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Welcome to my blog/travel guide. Take a look around, you never know what you might find!
Welcome to my blog/travel guide. Take a look around, you never know what you might find!
One of the newest national monuments. An enormous bridge spans the even more impressive canyon that splits the New Mexican high desert in two.
Located in northern New Mexico - Established in 2013 - Area: 242,555 acres
From Santa Fe, take NM-68 North, turn left onto Rt. 570 which will take you through the gorge toward the Rio Grande del Norte Bridge, which is one of the tallest in the United States. The drive through the gorge is breathtaking. The meandering road follows the twisting Rio Grande River north of Albuquerque through the dramatic gorge. You’ll be surprised by just how un-grande the river is here. There are a handful of camping areas and opportunities to pull over even walk down into the gentle river. Many spots are popular fly fishing spots and you’ll see fisherman wading waste high into the water. It is also a popular destination for white water rafting and you’ll likely see an expedition or two if you’re not traveling during the winter.
The road takes you to a narrow bridge over the river onto a dirt road switchback that climbs up out of the canyon, offering beautiful views down the canyon at every turn. There are a few opportunities to pull over for photo-ops and views of the canyon as well as the towering Mt. Wheeler. At 13,100 ft tall, Wheeler peak is the highest in New Mexico.
Once you emerge from the canyon follow the paved, yet rough, road straight. As the road turns, veer right onto W Rim Rd. (county road CB-115) to stay parallel to the canyon’s rim. Here you can hardly even tell an enormous gorge splits the desert in two. Imagine pioneers traveling west thinking they had a relatively easy trek ahead of them, just to be impeded by an 800ft deep fissure in the Earth’s crust. Keep an eye out for the unusual looking homes of completely self sufficient, off-the-grid, denizens of so-called Earth Ships. These homes often employ passive and active solar technologies to heat and power their homes, often built into hills with rammed-earth-filled tires. Water needs are fulfilled by rubber roofs that drain into cisterns and sewage is filtered by crop fields. You can tour a model earth ship home at the Greater World Earthship Community, one of the few earth ship communities near Taos. A self guided walking tour through a model Earth Ship is $6 and includes an informative video. You can also book a stay at some of these peculiar houses. Be respectful and obey signs, as these are peoples’ private homes.
At the interection of W Rim Rd and US-64, you can turn left to see the Greater World earth ships, just a few miles up the road, or turn right to cross the Rio Grande del Norte Bridge on your way to Taos. Just before the bridge is a parking area with bathroom facilities. Here, there are usually local vendors (many Native American) selling jewelry and variety of interesting commodities. Park and take a short walk to the fenced overlook of the chasm below. The bridge has sidewalks along both sides of the road so you can walk out on it to get a birds-eye-view of the canyon. When you’ve seen all your heart desires, head into Taos for a bite to eat or a bit of shopping in the classic Spanish style town-square. Taos is a ski town and an art community, so outdoor outfitters, art galleries, and souvenir shops are abundant.
EARTH SHIPS
As the name implies, the monument is centered around the Rio Grande. A number of outfitters offer multiple rafting packages for many levels of ambition. Easy or moderate half or full day courses are available as well as overnight trips complete with meals and sleeping arrangements. Wet suits and booties are available to rent, but must usually be acquired ahead of time before your trip (ask the company when you make a reservation). Caravans typically meet at the Rio Grande Gorge Visitors center along NM-68, but you are expected to be ready to raft when you show up. The parking lot is simply a convenient meeting place and is not affiliated with the rafting companies. Cell service in the area is quite limited, so be prepared before you arrive. The availability and difficulty of some courses is dependent on the water level of the Rio Grande. Water is highest and rafting is most challenging around May when mountain snowmelt runoff is at its peak.
