Read About the River :: New Mexico River Adventures

Rafting Season is Here!!

Matt — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:31:35 +0000

New Mexico River Adventures is on the water!! We have been running trips since April 1st on the Racecourse, Taos Box, Orilla Verde and Rio Chama. We just launched a Rio Chama 3 day trip, our second of the season, that will be sure to hold fantastic wildlife sightings this early in the season including numerous sightings of mule deer and raptors. Due to the warm March we had in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, there have been great releases on the Rio Chama in order to make room for all the snow melt coming into El Vado Dam.

The Rio Grande saw higher than normal water levels through the Taos Box and Racecourse in March also due to warm temperatures. We had some wet and wild rides through the Box and spotted our old buddies, the Big Horn Sheep. The water has dropped down to more typical levels for this time of year which are still great to get out on the Rio Grande Gorge full day trip or the Racecourse half day trip. We have some great storm prospects in the near future that will add to the snowpack and provide some great rafting later in the season! Give us a call, 800.983.7756, or reserve on our website, www.newmexicoriveradventures.com, for some fantastic early season rafting, it will feel like you have the river all to yourself!

Shiny New Boats!

Matt — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:00:02 +0000

New Mexico River Adventures has just added to our fleet! We are the proud new owners of two brand spanking new Super Duper Pumas made by the company Aire out of Idaho. We absolutely love this versatile design. It is long enough to offer great stability in higher water situations in the Taos Box, as well as plenty of room for our guests to be comfortable and not feeling like sardines in a can. The Super Duper is also skinny enough to work well in lower water technical situations, such as sliding through the slot at Big Rocks or threading through rocks at the Eye of the Needle. Along with these two red beauties, we also added a couple of double inflatable kayaks into the mix. Last season we had a few requests for these and we have answered the call. They are perfect for any combination of skill level and a great way to share an adventure with your favorite partner. New Mexico River Adventures does not charge any extra to take inflatable kayaks on our Rio Grande Gorge, Orilla Verde, Bosque or Racecourse trips. We are so excited to take these babies for a spin. If you book in April or May, you could be on the maiden voyage and we may even let you break the champagne over the bow!

We look forward to seeing you all soon for some early season rafting! Call us at 800.983.7756 or check us out at www.newmexicoriveradventures.com for some early season specials.

Snowing in New Mexico!

Matt — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 22:05:16 +0000

Things are looking up for the 2012 rafting season on the Rio Grande! Northern New Mexico has not been left out of the winter storm paths this winter leaving us with one of the best snowpacks in the Southwest. As well, forecasters are predicting El Nino weather patterns to move in for the summer which will mean great rafting all season!

Wendy and I are looking out the window at 2 inches of snow at the moment and more on the way. We have spent some great days on the river recently with nice flows following warm days. Great sightings of bald eagles and other birds of prey along with otter, deer and coyote all along the river banks. All of these sightings are very common for the early season so think about joining us for some great April and early May adventures!

NMRA Headquarters Officially Open

Matt — Wed, 18 May 2011 03:14:04 +0000

NMRA’s new headquarters is officially open! We have been very busy in Rinconada recently and the newest and most complete rafting facility is finally open. Our full service base is complete with safe, secure parking and a full retail space full of fun items like NMRA t-shirts, hats and chums.

Julian signing our final building permit

Wendy putting the final touches on the front entrance

We are also very excited about our latest offering, Stand Up Paddle Boarding. We have a nice selection of “SUP” boards from Boardworks available for rentals or guided trips and Instruction. Perfect for lower water on the Rio Grande and an amazing way to run the Chama. Simply the latest, greatest way to run the river. Come by and see what we mean or just say hi and check out the new facility. See you soon!

Stand Up Paddle Boarding is now available at New Mexico River Adventures

Matt — Sat, 07 May 2011 03:09:16 +0000

We are excited to add Stand Up Paddle Boards to our lineup. It is an awesome sport and really fun on the local lakes and rivers. The river is just a couple miles from our headquarters in Rinconada, NM. So come rent a board from us or take a lesson. You will have the time of your life.
Call 1-800-983-7756 for more information or to reserve a board today. Thanks, NMRA
See you soon…

Days 5, 6, and 7. The New Headquarters is coming along nicely.

