Rio Chama

The run

31 miles of Class II-III on the Rio Chama through the Chama Wilderness, north of Abiquiu, New Mexico. The canyon cuts through pink and red Entrada Sandstone with walls rising 1,500 feet from the river. Named rapids are mostly Class II with one solid Class III. The water is a striking chocolate brown from desert silt - not clear water. Between the rapids, long stretches of moving flatwater with good camps on sandstone benches. The Rio Chama sees fewer parties than most Colorado Plateau rivers, and the silence is noticeable.

The permit

BLM lottery runs March for weekend launches between April and September. Weekday launches are first-come-first-served and rarely full. Weekend lottery odds are around 30-50% - not as competitive as the Middle Fork or Yampa. The permit window is tied to Abiquiu Dam release schedules; if the dam isn't releasing, there's no river. Releases are scheduled in advance by the Albuquerque Army Corps.

Timing

The Chama runs on scheduled dam releases from El Vado Dam and Abiquiu Dam during April through September. Release flows typically run 800-1,500 CFS. Outside release periods the flow drops below floatable levels. Check the Army Corps release schedule in January-February to plan your permit window. Memorial Day through early July is the classic window - releases usually align, weather is warm but not yet brutal.

Logistics

Put-in is El Vado Boat Ramp off US-84, roughly 15 miles south of Chama, NM. Take-out is Big Eddy on the north side of Abiquiu Reservoir. Shuttle is 50 miles, $200-300 with a company. Chama, NM has services at the put-in side; Abiquiu is closer to the take-out but smaller.