New Mexico is a world-renowned destination for appreciating the arts, visiting cultural heritage sites and admiring the beauty of the high desert. This summer was the summer to discover that there is also a multitude of outdoor fun, interesting, and educational activities for families to enjoy in the Santa Fe, Taos, and Abiquiu areas. It’s amazing what you can find in your own state when you take the time to explore.

With that in mind here are a few recommendations to play tourist and explore what Northern New Mexico has to offer for locals and visitors alike.

The Nature Conservancy‘s Santa Fe Canyon Preserve and the Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary is an easily accessible and scenic sanctuary for plants, animals and visitors that is worth visiting in all seasons. This 135-acre property at the top of Upper Canyon Road in Santa Fe is used as an educational, cultural and historical center. There are over 200 bird species that populate designated sites throughout the property. Visit the native plant and pollinator gardens where you can view native bee houses, or find your way to the wetland area home to an active beaver colony. The site is also a great place for a hike. You can easily access Santa Fe’s extensive Dale Ball Trail system from the center.

Head north from Santa Fe to the Taos area and you travel along the mighty Rio Grande River. Within the Rio Grande del Norte Monument and Taos Gorge not only will you find incredible views, but also abundant wildlife, and white water rafting. To experience the very best view of this majestic landscape and array of wildlife make it an adventure for your family and go rafting. New Mexico River Adventures is New Mexico’s top rated rafting outfitter and the headquarters is conveniently located between Santa Fe and Taos. With competitive rates, a retail shop that stocks all the little things you may have missed, like sun screen, and safety as a top priority, white water rafting is appropriate for all skill levels and fun for the whole family.

Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, NM is an education and retreat center surrounded by colorful and magnificent cliffs. Of the many offerings that the center has, the horseback trail rides through acres of artist landscape will create treasured memories for families.

These are just a few of the interesting, educational, and fun activities for families to enjoy in Northern New Mexico. So get out there and start exploring your own backyard.

The Fall in Northern New Mexico has been long and beautiful and the anticipation for snow and winter had been growing throughout the community.  With our most recent storm and temperatures falling to well below freezing most days, the wait is over.  Welcome to winter!  This is the time of year that brings much excitement to our communities as everyone is tuning their skis and getting ready for yet another  ski season at the many amazing resorts throughout Northern New Mexico.  Here at NMRA, we have many to chose from.  With some of our staff spread out between Sipapu, Taos Ski Valley, Angel Fire, Red River and Ski Santa Fe.  All perfect destinations for the greatest of powder hounds.

Look forward to seeing you all out there on the slopes, soaking up all of the great snow that we plan on recycling throughout the summer, whitewater rafting  on the Rio Grande and Rio Chama!

If you love food, wine and wilderness, there are few trips available in the country that compare to this amazing adventure.  This trip combines them all with a level of comfort above and beyond the normal multi-day river trip.  You’ll be amazed at the gear we bring along on this adventure to transform each night’s camp into a dining room reserved for the finest of restaurants.  Not to mention the food and wine that fills the table each night.  Our good friends Chef Rocky Durham and Vivac Winery combine efforts to provide four amazing courses for each night’s dining experience.

Sit back and relive the days adventure while learning about the wine making process and the subtle notes each wine will leave on your palate while perfectly paired with Chef Rocky’s amazing creations.  The wines at Vivac are widely acclaimed as the best in New Mexico and in the west with a bold approach to some of your favorite varietals as well as some new selections you may be introduced to for the first time.  Chef Rocky Durham is certainly one of the largest names in a rock star community of chefs that comprise of multiple James Beard award winners and nationally known innovators which help to make Santa Fe, NM one of the world’s premier culinary destinations.  His focus is on seasonal, fresh ingredients that stand out and do the talking.  All of his courses are inspired by plants and animals that you will likely see on your journey through the Rio Chama Canyon.  Don’t be surprised if you see him and the Guides hunting for the perfect piece of driftwood on which your first course will be served.  Don’t be nervous though, we bring along all the china and fine wine glasses as well for this incredibly unique and amazing melting pot of fine food, wine and wilderness.  We have just announced 2018 dates for the Gourmet Wine Pairing Trip which will be July 20-22.  Don’t wait until the last minute to reserve your space at the table for a one of a kind adventure that will leave you with great memories of beautiful New Mexico for years to come.  Please fell free to reserve online or give one of our helpful reservation staff a call with any questions at all.

