THE BEST Taos Hot Springs & Geysers (Updated 2023) - Tripadvisor Soar high above the Rio Grande with a thrilling hot air balloon ride that offers a one-of-a-kind perspective of Taos' stunning landscapes. Turn left onto State Road 515. Near Taos the Rio Grande River is just a flat lazy, drifting waterway. " Sep 2021 Great hike along the Rio Grande to the natural hot springs. It was a pretty inconsequential bite, barely breaking the skin. Ute and the surrounding volcanic cones are relics of an age when the Ro Grande Rift valley spread and opened massive lava flows across the plateau. Use google to find the dirt road leading to the trailhead. It's not a maintained path, but fairly well beaten. Sol is not only an excellent pilot, but he is a wealth of knowledge on ballooning and the Taos area. We met at Rio Grandes office and were driven to the carefully chosen launch site. This moderate hike heads south to Orilla Verde and is perfect for those seeking aneasy walk or bike ride. Photos (118) Directions. We didn't want to get stuck on the river for the whole day so the half day Biking and half day Kayaking was the perfect combo option. It is a rift in the earth. Blooming cactus and wildlife. The Ro Grande Wild and Scenic River, which flows through the breathtaking Ro Grande Gorge, provides worldclass whitewater rafting and kayaking opportunities. Beautiful flat trail. We recommend booking Rio Grande Gorge tours ahead of time to secure your spot. But then there is the gorge, beautiful, rugged and deep. Taos Half Day Cultural Tour | A Magical Taste of Taos and its Cultural Diversity, Small-Group E-Bike Adventure Tour through Hidden Santa Fe, New Mexican Flavors Food Tour of the Santa Fe Plaza, Wander New Mexico Food Tour - Railyard District & Farmers' Market. If theyre too young for a hot tub, they are too young for a hot spring. Returning north you seethe bridge arching over the Gorge andframing the river below. There islittle water available and when wet, the dirtroads turn to a sticky mud that will easilysuck in a car. The Taos Valley overlook provides stunning views and trails for hiking and mountain biking. Cross the bridgeand the parking area is on the left. Directions:Follow US Highway 64 /New Mexico State Road 522 north for about 9 miles. All rights reserved. Taos Hot Springs | Natural Warm Springs Near Taos, New Mexico Bring your cell phone. There was a small dirt path in the rocks but I just felt like it was the wrong way. ITS ALSO CLOTHING OPTIONAL!! Length 1.0 miElevation gain 285 ftRoute type Out & back. Its an easy hike, but slightly rocky. It was a fun hike, meet some good people on the trail. Flat, exposed, beautiful views of the gorge. Kids love doing this. The main pool is not very big maybe 20 across? Campsites and picnic shelters are also available up and down the Rio . Whitewater rafting, hunting, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking are some of the more outstanding activities that can be enjoyed in the Monument. It is right on the edge of the Gorge. This 800-foot-deep gorge in northern New Mexico offers exciting whitewater rafting, hiking trails around the rim and observation platforms with spectacular views of the winding river below. Nestled along the banks of the mightyRo Grande, hundreds of feet deep insidethe towering walls of the Gorge,OrillaVerde(green banks) straddles the river forseveral miles south of Taos Junction Bridge. You can find these healing waters all over the state. Wild Rivers is a fee area so be sure tostop at the pay station on the way in. The Slide Trailhead. Hiking l Fishing l Picnicking |Rafting l Kayaking l Rock Climbing |Bird-watching l Hot Springs. Nice spot with springs. Seven campgrounds, picnic areas and two group shelters are located along the river, as are several boat launches. Roughly a 30 minute drive through scenic landscape to two of the more primitive locations, once you arrive at the springs the real journey begins. Rio Grande Gorge 4.5 71 reviews #23 of 125 things to do in Taos County Geologic Formations Closed now 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Write a review About This 800-foot-deep gorge in northern New Mexico offers exciting whitewater rafting, hiking trails around the rim and observation platforms with spectacular views of the winding river below. Matt has many fascinating stories to share about his broad global rafting experiences and he's built a small company with a great combination of charm and operational excellence. Two other access points are available. The Rio Grande Gorge and the Geology that Formed It Park near the first switchback after ascending the hill. The Pescado Trail leaves for the Visitor Center from the Red River Fish Hatchery while the Cebolla Mesa Trail leaves from Forest Service lands south of the Red River and drops to the bank near the confluence of the two great rivers. I almost fell in! However if you want to reach it, you can park at the John Dunn Bridge and hike the goat trail (about 2 mi). The trail no longer starts at the curve as shown. I found some great fishing holes there and it is such a peaceful area. New Mexico is known for many great things and being home to some of the most enjoyable ancient hot springs in the world is one of them. Take them! Unless we picked the toughest possibility (there were lots of forks and branches) the amount of scrambling and the steepness of parts of the trail we took, I would change the rating. The bridge will be closed for the forceable future. Trail is very popular. Well worth it!! Going south, wayfrom the bridge, you have an amazing view as the high peaks spread before you and the nearly 600 foot Gorge plummetsdown to your left. The Ro Grande Gorge Visitor Center is located in the gateway community of Pilar at the intersection of New Mexico StateRoad 570 and New Mexico State Road 68.From May 1 through October, the Visitor Center and bookstore are open seven days per week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Winter hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days per week. