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River runs

New Mexico river runs

Live streamflow, whitewater class, and length for every paddleable section in New Mexico with a named USGS gauge. Built for kayakers, rafters, and canoeists.

Runs in New Mexico
101
Runnable now
-
Class mix
-
Updated
Sep 30
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New Mexico paddle map

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Paddle briefing · Sep 30, 2026

New Mexico river runs today

What’s in range, the best bets by class and what’s running high — from live USGS gauges.

None of the 101 New Mexico runs has a live gauge reading with a runnable range right now. Tap any run below for its nearest gauges and the full flow history.
New Mexico offers a variety of thrilling whitewater opportunities for kayaking and rafting enthusiasts. One popular destination is the Rio Grande, particularly the Taos Box section. This 16-mile stretch of river features Class IV rapids and stunning views of the surrounding canyons. The optimal streamflow level for the Taos Box is between 500-800 cubic feet per second, providing a challenging yet enjoyable experience for experienced paddlers. Another must-visit spot is the Chama River, known for its scenic beauty and diverse rapids ranging from Class II to Class IV. The optimal streamflow level for the Chama River is between 400-800 cubic feet per second, ensuring a fun and safe journey for all skill levels.

For those seeking a more remote and challenging adventure, the Pecos River offers a rugged and wild experience with Class III-IV rapids. The best time to paddle the Pecos River is during the spring runoff when streamflow levels are higher, usually around 300-600 cubic feet per second. Safety is paramount when navigating New Mexico's whitewater rivers, so be sure to check streamflow levels, wear appropriate gear, and always paddle with a buddy. By following these tips and exploring the diverse whitewater opportunities in New Mexico, you're sure to have an unforgettable and exhilarating experience on the water.