It’s that time of year when we offer the biggest discounts on our whitewater rafting trips.  Our Holiday Special happening starts on Wednesday, Nov. 25th and runs until the New Year.  This is a great opportunity to reserve your 2018 river trip on the Racecourse Half Day, Rio Grande Gorge Full Day or the Taos Box Full Day for a whopping 20% discount off of our 2017 rates.  If you know when you’d like to go, just go online and enter the promo code 2018Gift and get your discount at checkout.  You won’t see a deal like this all year so please don’t hesitate.

Also, don’t forget about that special gift or Stocking Stuffer in the form of a Gift Certificate.  Its a great last minute idea for someone in your life that loves Adventure as much as you.  Gift Certificates can be purchased in dollar form or for a specific trip.  Don’t worry about waiting until the last minute.  Our gift Cards will be sent to you by e-mail immediately after making your purchase.  Just print out the Gift Card and slip it into your loved ones stocking or send it directly to them by e-mail.  Either way its sure to be a very special present with memories for years to come.   Don’t forget to add the photo package on to your purchase.

Of course, we are open year around to help with any questions about your New Mexico getaway.  Please feel free to call anytime with questions about any of our amazing trips.  Also, look for our specialty trip dates and announcements throughout the Winter and Spring.  Happy Holidays to all of our amazing guests, family and friends form the entire NMRA family!

The Rio Grande in the United States, also known as the Río Bravo, travels 1,885 miles (3,034 km), and the fourth longest river system in the United States.  The Rio Grande rises in high mountains and flows for much of its length at high elevation. In New Mexico, the river flows through the Rio Grande Rift from one sediment-filled basin to another, cutting canyons between the basins and supporting a fragile Bosque ecosystem in its floodplain. But before that runoff settles down to a placid river, it rumbles through far northern New Mexico.

The Rio Grande flows out of the snowcapped Rocky Mountains in Colorado from its headwaters in the San Juan Mountains, and journeys through New Mexico, Texas and Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico. It passes through 800-foot chasms of the Rio Grande Gorge, a wild and remote area of northern New Mexico. In 1968, the Rio Grande and Red River were among the first eight rivers Congress designated into the National Wild and Scenic River System to protect outstanding resources values. Whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande is the most fun and important outdoor activity to be enjoyed in Northern New Mexico during the spring and summer months.  There are few other rivers that have the historical importance as the Rio Grande and also contain incredible whitewater that can be accessed in a single day.  From the Colorado border down through the Remote Razorblades section, the iconic Taos Box canyon and finishing through the latter part of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument and finally the famous rapids of the Racecourse.  There are new sections of this incredible river system to enjoy year after year for our millions of visitors.  From family floats to world class whitewater, the Rio Grande continues to deliver incredible outdoor adventures for those seeking Taos Whitewater Rafting.

Unfortunately, the whitewater rafting on Rio Grande continues to be negatively targeted in the news, both local and national, as we have seen lower water seasons due to below average snowpacks and unscheduled and under regulated irrigation draws from our neighbors to the north.  It seems that these days, the only news worth reporting is bad news.  What most people don’t hear is that, unlike almost every other whitewater destination in the West, the Rio Grande has runnable flows year around.  And even though we have seen some lower flows recently, we always have a great section of whitewater to enjoy for all of our visitors, regardless of the water conditions.  Whether it be in rafts, Stand Up Paddleboards or Kayaks, the Rio Grande offers multiple sections of river to enjoy throughout the spring, summer and fall when our weather is absolutely gorgeous. Just contact a professional about which section of the Rio Grande might be best for you and your group or family and get out there and enjoy one or multiple days on this incredibly beautiful and challenging river!

JM: Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Jake Walker, NMRA’s head boatman and SUP Extaordinaire. Jake, what was it that brought you into rafting?