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Inquire withBLM-Taos for current conditions (see page29) and plan for possible emergencies. Coyotes, deer, elk and bighorn sheep can all be found in the dips and gullies of the mesa, while loud flocks of pion jays race in waves across the landscape. A Weekend Guide to Visiting Taos, New Mexico: Outdoor Adventure It should be duly noted that Ive had the good fortune to stumble upon some truly incredible developed hot springs as well some in the form of public pools, others hidden behind thick adobe walls at private spas. The craggy landscape, free of designated trails, provides fabulous primitive recreational opportunities and some of the best stargazing skies in the nation. Directions:Follow US Highway 64/New Mexico State Road 522 approximately 27 miles north to the village of Questa. The ultimate 2-week New Mexico road trip itinerary: White Sands, hot We were there in July. We did enjoy the area around the John Dunn bridge, though. Offering sunrise hot air balloon flights over the beautiful and unique landscape of the Rio Grande Gorge. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Only went part way because we were getting over the flu. The adjacent pools were quite chilly as they were mixed with river water but we also went when the air temp was 33 degrees and it was snowing. -Sol, Taos is a special place and draws people to it in different ways. I have a special place in my heart for the beauty of the land here and feel blessed to be able to not only fly in the Rio Grande Gorge, but to share the experience with people. Trail is a little longer than alltrails suggests, about .6 RT because the road deadends. Welcome to Wonderhussy Adventure #290One of the best natural hot springs I've soaked in! From there, we went to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge to actually see the Gorge. Cutting through the volcanic underside of the high plains of the Taos Plateau, the Ro Grande rushes 800 feet below the spectacular La Junta Point at the Wild Rivers Area. Taos hotsprings | List | AllTrails See all 1 Rio Grande Gorge tours on Tripadvisor, View all hotels near Rio Grande Gorge on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Rio Grande Gorge on Tripadvisor, Hotels near San Francisco de Assisi Mission Church, Hotels near Albuquerque Intl Airport (ABQ), Motels near Albuquerque Intl Airport (ABQ), Points of Interest & Landmarks in Taos County, Game & Entertainment Centers in Taos County, Skunk Train: Pudding Creek Express from Fort Bragg, Day Tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem from Tel Aviv, Jet Ski and Flyboarding Experience in Honolulu, Dracula's Castle Halloween from Brasov -October 28, 2023, Helicopter Night Tour Over Orlando's Theme Parks, Luxury 2-Days Desert Trip from Fes to. It was very easy to find and only a mile hike down and up - round trip. Rio Grande del Norte National Monument - Taos.org This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. It's warmer than the river, but not by a lot. He went out of his way over and over again to make sure we had a phenomenal experience. We all find inspiration in the unique character of this place and try to share that in our interactions with the people who come out to fly with us. I was all prepared to hike down from the bridge trail when I ran across a local who told me about the hot springs down another trail. I would give owner and pilot Sol 5+++ stars out of five. 3,673 reviews #2 of 81 things to do in Taos Bridges Visit website Call Write a review What people are saying By Linenminnesota " Worth the stop! Enjoy! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The whole area is awesome. I came in from the top of the gorge. A few campsites, accessible only by hiking, are located at the bottom of the Gorge. Conserve water. Directions:Dive north along US Highway64 to the last traffic signal as you headnorth toward the village of Questa. Simply follow Tune road until you get to a place where you can see a parking lot that will probably have cars in it (to the left). Awesome springs I come every year and its always incredible. We hope that the uniqueness of both what we do and how we do it will leave you with memories to last a lifetime. Took us 2 hours over the 4 miles with stops to take pictures. Bring plenty of water. Suggest edits to improve what we show. New Mexico State Road 570 continues along the river for six miles before reaching Taos Junction Bridge. We only went about 1 mile in before we decided the views would probably be about the same way the entire trail so we turned back. I had an excellent flight experience with Rio Grande Balloons in August 2020. THE RIO GRANDE DEL NORTE NATIONAL MONUMENT WAS ESTABLISHED ON MARCH 25, 2013 BY PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION. The view of the snow-capped Taos