Orilla Verde, in the Rio Grande Gorge
between Pilar and Taos, New Mexico

Orilla Verde is a National Recreation Area along the shores of the Rio Grande. There are a number of nice campgrounds and picnic areas in addition to many turnouts with easy access to the river for fishing and even for putting in rafts, canoes and kayaks. The main road in (State Highway 570) runs northwest out of Pilar and travels through the Gorge to the Taos Junction Bridge, where it becomes State Highway 567 as it crosses the river and heads west up the wall of the Gorge to the village of Carson and then on to US 285 between Ojo Caliente and Tres Piedras. The entire journey is paved except for that section of road west of the bridge and below the top of the gorge (and that section is a bit heavy with the washboard).

Most of the whitewater rafting companies pull their Taos Box customers out of the water just below the Taos Junction Bridge at the north end of Orilla Verde. Also at that same beach, some companies put rafts in the water for the gentle float through Orilla Verde to Pilar, where they pull out of the water again. Raft trips going further south usually put in at Pilar and pull out downstream at Velarde.