New Mexico paddle report

101 runs
River run Streamflow Status Runnable range Class
Headwaters In Gila National Forest To Eastern Boundary Of Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument · No reading · II-IV
1/4 Mile Below The Power Lines To Confluence With The San Francisco River · No reading · ·
1.5 Miles Above Confluence Of Left And Right Creek On Left Prong To Confluence Of Left And Right Prongs Dix Creek · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters Nf Rio Ruidoso To Nf Boundary · No reading · II-III
Confluence Of 2 Headwaters For South Fork (Sec 28, T10s, R11e) To Southern Boundary Of South Fork Campground · No reading · II-III
Headwaters (Sec 27, T8s, R17e) To Confluence Of Streams In Sec 34, T8s, R17e · No reading · III
Headwaters (Hale Canyon) To Nf Boundary · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Eastern Boundary Private Land · No reading · III-IV
Arizona/New Mexico State Line To Confluence With Harden Cienega Creek · No reading · ·
Confluence With Harden Cienega Creek To Apache Sitgreaves National Forest Boundary · No reading · II-III+
Nf Boundary With Silva Ranch To The East To Nf Boundary With Tnc To The South · No reading · III-IV
15 Springs To Fr 106 Bridge · No reading · ·
Headwaters (Off Continental Divide) To Nf Boundary With Private Land · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Nf Boundary · No reading · III-IV
North Boundary Of K135 To Southern Tip Of K136 · No reading · III-IV
Concrete Bridge To Nf Boundary · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With San Leonardo · No reading · V
Confluence With San Leonardo To Nf Boundary · No reading · III
Headwaters To Confluence With Rio Pueblo · No reading · II-III
Confluence With Rio Angostura To Osha Diversion · No reading · III+-IV
Headwaters To Junction Of Trails 707/68 (Sec 35, T12s, R11w) · No reading · ·
Headwaters To Aldo Leopold Wilderness Boundary · No reading · III-IV
Aldo Leopold Wilderness Boundary To Gila Wilderness Boundary · No reading · III-IV
Gila Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With East Fork Gila River · No reading · ·
Gila Wilderness Boundary (Below Snow Lake) To Gila Wilderness Boundary (Sec 24, T12s, R14w) · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Northern Boundary Gila Cliff Dwellings Nm · No reading · II-III
Headwaters To Red River · No reading · ·
Headwaters To Cabresto Creek · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Cabresto Lake · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Private Land Boundary · No reading · III
Spring Creek To Private Land Boundary · No reading · III-V
Hopewell Lake To Nf Boundary · No reading · ·
Eastern Boundary Of Private Land Along Sitting Bull Canyon In Sec 19, T24s, R22e To Eastern Nf Boundary · No reading · III-IV
El Rito Ranger District Boundary To Felipito Bridge · No reading · III+
(La Cueva, Flechado, Gallegos, Tio Maes, La Presa) To Osha Diversion · No reading · II-III
Northern Boundary Nm To Eastern Boundary Gila Cliff Dwellings Nm · No reading · II-III
Trail 810 To Private Land Boundary (T11s, R19w, Sec 6) · No reading · II-III
Headwaters To Trail 810 · No reading · II-III
Below Ellis Ranch To Private Land Boundary · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Nf Boundary (To Eastern Parcel Of Forest Valley Subdivision) · No reading · ·
Serna Land Grant Boundary To Nf Boundary · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Rio Grande Del Rancho · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Rito De La Olla · No reading · II-III
Headwaters To Confluence With Big Dry Creek · No reading · II-III
Headwaters To Confluence With Las Animas Creek · No reading · III-IV
Junction Of Water Canyon And Holden Prong To Aldo Leopold Wilderness Boundary · No reading · III-IV
Aldo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Comanche Creek · No reading · II-III
Private Land Boundary Below Canjilon To Nf Boundary · No reading · III
Fr 106 Bridge To Confluence With Rio Chama · No reading · II-III
Confluence With Rito De La Olla To Nf Boundary · No reading · III
Goose Creek To Fawn Lakes Campground · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Red River/Upper Gaging Station · No reading · ·
Abiqui Dam To El Rito Creek · No reading · III
Jicarilla Apache Reservation Boundary To Confluence With Vaqueros Canyon · No reading · II-III
Jicarilla Apache Reservation Boundary To Nf Boundary · No reading · ·
Headwaters To Alamitos Diversion · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Santa Barbara Campground · No reading · ·
Santa Barbara Cg To Concrete Bridge On Fr 116 · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters Of Three Rivers, Including 5 Segments Branching South And East To Western Nf Boundary At Three Rivers Campground · No reading · II-IV
Nf Boundary To Above Mccrystal Campground · No reading · III-IV
Confluence Of Turkey Canyon And Robinson Draw (Sec 33, T24s, R22e) To Confluence Of Turkey And Dark Canyons In Sec 26, T24s, R22e · No reading · III-III
Confluence Of Horse Canyon Headwaters In Sec 11, T25s, R22e To Confluence Of Horse And Payne Canyons In Sec 1, T25s, R22e · No reading · III
Headwaters Of Horse Spring In Sec 13, T25s, R22e To Confluence Of Horse Spring And Horse Canyon In Sec 11, T25s, R22e · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters Of Side Channel In Sec 12, T25s, R22e To Horse Canyon In Sec 2, T25s, R22e · No reading · III-II
Headwaters In Sec 12, T25s, R22e To Payne Canyon In Sec 1, T25s, R22e · No reading · III-IV
Long Canyon To Nf Boundary · No reading · III-IV
Northern Boundary Of Sec 25, T18s, R11e To Confluence Of Sacramento River And Apple Tree Canyon · No reading · III-IV
Confluence Of Western Headwaters (Sec 36, T18s, R12e) To Northern Boundary Of Private Land · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters Rio Penasco, Water Canyon And Benson Canyon To Confluence Of Benson Canyon And Rio Penasco Sec 10, T17s, R12e · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Red John Box · No reading · III-IV
Red John Box To Nf Boundary · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters Of Middle Fork Big Canyon And North Fork Big Canyon To Nf Boundary · No reading · ·
Headwaters Of Cottonwood Canyon In Sec 32, T25s, R22e To Confluence Of Cottonwood And Dark Canyons In Sec 10, T25s, R22e · No reading · III-V
Southern Boundary Of Sec 3, T26s, R21e Along Dark Canyon To Confluence Of Dark And Fir Canyons In Sec 25, T25s, R21e · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters Of Channel In Sec 9, T24s, R22e To Sitting Bull Canyon · No reading · III-IV
Pine Canyon (East Of Private Land In Sec 26, T24s, R21e) To Confluence Of Sitting Bull Canyon And Last Chance Canyon · No reading · III-IV
Eastern Boundary Sec 12, T18s, R10e To Nf Boundary At Oliver Lee State Park · No reading · II-III
Headwaters To Comanche Point · No reading · III-IV
Main Fresnal Canyon From Eastern Boundary Sec 6, T16s, R11e To Main Fresnal Canyon To The Western Boundary Sec 6, R16s, R11e · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters Of Big Canyon To Nf Boundary · No reading · III-IV
Bridge On Hwy 522 To Red Wsr · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters Of All Streams Within Mckittrick Canyon Watershed To Nf Boundary · No reading · II-III
Eastern Boundary Of Private Land In Sec 2, T25s, R22e To Confluence Of Turkey And Dark Canyons In Sec 26, T24s, R22e · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Costilla Creek · No reading · III
Nf Boundary To Nf Boundary · No reading · III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Diamond Creek · No reading · III
1/4 Mile Above The Powerlines To 1/4 Mile Below The Powerlines · No reading · ·
0.5miles Above Confluence Of Left And Right Prongs Dix Creek On Left Prong To 0.1 Miles Above Diversion On Dix Creek · No reading · II-III
Gila · No reading · V
Trampas · No reading · III-IV
Bluewater Creek · No reading · III-IV
Rio Grande · No reading · ·
Rio Pueblo De Taos · No reading · III-IV
Tierra Amarilla · No reading · II-III
Rio Nutrias · No reading · ·
Rio Embudo · No reading · III-IV
Arroyo Hondo · No reading · ·
Rio Bonito · No reading · III-IV
Ojo Sarco · No reading · II-III
Agua Caliente · No reading · III-IV
River runs FAQ

About New Mexico river runs

What does whitewater class mean?

The international whitewater scale (Class I–VI) rates a river's difficulty. I is moving water with riffles. II is straightforward rapids with clear channels. III requires complex maneuvers in fast water. IV is intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring decisive boat handling. V is extremely long, obstructed, or violent rapids with significant hazard. VI is considered impossible to run.

Where does the New Mexico streamflow data come from?

USGS streamgauges. Each New Mexico paddle run is keyed to a specific gauge that paddlers and outfitters have agreed represents flow on that section. Gauges report every 15 minutes; we re-pull throughout the day.

What's a runnable level?

Run-specific. A creek that's classic at 200 cfs might be too low at 100 and dangerously flooded at 1,000. Always cross-reference with a guidebook or a New Mexico paddling club for the run's accepted gauge ranges before launching.

Can I get an alert when a run hits prime flow?

Yes. Save any paddle run as a favorite in the Snoflo iOS app, set a flow window (e.g. "alert me between 800 and 1,500 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses into range. Free with a Snoflo account.

Is this a substitute for local guidebooks and trip leaders?

No. Snoflo is informational. Always carry appropriate skills, gear, and a sober assessment of the day's flow. For high-consequence runs (Class IV+), paddle with people who know the run and never solo. American Whitewater is the authoritative source for U.S. river information.

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