As we exit the doldrums of winter and start to see more and more sunshine throughout the day, many of us are starting to plan those wonderful summer adventures.  New Mexico has always been one of the diamonds in the rough of summer adventure destinations.  With every bit of the alpine beauty one can find in places like Colorado and the Sierras of California and less than half the people and crowds,  Northern New Mexico is the place to be!  Let’s not forget about the amazingly unique and culture comparable to visiting another country.  And, of course, the culinary destination of Santa Fe, this is the perfect place to plan your family get together or company retreat.
New Mexico River Adventures specializes in a wide variety of Group Trips including Church and Youth Groups, Wedding and Bachelor/Bachelorette Trips and School Outings before the end of classes. There are many reasons why beautiful Northern New Mexico is the perfect destination for your family, friends and colleges to vacation and meet. With many great all inclusive retreat locations and conference centers, its a breeze to accomplish everything you want along with some great adventure excursions like rafting on the Rio Grande.  Located just one hour from downtown Santa Fe and thirty minutes from downtown Taos,  we make adding that adventure element to your trip a breeze.  At New Mexico River Adventures we are the only company offering a full service facility right in the heart of the river canyon to provide you and your group with the best guest service in the state.  Just call one of our helpful reservation staff for more information about our packages which can include custom dates, times, transportation and meals.  Don’t forget to ask about GROUP DISCOUNTS and let us help plan the highlight of your visit to New Mexico!

Last year we added yet another fun and exciting Specialty Trip and twist to the normal Rio Chama 3 Day Adventure. It was a collaboration with one of New Mexico’s most acclaimed Brewery, Bosque. The folks at Bosque share the same passion for the outdoors, wilderness and great fun as we do and so it made for a perfect fit. It was also one of our most popular trips of the year. New Mexico River Adventures is proud to announce our second annual 3 day adventure on the Rio Chama with the great folks at Bosque Brewing Co.! The dates for this year’s annual Beers And Cheers trip are August 25-27. That’s 3 days and 2 nights out in some of the most exquisite scenery New Mexico has to offer. Our Outfitter provides all the camping gear and amenities to insure the most luxurious rafting and camping experience out there. Our guides prepare amazing meals to pair with the craft beers at the campsites, so you have the opportunity to explore on some side hikes, or read about and sample some of Bosque’s classic and new brews. To read further on our website, visit here!

Since opening their original taproom and brewery in October of 2012, They have also since opened two satellite taprooms, numerous expansions, and draft and retail accounts across the state. Bosque Brewing has achieved Gold and Bronze Medals at the Great American Beer Festival and won the Brewing News National IPA Challenge. To learn more about The Bosque Brewing Co. and all they have to offer; including year round offerings, specialty beers, and more, visit here: http://www.bosquebrewing.com/

The minimum age for this unforgettable trip is 21+, the price is $495.00/person. Price includes everything from the time we meet you at Bode’s general store at 9 a.m. until we return on the 3^rd day at around 4 p.m.  If guests require sleeping bags, pads, and tents for camping, we can provide those at no extra charge.  Each night will have a tasting presentation and pairing with appetizers and dinner. There’s still a few seats available in the boat for this unique wilderness experience. Give us a call at 1-800-983-7756 to reserve your spot on this amazing adventure, time is running out!

The North American River Otter, a social member of the weasel family, was a common resident on the Rio Grande for thousands of years, up until about 1953.  Because of unregulated trapping, pollution, and deforestation, these animals that once held the spot at the top of the food chain on the Rio Grande became all but non-existent for about 60 years.

Between 2008-2010, there were 33 otters that were released back into the Upper Rio Grande, relocated from Washington state. The organization Amigos Bravos has set up an “otter-cam” near John Dunn Bridge on January 28th, 2016. They have been monitoring the growth of the otter population since the re-introduction 8 years ago. A huge effort by Amigos Bravos, New Mexico Friends of River Otters, USDA Wildlife Services, Taos Pueblo, and the U.S Bureau of Land Management has largely been a success to reintroduce the otters and increase the population here on the Rio Grande.

Alternately, the efforts to do so in The Gila River have been brought to a stand-still through New Mexico wildlife officials. Though the otters main diet is generally larger and slower moving (non-native) species of fish like carp and bass, as well as crayfish, some officials are still worried about the waning populations of native fish in the Gila. The otters are most likely to eat the nonnative fish, though there is a chance that the otters could contribute to a bigger drop in the already dangerously low populations of the native fish species. Considered somewhat of a gamble here on the Gila, about 20 other states have had at least some success bringing their native fish species populations back up with otter reintroduction; the populations of the invasive, non-native fish species have dropped enough from the otters to have a positive impact. The effort to get the otters reintroduced to the Gila river will definitely continue.