JW: Well, I guess it was always just meant to be… I’ve always been on the water. I took two weeks, and went up to Arizona with a buddy. We stayed at a rafting company out there, and all of a sudden, I was getting paychecks! It started as a visit, and turned into a job. I didn’t want to make rafting a job, or make anything on the river a job, because I didn’t want to take the fun out of it. But, it’s still fun, 25 years later.

JM: That was my next question. Is that how long you’ve been guiding? 25 years?

JW: Yeah… since ’92, however long it’s been since then!

JM: Tell me, what’s the best part about being a guide?

JW: The best part about being a guide is the freedom. To pull up [stakes], and go to the next place, no questions asked- without it being weird like it would be for other people. Also, the interaction with the people, with the guests.

JM: So then, what’s the hardest part about being a guide?

JW: The hardest part is probably relationships. What it has done to relationships; it makes [relationships] a little tougher when you’re not present.

JM: Personal relationships?

JW: ROMANTIC relationships! I think it’s really good for personal relationships, tenfold. But as far as romantic interests are concerned, it (guiding) seems to have always taken a toll on them.

JM: What is a trip or river that’s on your “bucket list”?

JW: Well, of course I want to paddleboard the Grand Canyon, and the Selway River. Definitely on my list.

JM: What’s your favorite kind of boat or vessel, and why?

JW: Of course, a paddleboard! Just because of the freedom, and the ability to push the limits with a very low threshold of fear.

JM: OK! Last but not least, what’s your favorite band?

JW: My favorite band -this week- is…. oh man, I don’t ever have a favorite band, I love them all! But I’m gonna throw Shiny Roots out there this week, because they cancelled their show in Santa Fe, and they didn’t get support there.

The New Mexico River Adventures crew are huge fans of green chile. We incorporate it into our signature lunch dish on our full day trips, because what are fresh fajitas without the true flavor of New Mexico?

 

Roasting the chiles doesn’t just give them that amazing, smokey flavor; it also blisters the skin of the fruit to make them easier to peel and prepare into the favorite and classic dishes of New Mexico.

The standard question at any New Mexican eatery is, “Red or green?” in reference to chile preference. The truth is, they are the same- just harvested at different times. Green chiles are harvested earlier, while the red chiles are red because they were left on the plant to further ripen. Red chiles are typically a little spicier than green, though a lot of that has to do with the variety of chile itself.

                                                                                                

Each variety of chile has a heat level (Scoville unit) range.  As an example, the variety named “NuMex Big Jim’s” are typically a medium heat (2500 – 3500 Scovilles) while “Sandia” or “Diablo” varieties can be hot to extra hot (5000 – 7000 Scovilles). When buying New Mexico chile, you are usually just offered mild, medium, hot, or extra hot- not necessarily a specific variety of chile.  Like most produce, the seed, dirt, water, altitude, and climate of the area in which the chiles are grown can all affect the flavor of the fruit.

New Mexico Gas Co. is starting a gas pipeline replacement project on Tues, August 1st 2017, between Pilar and Rinconada, NM along Highway 68. The 6 mile stretch to be replaced runs above ground on the geologically unstable West side of the Rio Grande between mile marker 30 and mile marker 24.  This side of the river in this area is prone to landslides, and the ground is constantly shifting due to underground springs and geological activity. The existing pipeline is 8″ in diameter, to be replaced with 12″ pipeline and rerouted to the East side of the river next to the North-bound lane of Highway 68.

This pipeline replacement project will run a predicted 4 months from August through November, and will hopefully be completed by Thanksgiving 2017. The road crews will be working on 1 mile stretches at a time, closing one lane of traffic on those mile stretches beginning August 8th. A pilot car will escort the traffic through the construction areas. Expected wait times are estimated at 15 minutes.

If you’ve booked a trip with us and are traveling to our Headquarters from Taos, please allow yourself an extra 30 minutes of travel time. The typical travel time is about 30 minutes, so plan on the drive down Highway 68 from Taos taking approximately an hour. Here at New Mexico River Adventures, we’re going to ensure our guests are impacted as minimally as possible by this project. Our river trips on the Rio Grande will still be going out every day, and a moderately short wait in traffic along a beautiful highway will absolutely not affect the high quality of our Racecourse and Rio Grande Gorge rafting trips. When you’re booking your trip with us, our reservationists can offer up helpful advice about the most convenient local accommodations to help you plan your routes and drive times.

