Whitewater Rafting in Taos Box Canyon

The Taos Box is the centerpiece of one of the first Wild and Scenic Rivers in the U.S.A., and a premier Class IV whitewater run.

Between John Dunn Bridge, at the mouth of Arroyo Hondo, and Taos Junction Bridge, near Orilla Verde Recreation Area, are 17 miles of boating excitement!

We want you to enjoy a special region and an exceptional trip with us.

This rate is for weekdays (Monday through Friday). For Saturday or Sunday, please order Rio Grande Whitewater Rafting in Taos Box Canyon - Weekends.

Boat Choices

We use only the most dependable modern whitewater self-bailing rafts. They are strong, resilient and easy to fix in the field if necessary. Only top brand names like Riden, Sotar, and Hyside are in this modern fleet.

You have a choice between three different styles of inflatable river craft, and you will need to make a specific choice of craft on the Order Form.

PADDLE RAFT
In a paddle boat, each participant has a paddle, like a canoe paddle (often mistakenly referred to as an oar), and helps to propel and manuever maneuver the raft. This is the most popular option. There is a guide in every paddle boat; they are the captain of the boat, and will give instruction and call commands. They sit in the back of the boat and steer. This in the most active boat, needing full participation from the crew in responding to the guide's commands.

OAR RAFT
In the oar boat, the guide sits in the middle compartment on the rowing frame. He has two oars, as in a row boat, and does all the work and navigation. Passengers sit in front and back compartments, hold on, and enjoy the ride. Riding in the oar boat is a more casual and relaxed way to go, great for taking photographs.

OAR BOAT/PADDLE ASSIST
The third choice is a hybrid of the two boats. We call this an oar boat with paddle-assist, or perhaps a paddle boat with oar-assist, depending on how much paddling you do. This is a good choice for a group that has some people who want to paddle and some who want to ride, and they all want to be in the same boat. In this boat, those who want to paddle get to, as long as we have a balanced number, and those who want to hold on can just hold on and enjoy the ride.

What to Expect:

The trip is entirely contained in the black, lava walls of the Rio Grande Gorge, whose walls range up to 1000 feet in height. The gradient profile of the river in the Box begins with two miles of fairly gentle drops (Class I), then nine miles of approximate 35 ft. per mile gradient (Class II-IV), culminating in five miles of approximate 55 ft. per mile (Class IV-IV+). This latter section, beginning at the precipitous Powerline Falls includes almost continuous whitewater, through drops with names like Rock Garden, Boatreamer, Screaming Lefthand Turn, and Sunset.

In early season, the Box is what boaters call "a screamer," often runnable in as little as three hours floating time. However, most typically we will plan to return the participants to their vehicles between 2:00 pm & 3:00 pm. A delicious buffet lunch with sandwiches, salads, fruit and cookies is included, served at river's edge.

What to Bring:

Cap or hat
Water bottle
Sunscreen
Sunglasses with retaining strap
Quick dry Shorts and t-shirt
Sneakers with wool socks
Dry clothes in your car for after the trip!

Waiver Required:

Before going on any river trip, each guest must read, understand, and sign our Liability Waiver. Parents or legal guardians must sign for any children.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need experience?

Almost all of the trips that we offer can be done by people with no experience at all. The class IV and class IV+ trips are definitely for the more adventurous and more athletic. Being comfortable around water is good. You have to be able to paddle in the rapids and to jump around in case of highside situations. Falling in and swimming is always possible.

Am I going to get wet?

Yes you are going to get wet! The bigger the whitewater, the higher the river, the wetter you get. With the biggest rapids, especially at high water, you will get drenched. On the mildest trips at least your feet will get wet. We will provide raingear and wetsuits as necessary.

What does your outfitter provide?

We will provide all the rafting equipment that is necessary for your river trip with us. Meals are generally taken care of by us. For half-day trips, we serve a small snack; on the full-day trips, there's a deli-style, build-it-yourself lunch. For our overnight tours, we include breakfasts and dinners - and provide all the necessary kitchen items and do all the food preparation. On multi-day trips, we provide full service, including all that is necessary except personal items and your sleeping bag and sleeping pad (if you don't have them, they can be arranged for ahead of time for $10 a night). We provide tents and the full kitchen, hearty food, and do all food preparation. Everything is taken care of. Our staff has mastered the art of gracious outdoor camping.

What if I forget to bring something I need?

You might be able to buy what you need at our check-in point - you can buy boating accessories, eyewear retainers, or sunglasses. If you're hungry before or after the rafting trip, the facility offers burritos, sandwiches, fresh baked goods, snacks and drinks.

Is rafting safe?

Whitewater rafting is an outdoor adventure sport with an element of inherent risk, and it is possible to be injured. Is it dangerous? No, but no reputable outfitter should tell you it is absolutely safe. The uncontrolled and sometimes unpredictable elements of a naturally flowing river are part of the thrill of whitewater rafting. The water levels and difficulty of the rapids are factors but, statistically, you are much more likely to be injured playing basketball or skiing. An experienced outfitter familiar with the varying conditions likely to be encountered can greatly minimize the risks involved. The use of alcohol or illegal drugs before or during a trip is both illegal and forbidden. Anyone under the influence will be removed from a trip without refund.

What preparations has your company made for safety?

We are thoroughly equipped and prepared to minimize the risks. We use quality manufactured self-bailing river rafts. Your river guides are all experienced professionals; guide qualifications include wilderness first aid, CPR, and Swiftwater Rescue training.

What is your Cancellation Policy?

We strongly suggest trip insurance because all of our tours are non-refundable, unless for some reason WE have to cancel your rafting tour.

What do I wear?

