Orilla Verde on The Rio Grande
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9444
Printed Date: 18 Jul 2025 at 4:35am
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Topic: Orilla Verde on The Rio Grande
Posted By: texman
Subject: Orilla Verde on The Rio Grande
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2017 at 9:48am
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The wife and I (and German Shepherd) are heading the Orilla Verde area close to Taos NM to the Rio Grande. If anyone is familiar with area, please let me know of any tips or insight. i am planning to boon dock up around the Taos junction next to the Rio Pueblo De Taos. Headed there saturday, i hope. ------------- TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9122&title=texman-182g-mods - TexManMods |
Replies:
Posted By: ArenaBlanca
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2017 at 2:41pm
| As of yesterday, there waqs still 86 inches of snow at Taos Ski Valley. You might want to call the Forest Service and see what it is like around Pilar. |
Posted By: texman
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2017 at 3:20pm
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supposed to be in the mid to upper 60s and night time above freezing according to the weather folks. It will be cooler down in the gorge for sure. heck it is 70 deg in taos and Pilar now! ------------- TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9122&title=texman-182g-mods - TexManMods |
Posted By: texman
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2017 at 3:50pm
i called the Rio grande visitor center at pilar, all good looks like. 
------------- TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9122&title=texman-182g-mods - TexManMods |
Posted By: TylerK9
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2017 at 10:27pm
| I drove within 15 miles of there this afternoon (passing through Ojo Caliente on Hwy 285 on my way to Colorado to pick up my new RP-180) and it was gorgeous. 60 degrees, sunny, and just a few small spots of snow on the ground in shady places. Forecast is for more of the same through the weekend and beyond. |
Posted By: YODT
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2017 at 10:46am
| My wife and I go to Taos every year, it's beautiful. However i wasn't too impressed with Orilla Verde, kinda flat and the river is very slow there. Drive another hour up to Wild Rivers Recreation area just north of Questa. Beautiful views, nice hiking and excellent fly fishing on both the Red & Rio Grande rivers. If you decide Orilla Verde is the place to be, drive into Rancho de Taos (small town south of Taos) and dine at either the Trading Post cafe or Old Martina's. Also worth exploring is the High Road to Taos, a scenic byway from Santa Fe with stunning views. And finally, always spend time in Taos you won't regret it! dt |
Posted By: Pete Brayton
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2017 at 11:09am
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My first year of teaching was at Ojo Caliente back in 1981. The hot springs consisted of the old part of the hotel and a few bathtubs in outbuildings! A lot has changed since then. There is a trail on the west side of the river up on top of the gorge that begins at the Highway 64 bridge and goes several miles south that you can hike or mountain bike while enjoying views of the gorge and the mountains around Taos. When I taught there in '81, I actually lived in a small town called La Madera...beautiful area. ------------- 2021 Rpod 196 2013 Ford 150 V8 |
Posted By: texman
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2017 at 2:44pm
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i like the wild river area for fishing, but the access to the river is difficult. And, no place for the pod other than the top in the wind. any other camping areas that you know of around there?
------------- TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9122&title=texman-182g-mods - TexManMods |
Posted By: YODT
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2017 at 2:59pm
| Well, there are some RV Parks in taos Valley along Hwy 64,and there's a real nice new one over by Angelfire called Angelfire Resort. |
Posted By: Pete Brayton
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2017 at 7:53pm
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This might help:
http://enchantedcircle.org/page.php?p=camping ------------- 2021 Rpod 196 2013 Ford 150 V8 |
Posted By: texman
Date Posted: 16 Mar 2017 at 5:40pm
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just a followup and a battery report on Orilla Verde. Boondocked for 3 nights with two GC2s and my 80 watt zamp. Battery SOC never below 80% and usually closer to 90%+. I guess we are energy misers. Used heater, lights, fridge, inverter for air mattress, etc. So, i am very happy with those results. Temps were great-mid 60s for highs and mid 30s for lows. Oodles of hiking available and plenty of water. No success on fish, but it is a bit early and i didn't try very hard either. I was spring break but campgrounds mostly empty.  We camped right next to the rio grande where it narrows and had great river sounds. You are only 15 miles from Taos if you need something or a change of scenery. There are no dumps in the area, have to go to taos and pay. Some campsights with hookups and water. The spring runoff has not really hit yet. That will turn the river to chocolate milk in a few  you can see the pod in the center...  pod and Sangre de cristos  ------------- TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9122&title=texman-182g-mods - TexManMods |