Matt — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 03:55:08 +0000

A week ago Monday, all we had for our new headquarters at New Mexico River Adventures was a freshly poured concrete slab. By day Seven, we had all the framing done, the trusses up, the sheathing for the roof and sides on and just a few minor details left for the framing inspection. The bathrooms and office are framed up inside the building. The Plumbing is in and the Electrical has started. We will have the windows and doors in soon and then the Stucco will start. Any ideas for stucco color? We are thinking something with a cool standout color…

While working on the building, the phone has been ringing and trips are being booked. Rafting season is just around the corner and we are super excited to have our new location open by then. So check out the Raft Trips we offer and book an awesome trip. We also offer Mountain Biking, Specialty Trips, International Trips, and a great Whitewater kayak Instruction school. See you all soon and check back for updates on the New Headquarters and the upcoming season. Enjoy the photos of our progress. Thanks, NMRA…



New Mexico River Adventures new headquarters is being built
Matt — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 03:09:37 +0000
Hello everyone,

New Mexico River Adventures new headquarters is being built as we speak. The site is located in Rinconada, New Mexico on HWY 68 and is only a couple minute drive to the Racecourse section of the Rio Grande and is situated in the perfect spot for all our other Raft Trips.

This past week we have poured the slab and framed up all the walls. The sheathing and roof will be on in a few days and we will keep you posted with photos of our progress.

We are super excited about the upcoming rafting season and can’t wait to share a wonderful river experience with you.

Thanks, NMRA….
The framing of the walls….
NMRA Headquarters
Matt is happy to have the walls up
Matt fired up about the new digs
Can’t beat having a brewery across the street from NMRA headquarters.
Brewery across the street from NMRA headquarters



So It Begins!!
Matt — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 23:06:09 +0000
It is official! New Mexico River Adventures has run our first trip of the 2011 season.  Mark and Leigh of San Antonio, Texas joined us for two fantastic days of biking and rafting.  The biking portion took place along the West Rim trail overlooking the Taos Box section and stopping for lunch near the Gorge Bridge, a breathtaking sight not to be missed.  The river trip was the next day on the lower canyon starting with a scenic float through the Orilla Verde State Park followed up with and exciting ride through the Racecourse, the class 3 section.  The temperatures in Northern New Mexico are starting to warm up and spring is definitely in the air! It is prime time for a those of you out there that would prefer to run the river and see less people and more wildlife.  The bald eagles are still hanging out near the river fattening up for the flight back north in the near future.
The plans for our brand new shop are moving along right on schedule.  NMRA will be meeting all of our guests at the new location just south of the ending point of the most popular section on the Rio Grande, The Racecourse.  We are looking forward to providing everyone with a safe place to leave their vehicles, an opportunity to pick up any last minute essentials (sunscreen, water shoes, hats, etc.) and also the ability to view your photos right after your trip.  We can’t wait to open the doors!
We are hoping to see all of our old friends out here this summer and we are so excited for all the new ones we are sure to make on the river.  Give us a call and let’s go boating!



A Letter From John At Known World Guides
Matt — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:03:56 +0000
Hello Everyone,
I just wanted to inform everyone that Known World Guides has been sold to some of the Known World Guides. Matt Gontram and Wendy Hinton have purchased the business from me in the past few weeks. I had decided after 16 years of outfitting that I wanted to pursue other items such as my conservation work and have a little more free time in the summers to run other rivers and explore more of the world.
I’m sure that most of you all remember Wendy as she was one of our Guide School Graduates in the summer of 2001 and then became a key figure in our operation for a number of years before leaving to run other rivers and pursue Nursing School. Matt and I have known each other for many years and worked together on the Salt River in AZ as well as his working for Known World during the high water seasons. Matt also has an international guiding business called Global Descents, www.globaldescents.com,  that runs rivers in Africa and Chile just to name a few. I want to assure you all that Matt and Wendy are some of the most professional, enthusiastic, and personable outdoor professionals I know. They are sure to keep the vision and dream of the highest quality and safest outdoor adventures that I had of Known World Guides alive as well as expanding their own models of professionalism and creating their own dreams for New Mexico River Adventures.
I will still be very involved during this first seasons transition to New Mexico River Adventures and many of the guides that you have known through the years will be with us. The new boathouse location will be in Rinconada, NM right in the river corridor and will be fantastic both logistically and travel time wise as you will hopefully all join us this summer and get reacquainted with Matt and Wendy. Please check out their web site www.newmexicoriveradventures.com and I hope to see you all on the Rio this summer.
John Weinmeister



Read About the River!
Matt — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:07:13 +0000
Whether you’re looking for a wild whitewater rafting trip through the Class IV rapids of the world famous Taos Box or a scenic floating raft trip through the azure canyon of the Rio Chama, Known World Guides has a river rafting trip or outdoor adventure for you and your family or group.
Whitewater and Scenic river rafting is our specialty, but we also offer adventures and activities in other outdoor pursuits. If you’re interested in kayak instruction with world class instructors, mountain biking the local trails with our knowledgeable guides, or wilderness travel in the high alpine country with seasoned professionals, Known World Guides can offer you a wide variety of River and land based activities.
We are recognized within the Santa Fe and Taos rafting community as being the swift water safety specialists and in fact provide the area’s river rescue and whitewater guide training. And, have always been known for having fun, highly-trained guides. We love what we do and it shows.