John Dunn Bridge is located in Arroyo Hondo in north-central

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...

. It crosses the Rio Grande near the confluence of the Rio Hondo. It was built in 1908 by John Dunn who transported travelers and mail into Taos and housed travelers overnight at his hotel near the bridge. It was sold to the

Territory of New Mexico The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912. It was created from the U.S. provisional government of New Mexico, as a result of '' Nuevo México'' becomin ...

in 1912, and at that time the toll bridge was made a free bridge to travelers. Recreational opportunities on the rivers include fishing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting. It is near the Black Rock Hot Springs.

Geography

The bridge is located about west of Arroyo Hondo on a gravel road that parallels the Rio Hondo. The road, off NM 522, runs through Bureau of Land Management property and is known as John Dunn Bridge Road and County Road B-007. An portion of the Rio Grande called the "Taos Box" is used for whitewater rafting between the John Dunn Bridge, at the northern end, and the Taos Junction Bridge.

History

In or after 1893 John Dunn bought a bridge that crossed the Rio Grande and established a business taking passengers and freight from the

Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the United ...

at Tres Piedras to Taos. The bridge burned down and he rebuilt it in 1908.

Marta Weigle Marta Weigle (July 3, 1944 – June 14, 2018) was an American anthropologist and folklorist. Weigle earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in 1971, and began teaching English and anthropology at the University of New Mexico the n ...

; Peter White (2003)
''The Lore of New Mexico''
UNM Press. p. 212. . He built a hotel near the bridge there for travelers. The hotel provided fresh fish from the Rio Grande and fresh milk from his milk cow. It was a toll bridge for which he charged $1 per person and less for livestock. He provided daily mail service from the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad at Tres Piedras to Embudo, Taos Junction and

Taos Taos or TAOS may refer to: Places * Taos, Missouri, a city in Cole County, Missouri, United States * Taos County, New Mexico, United States ** Taos, New Mexico, a city, the county seat of Taos County, New Mexico *** Taos art colony, an art colo ...

, that was otherwise delivered unpredictably. He operated the bridge until 1912 when he sold it to the

who made it a free bridge. The bridge was closed in 2007 for the winter following a rockslide in October of that year.

Recreation

Fishing is available on the Rio Hondo near the bridge and on the Rio Grande. Kayaking and whitewater rafting are popular recreation activities on Rio Grande, particularly for experienced rafters. A put-in spot is located near the bridge. Black Rock Hot Springs are located off a dirt road on the western side of the Rio Grande after crossing the bridge.

References

{{Reflist Buildings and structures in Taos County, New Mexico Bridges over the Rio Grande Road bridges in New Mexico Transportation in Taos County, New Mexico Former toll bridges in New Mexico