Rio Grande River SRMA

About Rio Grande River SRMA

Rio Grande Recreation Area features a meandering river flowing south to the Colorado-New Mexico border. Excellent fishing opportunities exist in this scenic canyon, and the shallow gradient of the Rio Grande is ideal for those who prefer flatwater rafting. Though a roadside boat launch is available, visitors should be aware that a canyon hike is required to avoid challenging whitewater rapids where the river enters New Mexico. Those looking for a great flatwater rafting experience will enjoy Rio Grande Recreation/Natural Area. Visitors can enjoy more challenging rapids near the Colorado-New Mexico border, or these can be bypassed by hiking through the canyon. For more information, please contact the San Luis Valley Field Office.

How to Get There

From Alamosa, travel south on US-285. At Romeo, turn left onto Highway 142. North of Highway 142: turn left onto U Road and bear right at the fork to continue onto County Road 28. Turn right onto Z road and continue to the bridge put-in. South of Colorado 142: just after crossing the river, turn right onto Rio Grande Avenue.

Plan Your Visit to Rio Grande River SRMA

Heading to Rio Grande River SRMA? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)