Rio Grande Box Access provides entry to the Upper Taos Box, a premier 6. 5-mile expert-only whitewater section featuring Class V-VI rapids with a 69 fpm gradient.

Access requires steep, difficult portages from the road to the river, and BLM reservations are required (no fee); self-registration stations are available at the access points.

The section flows through a deep gorge within the Wild Rivers Recreation Area near Taos, with nearby campgrounds and facilities, though this run demands advanced paddling and self-rescue skills due to challenging conditions and limited outside assistance.