CuteCamper
Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River
The Rio Chama, a major tributary of the Rio Grande, flows through a multi-colored sandstone canyon whose walls increase to 1,500 feet above the river as you travel downstream. Co-managed by BLM and the Forest Service (FS), 24.6 miles of the river is Congressionally designated as a Wild and Scenic River and flows through the Rio Chama Wilderness Study Area managed by the BLM, and the Chama River Canyon Wilderness managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Towering cliffs, heavily wooded side canyons, and historical sites offer an outstanding wild river backdrop for the angler or boater. To protect the river environment from overuse, and to maintain an opportunity for a high quality experience, boating is limited to set number of boaters per day. There is a lottery system to assign launch dates.
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RecAreaDirections
El Vado Ranch is reached via NM 112 from US 84 near Tierra Amarilla. Forest Road 151 just north of Ghost Ranch on US 84 reaches the lower part of the river. Forest Road 151 is a dirt road and not easily accessible when wet.
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Permits info
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Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River Permits Permit
The Rio Chama is about 120 miles long, beginning in the southern San Juan Mountains of South-Central Colorado, it joins the Rio Grande near Espanola, NM. In 1978 the River was designated as a State Scenic and Pastoral River thus designating part of the Santa Fe National Forest as Chama River Canyon Wilderness. Thirty-one miles of the river were further protected as a Federal Wild and Scenic River in 1988.
All commercial outfitters must have a special use permit, usually issued for the Rio Chama by the Bureau of Land Management Taos Field Office. Private boaters may float the Scenic portion of the Rio Chama (downstream from the Christ in the Desert Monastery without a permit, but overnight float trips on the Wild portion of the Rio Chama (above the Monastery) are also required to have a permit from the Bureau of Land Management Taos Field Office.
