Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

Understand

Rio Grande del Norte was added to the national parks system when it was proclaimed as a national monument by President Barack Obama in 2013. It was assembled out of a collection of lands held by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), who administer the monument. The BLM has been working on developing the recreation areas within the monument for a while now, constructing visitor centers, campgrounds, trails, and new roads over the past couple of decades. As such, visitors will find a well-developed monument still largely unknown to tourists, albeit one quickly being discovered.

The monument is in the midst of an area of fairly recent (in geologic terms) volcanic activity. The area sits within the Rio Grande Rift, a place where the tectonic plates move away from each other; this created an opening in the Earth's crust where volcanoes formed, with the subsequent lava flows cooling and filling in the rift. Today's Taos Plateau, a vast expanse of basalt flows punctuated by the occasional dormant volcano, is the result of this activity. This also accounts for the existence of the gorge, as the Rio Grande was able to cut through the accumulated layers of basalt, carving the deep gorge that exists today.

Ecosystems range from willow and cottonwood stands along the banks of the Rio Grande at the monument's lowest elevations in the Orilla Verde area, to sagebrush plains atop the plateau, to pinyon pine growing on the nearby hills and the slopes of the gorge. Within the gorge in the Wild Rivers area, there is also the occasional ponderosa pine or Douglas fir, trees which normally grow at the higher elevations of the nearby mountains. A variety of resident and migrant birds make their home along the river, while the plateau provides a winter range for many large grazing mammals such as elk, mule deer, pronghorn and bighorn sheep, as well as the occasional predator such as cougars, bobcats, black bears, and coyotes.

Get in

The monument is most easily reached by car. The nearest airport with significant commercial service is in Albuquerque, about two hours' drive south. Santa Fe is closer but only has limited commercial air service. Taos has a general aviation airport with no scheduled service.

The southernmost section of the monument, the Orilla Verde Recreation Area, is just off NM 68 between Española and Taos (which passes through a section of gorge south of the monument proper) near the village of Pilar, where the Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center is located. From Pilar, take NM 570 into Orilla Verde; NM 570 eventually intersects with NM 567, which crosses the Rio Grande at the base of the gorge before making a steep climb out of the gorge and then proceeding west to US 285; however, note that the section of the road climbing out of the gorge is gravel, winding, and sometimes passes alarmingly close to precarious drops.

Further north, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge carries US 64 over the gorge west of Taos. Even further north, the Wild Rivers Recreation Area is near the village of Questa, north of Taos on NM 522; from Questa, take NM 522 a couple of miles north from town and turn left on NM 387, a short road that leads directly to the recreation area.

Visitor information

• Park website

Fees and permits

There is no entry fee to the monument, although there is a day use fee of $3 per vehicle to park at the developed recreation sites in the Orilla Verde and Wild Rivers Recreation Areas; self-service pay stations are located in these areas.

Get around

As with getting in, a car is the most feasible way of getting around the monument. Taos is located about midway between the two main recreation areas; to get from Orilla Verde to Wild Rivers, take NM 68 north from Pilar, which will climb out of the gorge on its way to Taos and offer a spectacular view northwards of the gorge cutting through the plateau. NM 68 is the main drag through Taos, becoming US 64 in the center of town as you head north. US 64 continues northward out of town for a few miles before intersecting with NM 522; here, you can turn left onto US 64 and make a trip of several miles out to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, or continue straight on NM 522 about 20 miles to the village of Questa. From Questa, continue on NM 522 a couple of miles north and turn left on NM 387 to Wild Rivers.

If you're up for a serious hike, the West Rim Trail runs nine miles atop the west rim of the gorge between the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and NM 567 at the northern end of the Orilla Verde Recreation Area. This trail offers superb views of the gorge, plateau, and distant mountains, although there's no shade and you'll be completely exposed to the elements. This is also a really good trail for mountain biking or horseback riding, although if you're on a bike beware of "goathead" thorns, which are common in these parts and often sharp enough to puncture a tire.

Stay safe

As with the rest of northern New Mexico, Rio Grande del Norte is in the high desert at elevations well over a mile above sea level, so those prone to altitude sickness should take the proper measures to acclimatize to the high altitude before taking any strenuous hikes. The dry climate and frequently cloudless skies also lend themselves to dehydration and sunburn; drink lots of water and wear sunscreen. Don't drink untreated water from the river; Giardia parasites are common in local streams and rivers.

The area is prone to some pretty extreme variations in weather, particularly in the summer and winter months. Monsoon season lasts through July and August and is marked by frequent afternoon thunderstorms that can form in a hurry, bringing sudden downpours and lightning; take raingear and try not to get caught unaware in a vulnerable place. Winter sees sharp variations in temperature, with sunny, mild days frequently giving way to very cold nights; snow doesn't commonly fall, but it can linger at higher elevations, particularly in the shade.

A fairly unique hazard to the gorge is the danger of rock slides. In addition to the trails that climb the gorge, NM 68 between Espanola and Taos passes through the gorge near the monument, and rock slides there can leave large rocks in the roadway capable of damaging the undercarriage of your vehicle; take curves with caution and be prepared to slow to avoid hazards.

Go next

The nearby town of Taos offers plenty of attractions for the visitor, including a thriving arts scene, museums, historic sites, and the iconic Taos Pueblo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in North America. Behind Taos is the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, which offers numerous opportunities for hiking and backpacking, as well as skiing in the winter. Following the waters of the Rio Grande south will take you to the town of Española, located about mid-way between Taos and Santa Fe, the state capitol and primary tourist destination of New Mexico, with numerous museums, art galleries, and excellent dining.