Wild & Scenic Rivers

About 28.5 north of Taos, the Wild and Scenic Rivers area outside Cerro, NM is infrequently visited, but is at the heart of Northern New Mexico landscapes. Some have compared the area to Africa, others to parts of Afghanistan, but whatever the association it is a great place to hike, photograph and work. To get there take 64 straight north out of Taos, then at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge split (64 going east) stay straight on 522. Take that straight through Questa. A few miles along that route you’ll see a small brown sign that says Wild & Scenic Rivers indicating a left turn. That’s towards Cerro and is called Rt 378. Take that through Cerro and you’ll enter a loop road that takes you all around this amazing area.

Stop at the Visitor Center for trail maps and conditions and to say hello, as they don’t seem to get many visitors there. The circular drive takes you past various camp and hike trailhead pull offs, favorites being La Junta (where the Rio Grande and Red River meet), Big Arsenic and Little Arsenic. There is a flat trail along the rim for those who don’t want to hike down into the Gorge. A manageable, though sometimes tough pull is the Big Arsenic down, little Arsenic up hike, and La Junta trail is a bit more difficult. Either one is well worth your time. If you do the Little/Big hike you can walk along the rim back to your car.

Morning walks in the hotter months are highly recommended, especially because the sun hits the trail back up from the Gorge in the afternoon on the Little/Big Arsenic hike and all day on LaJunta. But any stress of the hike is soon forgotten because of the amazing vistas and surprisingly lush areas along the river.

The area is essentially a plateau through which the deep gorge of the Rio Grande and the Red River wander. It is filled with gnarled trees, blooming cactus in the spring and incredible views, especially when the clouds race over the Gorge from one side of the rim to the next. Rock formations are essentially basalt cuts and volcanic anomalies, around which all sorts of grasses and sage grow.

Things to know: There a day fee, but it’s a pittance, and if you buy a yearly pass, also really inexpensive, you can use it for this area as well as Orilla Verde (see description elsewhere in this guide.) If you hike down carry plenty of water. Lock your car and stash your valuables well out of sight, or better yet carry them or just don’t take them along.
We have never had any vehicle molestation here in the 25 years we have come here, but folks tell us others have, so better to be safe than sorry.

Photo copyright George Schaub. Along the rim trail, La Junta campground trail head.