JM: Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Luke Kriken. Luke, what brought you into rafting?

LK: I was just looking for a summer job in between school, and found out that I knew somebody at this company. I had worked a care-providing gig for years, and decided I wanted to get a job for myself this time; I felt like I had played my part and donated to the community, so I really wanted to do something for myself. I found out about this, and had only been rafting once when I was 17-  I’m pretty sure we were being such little jerks [on that trip] that the guide flipped the boat on purpose… but yeah, that was the one time I had rafted before this gig, and I came out here, had never even been to New Mexico; fell in love with the area and boating, and have been back every summer since.

JM: How long have you been professionally guiding?

LK: 4 seasons- 4 summers.

JM: So, what’s the most epic trip you’ve done so far?

LK: Cataract Canyon, 2015! 16 days, self-supported through the canyon, with Wendy Meyer as the awesome TL (trip leader). We just floated the first few days. I’d never ridden class IV [rapids] before. Then we had three days of class III rafting, about two and a half days of class IV. It was like, 5,000 cf/s, and I was in a Super… and I only fell out once! I thought I was going to flip- I saw the boat in front of me, I was second point- they hit this hole, and looked back at me yelling, “don’t hit it, don’t hit it!!” I couldn’t square up and hit it at an angle, and it just threw me out. I was holding onto the frame shouting, “I’m ok…” when I really wasn’t ok! But somehow I got back into the raft, and we were good. I had oar leashes, thankfully- that’s what saved me!

JM: What’s the hardest part about being a guide?

LK: The hardest part? Probably training your guests to do well in the boat. You got to set them up for success. That’s a good question. Logistics are really hard too, getting everything prepped. Then once you’re on the river, take a deep breath, because you’re on the river! [You’re] on the river finally, having done all the prep work, whether it’s a snack or lunch; but then just organizing all the other guides, trying to give them the best crew for them- once again, trying to set them up for success. So, yeah, just the logistics behind it all sometimes is really difficult. Giving another guide a seven or an eight-load, or little kids… it all falls on the trip leader, so sometimes it’s a very difficult job.

JM: And the best part about being a guide?

LK: The best part? Being on the river! Or, when you hit something you shouldn’t hit, but then you come through with all your people in the raft, and you’re like, “YES! We just did that! It wasn’t the plan, but we did it!” Like hitting Trench-Hole in Rock Garden [Rapid]. You hit it and you square up, and man, it’s a big, big hit. Somehow everyone stays in the raft, and you’re thinking “YES! I wish that was the line, but it isn’t… but we succeeded!” You won’t always have the ideal line, but you have to have plan A, B, and C under your belt, right? So, the happy accidents- the victories.

JM: What are any trips or rivers that you haven’t done yet, that are on your bucket list?

LK: The Zambezi, without a doubt! Especially since it’s supposedly going to get dammed in the next ten years, and that’s going to change it. So, that’s definitely a trip I want to do, and probably the Gauley. What’s another good one? The Futaleufu… pretty much every river I haven’t done!

JM: What is your favorite kind of boat, and why?

LK: Paddle boat guiding? I love the Sotars, they track well, they can high-side, it’s just so hard to flip them. Rowing, I really love the little “Tanager” AIRE boat we use for oar rigs. It’s got those bigger diameter tubes, when you’re rowing you can hit so much stuff. I really love rowing- I’ve fallen in love with that more over the years. Of course, I still love paddle guiding, but if I’m rowing the [Taos] Box, I’m a happy camper.

JM: Alright! One last, random question. What’s you’re favorite band?

LK: Favorite band… it’s so hard to choose. One thing I’ve been digging on lately is Bella Fleck and The Flecktones. They’re one of my favorites, for sure. I’m in a Bluegrass faze right now, so… Railroad Earth, and of course, got to love David Allan Coe. Those are the three that I’m listening to the most, at the moment.