Created in 2013, the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument is 242,500 acres in northern New Mexico that preserves the Rio Grande Gorge, a vast expanse of sagebrush prairie, and several volcanic peaks.
We spent two days of Spring Break exploring, photographing, and hiking many areas where I have never been before. Here are a few photos:
On the first day we visited the Wild Rivers Recreation Area. Other than a few college-age people in the hike-in campsites, we saw no other people after leaving the paved parking areas. Wind gusts were reported in nearby Taos at almost 50mph.
This is the trail down to La Junta Point, the confluence of the Red River and the Rio Grande.
An overview of the Rio Grande Gorge:
The Little Arsenic Springs Trail:
After dinner in town we drove down to the Taos Junction Bridge near the town of Pilar, NM. This area of the monument is heavily developed and actually used to be a state park. Still, there were no people outside of campgrounds.
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The second day was a driving adventure across the sagebrush-covered Taos Plateau. By "adventure" I mean there were no other vehicles or people the entire day, the main roads are dirt and become 4WD/inaccessible in poor weather, and it is could take hours to drive out in an emergency.
John Dunn Bridge, a popular swimming and fishing location with hot springs and hiking trails. We stopped for a few minutes only, as we crossed the bridge into the interior of the park. Once crossing the bridge, we saw not a single other person the entire day.
If you cross into the National Monument from Colorado, don't expect a fancy welcome center.
The surrounding mountains were obscured by snowstorms throughout the day.
The remains of a historic homestead with Ute Mountain in the background.
Some tips for visiting the vast interior of the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument: Map selection is poor - some maps show only a fraction of the roads and features, while other maps show every cow path that has ever existed as a road. There are few road signs. There are no developed picnic areas, hiking trails, or campgrounds. There is no drinking water. Cell phones might or might not get a signal. Roads are rough, unpaved, and can become deep mud during wet seasons; it could take hours to reach some areas by vehicle. The nearest towns are very small and have few amenities.
So in other words, it's perfect. :thumbup:
We spent two days of Spring Break exploring, photographing, and hiking many areas where I have never been before. Here are a few photos:
On the first day we visited the Wild Rivers Recreation Area. Other than a few college-age people in the hike-in campsites, we saw no other people after leaving the paved parking areas. Wind gusts were reported in nearby Taos at almost 50mph.
This is the trail down to La Junta Point, the confluence of the Red River and the Rio Grande.
An overview of the Rio Grande Gorge:
The Little Arsenic Springs Trail:
After dinner in town we drove down to the Taos Junction Bridge near the town of Pilar, NM. This area of the monument is heavily developed and actually used to be a state park. Still, there were no people outside of campgrounds.
------------------
The second day was a driving adventure across the sagebrush-covered Taos Plateau. By "adventure" I mean there were no other vehicles or people the entire day, the main roads are dirt and become 4WD/inaccessible in poor weather, and it is could take hours to drive out in an emergency.
John Dunn Bridge, a popular swimming and fishing location with hot springs and hiking trails. We stopped for a few minutes only, as we crossed the bridge into the interior of the park. Once crossing the bridge, we saw not a single other person the entire day.
If you cross into the National Monument from Colorado, don't expect a fancy welcome center.
The surrounding mountains were obscured by snowstorms throughout the day.
The remains of a historic homestead with Ute Mountain in the background.
Some tips for visiting the vast interior of the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument: Map selection is poor - some maps show only a fraction of the roads and features, while other maps show every cow path that has ever existed as a road. There are few road signs. There are no developed picnic areas, hiking trails, or campgrounds. There is no drinking water. Cell phones might or might not get a signal. Roads are rough, unpaved, and can become deep mud during wet seasons; it could take hours to reach some areas by vehicle. The nearest towns are very small and have few amenities.
So in other words, it's perfect. :thumbup:
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