* WHAT...Heavy snow. Total snow accumulations between 4 and 8 inches across much of eastern New Mexico with higher amounts of 8 to 16 inches above 9,000 feet. Localized areas in eastern Torrance, Guadalupe, and De Baca counties will receive between 8 and 10 inches. Bitterly cold temperatures will accompany the snow. * WHERE...Much of central to east central New Mexico, including Interstate 40 from Tijeras to Santa Rosa to the Texas border. * WHEN...Until 8 AM MST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Travel will become very difficult to impossible for an extended period of time, most notably along I-40 from Tijeras Canyon to the Texas border. The weight of accumulating snow will stress the power grid, potentially creating outages. An extended period of cold temperatures will increase the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Bitterly cold temperatures will also accompany this winter storm, with the coldest temperatures in the eastern plains of New Mexico. Temperatures will be coldest Sunday and Monday mornings when much of the eastern half of New Mexico will be in the single digits with wind chills below zero.
The ideal streamflow range for this run is between 200 and 400 cubic feet per second (cfs) during the spring months of April and May. During the summer months, the streamflow can drop to as low as 50 cfs, making it less ideal for whitewater activities.
This stretch of river is rated as Class III to Class IV, making it suitable for intermediate to advanced paddlers. The segment mileage for this run is approximately 8 miles, with several notable rapids and obstacles including the Rollercoaster, Powerline, and the Big Kahuna.
There are specific regulations in place for this area, including the requirement for a permit to access the Fawn Lakes Campground. Additionally, visitors must adhere to Leave No Trace principles and pack out all trash and waste. There are also restrictions on the use of motorized vehicles and camping in some areas along the river.
| Last Updated | 2026-01-12 |
| River Levels | 166 cfs (3.88 ft) |
| Percent of Normal | 365% |
| Status | |
| Class Level | iii-iv |
| Elevation | ft |
| Streamflow Discharge | cfs |
| Gauge Height | ft |
| Reporting Streamgage | USGS 08265000 |
Red River Near Questa
|
519cfs |
Red River Below Fish Hatchery
|
40cfs |
Rio Hondo Near Valdez
|
41cfs |
Rio Grande Near Cerro
|
229cfs |
Rio Lucero Near Arroyo Seco
|
6cfs |
Costilla Creek Below Costilla Dam
|
1cfs |
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Elephant Rock
|
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Elephant Rock Campground
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Fawn Lakes Campground
|
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Fawn Lakes
|
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Junebug Campground
|
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Junebug
|