen, water shoes, hats and much more. This is the perfect place to start your adventure.

After the short drive to the starting point in our vans, your river trip begins with a placid morning float through one of the most scenic parts of the canyon with great opportunities to see a variety of wildlife including mule deer, river otter, beaver and many different birds of prey. This section also affords us time to practice paddling techniques, swimming and simply enjoying the Rio Grande. Somewhere in this stretch, we'll stop on the side of the river for a nice lunch put together by your guides.

After lunch we run the Class III rapids of the "Racecourse." The Lower Gorge of the Rio Grande is a broad canyon with lush riparian habitat along the banks of the Rio. As we enter the "Racecourse" section the geology radically changes as we pass onto the Rio Grande fault line, one of the largest intercontinental fault lines in North America.

But lets not forget the WHITEWATER! The Racecourse is 6 miles of action packed class 2-3 rapids. Perfect for everyone from beginners to intermediate/experts. There is something for everyone to enjoy on this section. With rapids like the Maze, Albert's Falls, The Narrows and The Thunderdome, make sure your braced in and ready to get wet! Listen to your guides as they negotiate these rapids and many more and don't forget to ask them to surf when the water levels are lower.

Our guides are the best in the business, focusing on safety and guest service as a top priority. All are extremely knowledgeable about the area's geology, ecology and history and just love being on the river. Many with experience on rivers all over the country and across the globe, I know you'll enjoy each one as much as we do and will certainly help to make your day on the river the best possible.

Excellent birding and wildlife viewing potential along with ancient Rio Grande style petroglyphs (rock art) and desert freshwater springs as well as the classic rapids of the Racecourse, make this a fantastic full day adventure for families, first time rafters and groups. Choose your craft depending on water levels. The large majority of our guests like to participate and paddle along with the guide in the back of the boat giving paddling commands, however you may also choose to sit back and let the guide do the work on an oar boat, and for the adrenaline junkies, ask about an inflatable kayak at no extra charge.

Full Day Rio Grande Gorge trips available EVERY DAY starting in April through August. Our minimum age at most water levels is 5, however at the higher flows, that minimum age rises to 13. Please feel free to book online at www.newmexicoriveradventures.com, or call us anytime, 1-800-983-7756, to reserve your space.

Available Trip Dates

Trip Type

Rafting

Length

Full Day

Location

Rio Grande

Price

Adults: $95.00
Kids Under 12: $75.00
Minimum Age: 5