The Wild Heart of Rio Grande del Norte

North of Taos, the Rio Grande has carved a gorge 800 feet deep through a broad volcanic plateau, and the surrounding Rio Grande del Norte National Monument protects one of the wildest landscapes in New Mexico — a place of whitewater, soaring raptors, and space enough to lose yourself in for days.

A river with muscle

Down in the gorge, the Rio Grande runs fast and strong, drawing rafters to its rapids in season. From the rim, the river is a distant green thread; from a raft, it's a thundering force between towering basalt walls.

From the rim it's a silent green ribbon; down in the gorge, the river roars.

Wildlife on the wing

The monument is prime habitat for raptors — hawks, eagles, and falcons ride the thermals above the gorge — as well as bighorn sheep on the cliffs and elk on the plateau. It's a rewarding place for patient wildlife watchers.

Rim and river

You can experience it two ways: hiking and camping along the vast rim with its endless views, or descending to the water itself. Both reveal a landscape shaped, relentlessly, by the river at its heart.

Field notes

• Raft the rapids in season with a licensed outfitter.
• Watch the thermals for hawks, eagles, and falcons.
• Rim campsites offer huge views and cold, clear nights.

Whether you watch it from the rim or ride it through the rapids, the Rio Grande here is a reminder of raw natural power. Rio Grande del Norte is New Mexico at its wildest — and its most exhilarating.