The Rio Grande Gorge near Taos, New Mexico is one of the most dramatic fly fishing settings in the American West. Here the river has carved a 800-foot basalt canyon through the high desert plateau, creating a wilderness corridor that harbors wild brown and rainbow trout in waters that remain cold and clear despite the scorching summers above. The Taos Box and surrounding canyon stretches represent some of the most challenging and rewarding trout fishing in the Southwest.
The fishery divides into several distinct sections. The Upper Taos Box above the Red River confluence sees the least pressure — access requires a steep, unmarked descent and the reward is pools that rarely see a fly. The La Junta stretch, from the Red River confluence south to John Dun Bridge, offers established trails and some of the most scenic wading in New Mexico, with towering black basalt walls framing runs where wild browns hold in cold seams below volcanic boulders. The Lower Taos Box continues 17 miles from John Dun Bridge to Taos Junction Bridge — a float trip through technical canyon water that only experienced oarsmen should attempt.
The easiest and most productive access for visiting anglers is near Pilar, where New Mexico Highway 570 descends to river level and the Orilla Verde Recreation Area provides established parking, campsites, and river access. This section fishes well on Blue-winged Olives in the fall and Caddis through the summer, with evening risers that will test your reach cast.
The Rio Grande here is not an easy river. Flows spike dramatically during spring snowmelt and afternoon thunderstorms can turn the canyon deadly with flash floods. Fish are wild, selective, and acutely aware of overhead movement on the rim — low profiles and 5X tippet are non-negotiable. But on a clear October morning when the cottonwoods glow yellow against black basalt and browns are rising to size #20 BWOs in flat pools, this river delivers an experience that no tailwater can replicate. The Rio Grande Taos Box is a bucket-list destination for serious fly fishers who want their wilderness with teeth.