You will be sent a gear check list with your confirmation. What you wear will differ depending on the time of year you raft and on the level of the river. Generally, the higher the river the wetter the ride. Passengers should wear clothes to keep you warm when wet. These will be clothes made out of polypropylene, pile, fleece, capalene, and wool. These synthetic materials have the property to keep you warm when they are wet. Cotton is to be avoided! No bluejeans! When cotton gets wet, it wicks the heat away from you and will not rewarm like the synthetic materials mentioned above. Any extra warm cloths you want to bring can be stored in dry bags we provide. Spring and early summer will be cold and wet. We will provide wetsuits and splashgear as we see necessary. Half-day trips will be issued splashgear while full-day and multi-day trips get farmerjohn wetsuits, splash tops, and wetsuit booties. Early to late summer the temperature soars and the sun is hot. The day calls for shorts, t-shirts, sunscreen (very important), hat, and sunglasses with retainer so you don?t lose them. Fairer skinned people may want even more sun protection. We provide the raingear for the occasional summer shower.

How do I get back to my car?

We will provide transportation to and from your vehicle.

How long has your outfitter been in business?

They first started running the Rio Grande in 1976 and have been in operation year around somewhere, running the river, in New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, and Mexico, ever since.

Can I bring my camera to take photos?

We suggest not trying to take photographs during the raft trip. Not only is it difficult to accomplish, but whitewater rafting means there's a lot of water spashing about. Water and cameras don't mix very well! If you still want to try taking your own photographs, we recommend bringing a disposable/waterproof camera. Waterproof storage can be provided, but it is no guarantee against getting a camera wet. We can offer an alternative! A professional photography company we work with will shoot you in the rapids and you may order pictures from them online at your convenience.

How many people fit in a raft?

Seven people, plus one guide, are normally the most guests in a raft.

Do I need to know how to swim?

No. Your PDF (personal floatation device, or life jacket) is US Coast Guard approved and is designed to keep you afloat should you find yourself out of the raft. A pre-trip safety orientation is presented before all trips. This orientation covers most situations you might encounter during your trip. Swimming ability is recommended, however.

Is tipping expected?

Tips are accepted and appreciated, but not expected or required. Our guides are adequately compensated, but the difference between a good river trip and a great river trip is frequently the guide. If you are inclined to tip, a good reference is how you would tip in a restaurant.

What is the food like?

Our policy is to provide fresh, nutritious, healthy, tasty, and freshly prepared food. We do all the food preparation. We're famous for our river-side meals. Our table is set for all different appetites and dietary concerns. If you do have special dietary concerns such as allergies or you are a vegetarian just let us know when you make your reservation and we will pack accordingly. Lunch on one-day trips and on the first day of multi-day trips is a deli style spread with a variety of thin sliced meats and cheeses with all the garnishes. A freshly prepared pasta or potato salad is on the side depending on season, group size, and what quality ingredients are available. If you can finish all that, then we break out the cookies for dessert. For dinner on multi-day trips, we often have something fresh off the grill. If red meat is on your "no" list, we can easily substitute chicken or fish. A fresh salad with delicious fresh cooked potatoes, of as many different styles as we have guides, go on the side with the vegetable of the season. Last, but not least, no dinner would be complete without a fresh baked dessert! A Dutch Oven Delight! Cake or cobbler, it's good! Coffee available upon request. In the morning, wake up to the smell hearty river coffee brewing and sizzling bacon frying. Don't drink coffee? We have tea, hot chocolate or juice. Don't eat bacon? There?s plenty more to chose from - eggs, cereal, pancakes, French toast, and fresh fruit often fill out the menu. For lighter appetites, just let us know your preferences when you make your reservations. A full day on the river often calls for a hearty breakfast. On the longer trips, we follow the same standards, but add variety. Barbecued chicken, enchiladas, lasagna or grilled fish might find its way to the table. Each trip leader has favorite recipes, and can accommodate all but the pickiest of eaters. There are few limits to what we can prepare on the river, given the time to do it.

What if I have special medical or physical requirements?

We frequently accommodate individual dietary requirements, and are easily able to refrigerate special medications for guests on our trips. As for physical limitations, we have taken people with seeing handicaps, paraplegics, severe arthritis, missing limbs, and many other smaller handicaps. Please call our office to discuss options. We probably will have a trip for you! Our guides are capable of delivering guests down the river with little personal participation other than holding on occasionally and making their way from boat to vehicle, boat to camp, or boat to kitchen. Unfortunately, some people cannot easily perform these simple functions that most of us take for granted. However, with careful planning and the critical assistance of friends and/or relatives, we have been able to introduce guests with difficult physical challenges to the beauty of these river canyons.

What about toilet facilities?

We're out in the wild, so there are no indoor facilities. For "number one," no special arrangements are made - just "ladies upstream by the pink bush" and "gentlemen downstream by the blue bush." Right by or into the river is environmentally accepted and even recommended. For solid waste on day trips, we bring a small shovel and go a couple of hundred feet up from the river to dig an 8-10 inch hole. Your guide will issue small plastic bags for depositing toilet paper. We don't leave any paper; even buried, animals may dig it up and leave an unsightly reminder of our passage for the next visitors. On camping trips, we carry a compact portable toilet.

River Rapid Class Rating System:

Class I -- Easy - Water with riffles and small waves and few obstructions that are easily missed.

Class II -- Novice - Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels. Some maneuvering required. Rocks and medium waves are easily missed.

Class III -- Intermediate - Rapids with moderate, irregular waves that are difficult to avoid with tight passages, strong eddies and currents.

Class IV -- Advanced - Intense, predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling, with some unavoidable waves and tight passages.

Class V -- Expert - Extremely long or very violent rapids. Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and tight chutes with complex routes.

This tour does not include hotel pick-up. There is no child discount for this event. Minimum age is 12. Price includes all taxes and fees. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-839-3823.