River guideNew Mexico

Rio Grande

Compare trips by distance, difficulty and current conditions. Open a trip for its map, directions and planning tools.

14trips

13with daily scores

1without a daily score

2.5–24 midistance range

Easy · Hard · Moderatedifficulty

Ute Mountain above the upper Rio Grande gorge in New Mexico. — **Ute Mountain and upper Rio Grande gorge; same-river and reach-area context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph**Photo by Bureau of Land Management via Wikimedia Commons · U.S. federal government work: public domain

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Your tripCalabacillas Arroyo access to Central Avenue accessAbout 7.5 river miles · About 2–3 hr · easy

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River overview

Rio Grande paddle planning

What to verify before you commit.

Water levels

These Rio Grande routes use 5 gauge references depending on the stretch.

Route options

Compare 14 routes (13 scored · 1 planning) across Albuquerque / Rio Grande Valley State Park, Rio Grande Bosque / Embudo, Taos County / La Junta, Taos County / Rio Grande del Norte, Taos County / Ute Mountain Run. Open a route page for put-in, take-out, distance, data reliability, and access notes.

Difficulty

Rio Grande routes here are marked easy and hard and moderate, so choose the stretch that fits your group and conditions.

Quick answers

Rio Grande paddling FAQ

Where can I paddle the Rio Grande?

Paddle Today tracks 14 Rio Grande routes across Albuquerque / Rio Grande Valley State Park, Rio Grande Bosque / Embudo, Taos County / La Junta, Taos County / Rio Grande del Norte, Taos County / Ute Mountain Run. Compare the route cards on this page, then open an individual route for put-in, take-out, distance, and access notes.

How should I check Rio Grande water levels?

Check the gauge notes for your stretch and its live score where available. This hub uses 5 gauges or gauge references. Planning routes have no live score; check their source guidance and current access notices.

Which Rio Grande route is best today?

Compare current scores where available, along with water level, recent trend, weather, access, and route difficulty. Planning-only cards provide trip information without a live paddling recommendation.