By CIndy Brown
Water is precious in the desert. In Taos, you’ll hear the expression “agua es vida,” meaning “water is life.” From high mountain lakes to rivers to the system of acequias (irrigation ditches) water is vital to nourishing the land. Water can also carry you into ancient canyons for rafting, fishing and soaking adventures.
Rafting
Rafting on the Rio Grande offers all kinds of adventures from quiet float trips to wild whitewater runs. Being on the river with an experienced guide is a great way to learn about the geology, history and wildlife of the area.
The Racecourse section of the Rio Grande is the most popular rafting trip on the river with lots of mellow sections and a few exciting rapids. Many of the local rafting companies have kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, too.
This year, New Mexico River Adventures is offering adventures like inflatable kayak floats on the Middle Box portion of the river, beginning with a scenic hike through the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. This trip takes you through a more remote part of the river, and the chances of viewing wildlife are high.
New Mexico River Adventures has a new location, and in addition to a retail store, they will have food and coffee carts on site.
Soaking
There are several natural springs near Taos.
One of the most popular now has a new access point: the Stagecoach or Manby Hot Springs is located along the Rio Grande. A 2 mile hike along the river takes you to the three warm pools, making for a great day of hiking and soaking.
These hot springs are says to have been used by the Pueblo people before the arrival of Spanish explorers, according to Craig Martin, author of “Enchanted Waters: A Guide to New Mexico’s Hot Springs.” Martin explains when the Chili Line railroad brought visitors to Tres Piedras in the 1880s, they could take a stagecoach to Taos crossing a bridge near the hot springs. Notorious land speculator Arthur Manby claimed 66,000 acres as his own, including the hot springs. He had grand plans for a hotel and resort to be named the Lost Springs of the Aztec. Unfortunately for Manby, he died under mysterious circumstances before he could realize his dream.
Cimarron Canyon State Park offers spectacular sights and plentiful fishing opportunities, particularly during the fall when brown trout spawn.
To find the new trailhead, go to the John Dunn Bridge in Arroyo Hondo and look for the trail access. Follow the narrow path that climbs over boulders and makes its way through vegetation. Long pants are recommended, as there is poison oak along the river.
The new route replaces the old access point from Tune Drive that is now closed.
Fly fishing
Chaz Kerger of Taos Fly Shop says summer offers a wide range of options for fly fishing, including high mountain and lower valley fishing.
Cindy Brown, left, high-fives fly fishing guide Chaz Kerger after catching a brown trout Saturday morning (Sept. 24) in Cimarron Canyon State Park.
“You can spin the wheel and choose where to go on any given day,” Kerger says, pointing out that summer is the optimal time to fish mountain creeks because the rest of the year they are too cold.
One favorite is the Rio Costilla that flows in the Valle Vidal and nearby land.
“There are open, grassy meadows around the river, and there is easy access,” Kerger says.
Taos Fly Shop fishing guide Chaz Kerger, left, teaches Cindy Brown techniques on casting on Saturday (Sept. 24) along the Cimarron River.
Another recommended spot is the Cimarron River as it flows through Cimarron Canyon State Park. “The access is also super easy here, and the fishing is good throughout the park.”
Using a terrestrial dry fly on top with a mayfly nymph as the subsurface fly, Cindy Brown fly fishes in the Cimarron River Saturday (Sept. 24) near Eagle Nest.
Summer is the time for using dry flies on the surface of the water. “Both spots have good bug hatches in the summer that make the fish want to go for dry flies,” Kerger says.
Cindy Brown fly fishes along the Cimarron River with the help of Taos Fly Shop guide Chaz Kerger on Saturday (Sept. 24).
Be sure to get a New Mexico fishing license before heading out.
Water sports
Tagged “the world’s fastest-growing water sport” on multiple websites, stand-up paddling is a fun water sport you can try on the Rio Grande or Monte Verde Lake in Angel Fire. Affordable, family-friendly, relaxing and relatively easy to learn, the sport, well-known for working your core, is also great for improving balance, burning fat and losing weight.
In addition to paddleboards, Monte Verde Lake has a wide range of other options. Starting in mid-May when the boat house opens, you can rent paddleboards or a variation called a pedal board. There are also fishing boats, canoes, kayaks and pedal boats for summ
er fun. Monte Verde Lake is stocked with trout to ensure good fishing.
Cindy Brown has been a freelance writer and columnist for the Taos News for the last 14 years focused on the outdoors and health and is the author of “Taos Hiking Guide.”