Updated July 2026
Rio en Medio Falls
Rio en Medio Trail #163 follows a perennial stream through the Santa Fe National Forest to a roughly 20-foot waterfall, a moderate out-and-back of about 3.6 miles. The lower trail was heavily damaged by fire and flooding in 2022 and has undergone multi-year restoration.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Santa Fe National Forest for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio en Medio Falls drops about 20 feet. That makes it the 599th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 12% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Rio en Medio Trail #163 reaches it about 3.6 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 593 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Tesuque. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Santa Fe National Forest for closures and current conditions.
Spring and early summer. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More New Mexico waterfalls
- Bluff Springs Waterfall
- Bridal Veil Falls · 45 ft
- Catwalk Falls (Whitewater Canyon)
- El Salto del Agua Falls
- Jemez Falls · 70 ft
- Nambe Falls · 100 ft
- Sitting Bull Falls · 150 ft
- Soda Dam · 50 ft
Sources
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