Mountains across the mesa is magnificent; there are no foothills of note and the mountains rise almost straight up from the plateau. The path is initially wide and visible. My first visit was during the early evening and photographically I had to choose between brilliant and blinding sunlit gorge walls or walls pitch black in deep shadows because the setting sun was down on the far distant horzon. Taos Camping, Glamping, & RV Parks - Taos.org You have to go around, back out to the west on Highway 3, back onto Highway 64, back across the Gorge Bridge and park at the top. Springs are great, nice and warm. the overlook at the end is beautiful though. Riverbend Hot Springs: This award-winning local hot spring is quite honestly the best of the best, a riverside paradise with half a dozen naturally heated rock pools overlooking the Rio Grande and such a thick sense of tranquillity that you can hardly remember what day it is. At 10,093 Ute Mountain is the highest point of the Ro Grande del Norte National Monument. Wouldnt call it easy, more like moderate, as one has to hold on to rocks and climb up and down around them. We made a point of visiting it on the way back after skiing in stead of passing through Taos. Drive in the rest stop to park. Taos Half Day Cultural Tour | A Magical Taste of Taos and its Cultural Diversity, It was a pleasure to fly with you! There is a very nice park / picnic area adjacent to the HWY 64 Gorge Bridge. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Here are easy directions. Easy hike with great scenery! Long dirt road messed with my tire pressure, make sure your car is good on rough terrain and drive slow. Home - Hotel Luna Mystica With 300+ days of sunshine a year and over a thousand square miles of public wilderness lands, there are hundreds of ways to find your perfect adventure here. As one of the only drivable access points to the river in the national monument, the location sees a large number of visitors who come for the excellent fishing and picnicking along the banks of the river. Mostly flat, but gets a bit rocky after the first 1/2 mile or so. Turn left onto Forest Road 9 and follow it to the rim of the Gorge. Definitely no shade, but going in the afternoon it didnt get hot with the wind. Take New MexicoState Road 68 south for about 5.5 miles. Everything from elk to mule deer, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lions, coyotes, prairie dogs, wild turkey and raptors such as red-tail hawks, bald eagles and peregrine falcons can be found here. Glad to see the two of you getting a glimpse of that. Cactii were flowering, no snakes, lots of grasshoppers, lizards, etc. It is right on the edge of the Gorge. Its so tucked away you would never know this was at the end of a dirt road. easy hike, but it is very rocky, and is a steep downward descent. Not worth hiking down the big rocks. One coldest, one somewhat warm from the water exiting the spring, and the hottest is more inside of the rock pile. The trail was moderate but not too bad. Biking through the brushes and to the rim of the gorge was really fun and offered a great view. It's a beautiful place to visit, and one of the most unique places to fly in a hot air balloon! Due to construction bridge is no longer accessible even on foot. The landscape is comprised of rugged, wide open plains at an averageelevation of 7,000 feet, dotted by volcanic cones, and cut by steep canyons with rivers tucked away in their depths. It's an adventure in itself up there in the heavens, from Taos' fast-changing changing weather and iconic Southwestern sunrises, sunsets, moonrises, and moonsets to the never-ending panorama of stars against a black, black sky. Drive about two miles to reach the monument and Orilla Verde. Please be mindful of this. Several trails link up with paths climbing from the river. Its not worth going out to the end (2.0 miles out) unless you just want to keep seeing more views of the Gorge. We drove out in a sedan, which did fine on the dirt road, and parked at the trailhead just over the bridge. Many think of it as a miniature of the Ro Grande Gorge. It turned out that this was the famous Rio Grande running in a gorge into the mesa or Taos plateau. I appreciated the lower smaller and shallower springs next to the river to warm my feet up from wading in the river. About 1.8 mi from the parking lot. You'll see a lot of small spur trails that take you right to the rim of the gorge. Hot air balloon rides into and over the Rio Grande Gorge since 1991. The scenery is beautiful, but I would rate this as moderate, not easy. Sol and his team at Rio Grande Balloons were professional, gracious and loads of fun. The dirt road to Black Rock Hot Springs gets very bumpy at times. There was a good breeze so that helped a lot. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. It is worth noting that New Mexicoconservation organizations have recommendedthat the San Antonio WSA ispart of a larger 25,100 acres of wildernessquality lands. And way way down is the Rio Grande. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. The Slide Trail offers access to the whole area as well as the confluence of the RoGrande and the Ro Pueblo de Taos, downthe long-closed roadbed from Santa Feto Taos. Try this 6.4-km out-and-back trail near Taos, New Mexico. On the west side of the bridge is a rest area where you will find parking, picnic tables, restrooms and the trailhead for the nine-mile West Rim Trail.