Rio Grande at Taos
New Mexico · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 08276500 — RIO GRANDE BLW TAOS JUNCTION BRIDGE NEAR TAOS, NM · NWS forecast point TJBN5
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:30 PM UTC
Too low for most boats — rocky and technical
At 144 CFS, this gauge is running 43% of normal for late July — below the 336 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 99 years of record (1926–2025).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Taos
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge TJBN5, issued by WFO ABQ. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 15.0 ft · 25,000 CFS
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Moderate flood 12.0 ft · 15,000 CFS
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Minor flood 10.0 ft · 9,800 CFS
- 10.0 ft Portions of state road 570 from above Pilar up to the Taos Junction bridge are inundated by one to two feet of water. Water levels have not been this high in the Pilar region since at least 1921. Rafting takeout points below the Taos Junction bridge along state road 570 may no longer be accessable.
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Action 9.0 ft · 7,750 CFS
- 9.0 ft A few low spots along state road 570 above Pilar along the Rio Grande will have up to six inches of ponded water on the roadway. Some of the day use recreation areas above Pilar between state road 570 and the Rio Grande will begin to flood.
- Right now 3.43 ft
12 months of flow at Taos
Daily values from USGS gauge 08276500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Taos
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 9.41 ft | 9,630 CFS | May 17, 1941 |
| 9.23 ft | 9,730 CFS | Jun 22, 1949 |
| 9.18 ft | 9,730 CFS | Jun 7, 1948 |
| 8.92 ft | 8,430 CFS | May 19, 1987 |
| 8.80 ft | 8,640 CFS | May 8, 1952 |
| 8.75 ft | 8,640 CFS | May 13, 1942 |
| 8.74 ft | 7,220 CFS | Jul 6, 1995 |
| 8.69 ft | 7,710 CFS | Jun 14, 1985 |
| 8.57 ft | 7,560 CFS | Jun 10, 1979 |
| 8.13 ft | 6,020 CFS | May 27, 2005 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Rio Grande at Taos
This gauge measures Rio Grande at Taos, New Mexico — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Racecourse and Taos Box; Los Rios most popular trip.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 336 CFS for late July, from 99 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Rio Grande at Taos — common questions
What is the current flow on Rio Grande at Taos?
As of the last reading on this page, Rio Grande at Taos was running 144 CFS at a gage height of 3.43 ft, or 43% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 08276500, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 336 CFS, calculated from 99 years of record (1926–2025). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What is a runnable level on this stretch?
riverlvl deliberately does not publish a runnable range. American Whitewater and the local paddling community maintain the correlations for this reach, and they are the authority. This page gives you the raw inputs — current CFS, gage height, the seasonal median, and the 12-month hydrograph — so you can apply whatever range you trust.
How fast can this gauge come up?
This is a free-flowing gauge, so it rises with rain in the basin. The 12-month chart on this page shows the shape of the past year's rises, which is the best available guide to how flashy this particular reach is.
Where does this data come from?
The flow and gage height come from USGS gauge 08276500, public-domain data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The flood categories, impact statements and forecast come from the National Weather Service's National Water Prediction Service, gauge TJBN5.