See all 14 routes on Rio Grande
New Mexico | Taos County / Ute Mountain Run
Rio GrandeLobatos Bridge, Colorado to Lee Trail, New Mexico
A full-day, 24-mile Class II Rio Grande float from the Lobatos Bridge launch in Colorado through the New Mexico Ute Mountain reach to Lee Trail.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A remote, reservation-controlled day float with limited camps and a steep boat-and-gear carry at Lee Trail.
Access map
Put-in
Lobatos Bridge BLM boat ramp (water entry)The launch is in Colorado; the route crosses into New Mexico before the Lee Trail take-out.
Take-out
Lee Trail river landing (in-channel marker before steep carry)Use only the BLM-designated launches, reserve in advance, and obey the April–May New Mexico closure.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- The launch is in Colorado; the route crosses into New Mexico before the Lee Trail take-out.
- Use only the BLM-designated launches, reserve in advance, and obey the April–May New Mexico closure.
- Lee Trail landing is followed by a steep primitive quarter-mile carry; verify trail and parking conditions.
- No reliable mid-run road exits; arrange the shuttle and carry a conservative daylight and rescue plan.
Watch for
- At least 300 cfs planning minimum; compare the live Lobatos gauge with the route-specific flow notes
- Erratic canyon wind, cold water and blind drops
- Raptor closure, BLM reservation and limited camping
- Steep Lee Trail gear carry and remote rescue delays
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Rio Grande near Lobatos, CO. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampWeather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route gallery
Photos
Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Rio Grande near Lobatos, CO |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 600 cfs to 1,500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 300 cfs |
| High threshold | 2,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Rio Grande recreational flow assessment, Lobatos Bridge to Lee Trail |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Named reach, public access and hazardsLobatos Bridge to Lee Trail; 24 miles; Class II
BLM identifies the launch/take-out sequence, 300 cfs recommended minimum, wind hazard, April–May closure, advance reservation, sparse camps and steep quarter-mile gear carry. Southwest Paddler supplies the named route and Lobatos coordinates.
- Scored flow band300 cfs lower guard; 600–1,500 cfs preferred; 2,000 cfs upper scoring guard
American Whitewater’s reach-specific recreational assessment reports 600–2,000 cfs as the optimal user-preference range for Lobatos Bridge–Lee Trail. The preferred band is conservatively capped at 1,500 cfs using the route guide’s advanced/expert caution; these values do not guarantee safety.
- Direct gauge and launchUSGS 08251500 Rio Grande near Lobatos, Colorado
The gauge is on the same river at the published upstream launch; American Whitewater also associates the Ute Mountain reach with direct Rio Grande gauge telemetry.
- Water-entry endpointsLobatos Bridge BLM boat ramp to Lee Trail river landing
BLM Colorado confirms the improved public boat ramp at Lobatos Bridge and BLM New Mexico lists Lee Trail as the designated take-out. The Lee pin is snapped to the Rio Grande NHD channel at the designated access; the separate trail/parking point is on the rim after the steep gear carry.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- BLM Rio Grande and Red River Wild and Scenic Rivers
- BLM Rio Grande and Rio Chama river segment descriptions
- BLM Colorado Lobatos Bridge boat ramp
- USGS Rio Grande near Lobatos, Colorado
- American Whitewater Ute Mountain reach and access points
- American Whitewater Rio Grande recreational flow assessment, Lobatos Bridge to Lee Trail
- Southwest Paddler Ute Mountain Run access and conditions
- American Whitewater Rio Grande reach descriptions
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
More in New Mexico
All 38 routesMore on Rio Grande
All 14Nearby routes within 75 miles
Quick answers
Rio Grande paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Lobatos Bridge, Colorado to Lee Trail, New Mexico route on the Rio Grande?
Paddle Today watches Rio Grande near Lobatos, CO and treats 600 cfs to 1,500 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the Lobatos Bridge, Colorado to Lee Trail, New Mexico route on the Rio Grande start and end?
This route starts at Lobatos Bridge BLM boat ramp (water entry) and ends at Lee Trail river landing (in-channel marker before steep carry), about 24 river miles on the water.
Is the Lobatos Bridge, Colorado to Lee Trail, New Mexico route on the Rio Grande suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.