Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.
Rapid NM Class III

Narrows

Rio Grande - 07. Quartzite River Access to County Line River Access (NM)

Monitor this Rapid
Gauge Conditions
Rio Grande below Taos Junction Bridge near Taos, NM Upstream Primary
Runnable: 200.0 – 3,000.0 CFS

Flows of 250 cfs are ok for floating from sleeping beauty to Souse hole without dragging.

Data from American Whitewater & USGS
Photo
Narrows
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description

Sometimes “Narrows” is used to refer to the next four class III rapids; here the Narrows refers to the first rapids of this sequence. At moderate to high flows the Narrows provide some of the best standing waves on the run. At these levels the run is pretty much down the middle. Watch out for Glory Hole on the left at the bottom of these rapids and Mother Rock (at high water Mother Hole) just right of center at the entrance to the Boulder Field (see below). At low water the Narrows are a formidable challenge. Boaters usually squeeze between a large boulder near the right shore and some smaller rocks further off shore, then swing around and dash for a channel near the left shore, then recenter the boat to miss some shallow rocks, then miss the rock outcroppings in the middle of the river by passing on their left, then miss the boulders immediately downstream by pulling to the right. The Narrows can be scouted from the road.

Location
Type
Rapid
Difficulty
Class III
Mile Marker
1.4 mi
Directions
Navigate
View Full Run
07. Quartzite River Access to County Line River Access
Rio Grande
III 4.4 mi
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater