Rio Chama NM

RMCC members drew a winning number in the Chama lottery this year, and so we have a launch permit for July 13 for up to 16 paddlers. 5 slots are still open. Here’s a link to the BLM site:https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/new-mexico/rio-chama-river

This is a beautiful and challenging two night run with big rapids.

We’ll assemble at 8am on Friday the 13th to check in (and pay the $5/person BLM fee), rig and start the shuttle. We should be on the river by late morning. Just Class I-II on Friday, then a number of Class III drops on Saturday and Sunday. We should finish early afternoon on Sunday.

The drive from Denver to the put-in 342 miles (about 6 hours). The drive from the put-in to the take-out is about 56 miles (1.5 hours) each way. You can camp Friday night at the commercial campground below the dam (at the put-in) or up on the reservoir in the state park.

The flow of the Rio Chama (a tributary of the Rio Grande) is controlled by the El Vado dam and they target at least 500 cfs during spring and summer weekends. BLM suggests a minimum of 300 cfs for canoes and kayaks. Flow on the weekend of June 15th was 750 cfs (and the historical average is 700 cfs). However, of course the southwest is in extreme drought and there’s no guarantee we’ll get a target release on our weekend. The best we can do is to check it on the two preceeding weekends and call the BLM/and or El Vado dam on the week of our departure (which I’ll do).

Contact Bill Ashworth ([email protected]) for more information or to sign-up. Canoes and kayaks welcome, but strong Class III skills required