New Mexico whitewater - Rio Chama, San Juan and Jemez Mountains, Rio Arriba County
Rio Arriba
county,
Abiquiu Dam to confluence with Rio Grande section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.
CLASS I-II 25 miles
The Abiquiu Dam to confluence with Rio Grande stretch of Rio Chama is 25 miles long and is rated by American Whitewater as a class I-II section. The put-in location is a short drive from Espanola, please print out a copy of the road map further down the page so you won’t get lost. The scenic beauty of Rio Arriba County and the cool fresh water attract people from near and far. The average whitewater rafting or kayaking river tends to be a bit easier to master in this state than those in other states, so you'd better keep in mind that many of the rivers
here are not very demanding. The nearby hotels are a bit away from the river, but if you don’t have reservations you might end up sleeping in your car. This is one of a small number of paddling stretches in this river system, there are a few others too. The river winds through
the San Juan and Jemez Mountains and you get great scenery. Whether you're whitewater rafting or kayaking around here you won't find a large number of other spots. If you hurry you can run this stretch in a day but why not make it an overnighter, so why not pack your camp stove too. You can pitch a tent or park your RV at a nearby campground. A bit of exercise and a chance to spend some time outdoors are great attractions for lots of people.
Briefly about the general area: That right there is a heap of enjoyable things already but it goes on,
the San Juan and Jemez Mountains has it all. Why not take a refreshing hike along the Palacio Trail. Through the warmest time of the year, highs typically are in the 80's at Rio Chama. Through the dark hours of summer temperatures fall down into the 50's. Highs during the wintertime
are mostly in the 40's, and nighttime lows through the winter for Rio Chama tend to be in the 10's. The Apache Trail offers hiking at its best, and Santa Fe National Forest is worth taking a look at. Rio Chama is a location that is quite dried up ordinarily; most of the rain falls during August, and the driest month of the year is February.
10 miles away
Beautiful 19-room Inn located in tranquil Chama River Valley setting. Guest rooms- suites- and casitas feature stunning Southwestern decor and luxurious beds with pillow-top mattresses. Many rooms wit...
15 miles away
This downtown Los Alamos hotel offers the perfect location with breathtaking mountain views. Friendly service, comfortable accommodations and unique amenities describe the Best Western Hilltop House...
15 miles away
The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Los Alamos is conveniently located just five minutes from the Los Alamos National Laboratory, twenty minutes to the Jemez Mountains with skiing, hiking, fishing,...
All New Mexico Whitewater Complete list of all the whitewater paddling spots in New Mexico.Books about whitewater paddling on Rio Chama, New Mexico List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on Rio Chama, New Mexico.Find a whitewater outfitter in New MexicoWhitewater Basics If you're new to whitewater paddling please take a look at this basic whitewater info.Outdoors Recreation Near Espanola, New Mexico Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Espanola, New Mexico, the metro area neareast to Rio Chama. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.
These outdoors activities are available near Rio Chama.