photos: The Rio Grande as it passes under the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.
...or, more specifically, rafting the most exciting section of the Rio Grande: the Taos Box run just outside of Taos, NM. I made this trip in June 08 and it was fantastic. Although the rafting season runs from April-July, the snow melt in early June results in very high CFS flow rates. Thus, class III+ rapids became class IV+, and the water was freezing cold. The result was 16 miles of incredibly beautiful scenery punctuated by very exciting whitewater action. Still, outside of the month of June the run is sufficiently thrilling (actually, it's probably better if it's your first time rafting) and the natural splendor is unchanged.
If you like history and/or geology, then it's worth noting that the Rio Grande in New Mexico was the original western boundary of Texas and that the gorge is actually a rift valley (i.e., the river didn't carve the gorge, but rather is flowing through an area where the Earth's crust is splitting). A good river guide should be able to offer a lot more anecdotes about the history of of the area, and should be able to point out the spot where the Air Force jet crashed into one of the rock walls.
If rafting isn't your thing, northern New Mexico is still a lot of fun. There is great hiking around Taos in the Santa Fe Nat'l Forest and in the Kit Carson Nat'l Forest. Furthermore, Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico, is just north of Taos (above the ski basin). Hiking up that is a good time.
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