Wild Rio Grande "The La Junta Run"   

A full day trip (approximately 5 hours) within the confines of the Rio Grande Gorge, offering mild whitewater (one Class III), with a chance to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River sans white knuckles.  Cebolla Mesa to John Dunn Bridge, 9 miles.

Season: May through September. 

Participants: We welcome first time rafters seven years of age and older.  You should be  in normal good health and prepared for the moderate exertion of the trail.  All trips are run with paddle boats, no experience is necessary.  For the more adventuresome, we offer a full day "Pack-Cat" trip on La Junta.  These are individual paddle crafts.  A guide/instructor accompanies each trip.

Cost: ^$125 per person, with a 50^% advance deposit required.  Requires a minimum of four participants. Organized groups of twelve or more are always welcome and will receive a group discount.  Please contact us if you would like assistance in organizing your group

Sample Itinerary:
The trip begins with a one mile horse-pack of the boating equipment and hike in of participants down a steep Forest Service trail at Cebolla Mesa.  The trail offers interesting exploration  as we descend from sagebrush-juniper grasslands at the rim through an alpine zone of tall pine, spruce and fir to the river's edge.

Launching below Class IV La Junta rapids, we swirl away into the wild heart of the gorge, past  native American petroglyphs and mining era relics including an old cabin and steam donkey.  The banks are lined with tall trees and several perennial streams join the river.  Wildlife is most abundant in this area and elk, eagles and Canadian geese have been spotted.  This section harbors a large population of German brown trout, and fishing trips are an option for groups who wish to fish.

Meeting Place: Far Flung Adventures Boathouse at 9 AM. Go North from Taos on 64 to the stop light. Go North through the intersection on 522 and look for the Far Flung sign on the right. You are encouraged to check in upon arrival in Taos. (Call 758-2628.)

Weather:  Springtime and summer conditions in the Rockies are often unsettled, with late snows interposed among the 70-80oF. days.  However, by June the forecast is for mostly warm and clear conditions.  Afternoon showers become common as the weather gets hot, so at any season participants should prepare for the sudden onset of chilly conditions. 
 
Far Flung Adventures Provides: Certified boatmen, self-bailing rafts, raingear/wetsuits, lunch (all fresh foods, tasty and nutritious) and meal service items, river-safety equipment, waterproof duffel for your personal gear, camera/binocular protection and transportation to and from the river and our meeting place. We can normally fit persons weighing between 90-200 pounds into our life jackets.  Smaller or larger folks should notify us in advance of their sizes. Your river guides have many years of experience on the Rio Grande, are trained in river rescue and wilderness emergency first aid.

YOU NEED TO BRING:
____Sneakers
____Cap or hat
____Sunglasses with a retaining strap
____Canteen or water bottle
        Personal clothing/items:
____Quick dry shorts and tee shirts (polypro
        top for early season)
____Sweater or jacket
____Dry change of clothes, footwear to leave
        in the shuttle vehicle
____Sunscreen (below your eyes only)

Accommodations:  We recommend staying in Taos whenever convenient.  Rafting participants are receiving special rates on condos or rooms at the Quail Ridge Inn, our meeting place.  Phone (505) 776-2211.  Other recommended lodging includes the Stewart House 776-2557, Taos Inn 758-2233 and the Ramada Inn 758-2900.  A more extensive listing accompanies your reservation.  When possible, plan to spend at least one extra day to visit Taos' world class galleries, the Taos Pueblo (perhaps the oldest continuously occupied structure on the continent), and sample Taos' many other charms.  For more information contact the Taos Chamber of Commerce at (505) 758-3873.

Reservations:  A 50^% per person deposit is required to secure your place(s) on the trip.  Mail-in reservations should be accompanied by the enclosed reservation form.  We accept telephone reservations using your major credit card.  Availability is on a first come, first served basis and is also limited by BLM regulation.  Please reserve early!  Upon receipt of your deposit(s) we will mail notice of confirmed reservation along with a detailed gear checklist, map and meeting instructions, and a medical information form to inform us of any dietary or health restrictions, overweight persons, non-swimmers. 
 
  Toll Free Reservations:  1-800-359-2627  or e-mail  farflung@taosnet.com