When visiting a new town, where to eat is always a number one question. We are happy to share our recommendations for meals in Taos that will have you feeling like you are in with the locals! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially if you are coming rafting on our afternoon trip! For stellar eggs benedict, check out a cute little café on the north side of the plaza called Gutiz. The Farmstand has a beautiful location and a menu that boasts dishes sourced from many local farms and the outdoor seating might be the best in Taos. If you are looking for a later breakfast before your New Mexico rafting trip, head south to the town of Dixon for the BEST New Mexican breakfast around at Zuly’s. Their red and green chile stands up to any in the state and the eggs are always cooked to perfection! Lambert’s of Taos is located very close to the plaza in Taos and is a great place to have lunch. They have nice light indoor dining as well as a nice patio to enjoy one of their lovely salads or sandwiches. The village of Arroyo Seco is fun to check out on your trip to Taos and you can grab a quick fresh lunch at the famous Taos Cow or New Mexican fare at Abe’s. What better way to cap of a lovely day in the high country than with a green chile cheeseburger and a cold local beer from 5 Star burgers. Their happy hour is legendary and the menu has something for everyone! If you are looking for something a little more formal, Medley is a new restaurant in town located at the beginning of the Taos Ski Valley road. Lastly, the Kyote Club is a fantastic restaurant offering up a tapas menu along with large plates. The chef, Ky Quintanilla, has been on a couple of our wine pairing trips and knocked the socks off of our guests both times. Your guide can also give you other restaurant recommendations if you are looking for something different.

The first annual Rio Grande 94 was put on this year by one of our all star guides, Wendy Meyer. She is a veteran racer having completed two of the most prestigious and brutal river races in the country, the Missouri 340 and the Texas Water Safari. The 94 mile race started at the foot of the Little Arsenic trail in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area just before sunrise. The racers enjoyed the sunrise while navigating through the La Junta rafting section and getting warmed up for the famous Taos Box. The first check point was at the Taos Junction Bridge and our very own Devin Beck was leading! The next two check points were after the Racecourse section and right before the White Rock stretch. The racers had to navigate through NINE dams on this section!! The race ended at the Cochiti Reservoir where all participants were met by Wendy with her trademark smile and a cold beer. Tying for first in the kayak division were Garret Schooley and Sebastian Munoz and first place in the inflatable kayak division was Devin Beck and an honorable mention going to Luke Kriken. The total race time was around 22 hours. We are excited to see how this race grows in the future and to cheer on and support all the participants as they take on the fun challenge. If you happen to get any of the participants or Wendy as your guide next summer, be sure to ask them for their first hand accounts!

We are hoping for another winter full of favorable weather patterns here in the southwest that will dump considerable snow in the mountains and lead to substantial runoff in the 2017 spring and early summer. It is never too early to start planning your trip with New Mexico River Adventures! Give us a call or send an email with any questions. We look forward to seeing you on the river, whether you want to go rafting in Santa Fe or Taos, New Mexico!  We have the #1 Rated adventures in New Mexico!

NMRA is looking forward to sharing our love of white water rafting in New Mexico with you this summer! Whether you join us for a half day trip down the Racecourse or a three day trip on the Rio Chama, we have just the adventure for you! Our Stand Up Paddle Boarding program has become very popular as we are the only company in the state with professional and certified Paddleboard instructors and we look forward to sharing the fun new sport with you. Also, don’t forget about our Specialty trips on the Rio Chama.  Our Gourmet trip is always a hit and we also offer a beer lovers trip with Bosque Brewery as well as our annual Music Trip.  Call for more details!

New Mexico River Adventures is excited to invite larger groups to add on our famous Chicken and Veggie Fajita Lunch either before or after your adventure with us right here at our headquarters! We are offering Fresh and Hot Fajitas with tender chicken, sauteed veggies, black beans, red chile rice, our own special fajita sauce, fresh fruit, cold drinks and dessert at $10 per person. You can also feel free to grab a growler from our neighbors at Blue Heron Brewing to enjoy with your meal. Call our office to add this on to your trip! Don’t wait to book your trip- whether you are wanting to go kayaking, paddle boarding, or white water rafting in Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico, we’re ready for you!

Lucky Us!  That seemed to be the shared sentiment a friend and I had as we got out for a quick paddle on the Racecourse and Bosque sections of the Rio Grande the other day.  As is typical this time of year in New Mexico, the Rio Grande has plenty of water and the weeks often bring some days with bright and beautiful skies and nice warm temps despite plenty of ice that has settled onto the Basalt rocks throughout the Rio Grande river corridor. One of the many special things about living in the Gorge is that the river flows throughout a good part of the winter exceed our Aug and September flows which means there is plenty of water to enjoy on practically all the sections of the Rio Grande that we run commercially and privately.  The other great aspect of paddling in the winter here is of course the wildlife.  Our winter residents include multiple pairs of Bald Eagles, otters, coyote, elk and deer to name a few.  The Bald Eagles are always active throughout the day and are easy to spot in the wide open winter cottonwoods lining the river banks. Find your favorite New Mexico rafting trip with New Mexico River Adventures and experience the Rio Grande for yourself!