New Mexico whitewater, Rio Chama Rio Arriba county, Abiquiu Dam to confluence with Rio Grande section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.   CLASS I-II     25 miles   Interesting run with little traffic.  Used to be mostly ag land, but houses are being built along the river.  More of a canoe run than kayak run.  There are quite a few diversion dams and fences, so it is important to keep your eyes open. Says Cullen Hallmark This stretch of Rio Chama in Rio Arriba County is 25 miles long and is according to American Whitewater a class I-II section of whitewater. The beautiful scenery of New Mexico     and the playfulness of the water attract people from near and far. Great exercise and a chance to spend some time outdoors have a lot of people coming here. The starting point is not too far from Espanola, as you can see on the road map further down. There are some good sections to paddle in this river system, the Abiquiu Dam to confluence with Rio Grande section is one of them. You might be into whitewater rafting or kayaking or both, doesn't matter, around here you won't find a large number of other spots. There aren’t any hotels right nearby but if you're willing to drive a short distance then no problem but if you don’t have reservations you might end up   sleeping in your car. Whitewater rafting and kayaking spots in New Mexico tend to be more forgiving than the national average, so if you're visiting here do keep in mind that lots of rivers in this state are good for beginners. There's camping available near Rio Chama. This stretch has enough mileage for an overnight trip, so why not pack your camp stove too. The river winds through the San Juan and Jemez Mountains and you get great scenery. Briefly about the general area: Going for a hike along the Apache Trail will let you absorb the natural beauty of this vicinity. Not far from Rio Chama you can enjoy the trees of Santa Fe National Forest, and if the weather is good, you can go for a hike along the Palacio Trail. Rio Chama, Abiquiu Dam to confluence with Rio Grande road map Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked.     Map Detailed Map Stats Stats for this river stretch Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Rio Chama.   Whitewater Near Rio Chama: Rio Chama, Rio Arriba County, 13 miles away       Class I-II - 25 miles long (Abiquiu Dam to confluence with Rio Grande) Rio Grande, Sandoval County, 17 miles away       Class III - 24 miles long (Otowi Bridge to Cochiti Reservoir) Whitewater Outfitter - Known World Guide Service, Rio Arriba County, 20 miles away       Whitewater outfitter Rio Ojo Caliente, Rio Arriba County, 20 miles away       Class I-II - 28 miles long (La Madera to confluence with Rio Chama) Whitewater Outfitter - New Wave Rafting, Rio Arriba County, 24 miles away       Whitewater outfitter Rio Santa Cruz, Santa Fe County, 26 miles away       Class IV-V - 1 miles long (Cundiyo to Santa Cruz Reservoir)   Ski Areas Near Rio Chama: Pajarito Mountain, New Mexico , 17 miles away, 1410 foot drop, 7 lifts, 37 runs Ski Santa Fe, New Mexico , 37 miles away, 1725 foot drop, 7 lifts, 69 runs Sipapu, New Mexico , 49 miles away, 1055 foot drop, 4 lifts, 31 runs Sandia Peak, New Mexico , 53 miles away, 1700 foot drop, 6 lifts, 30 runs Taos, New Mexico , 61 miles away, 2612 foot drop, 13 lifts, 110 runs Red River, New Mexico , 67 miles away, 1600 foot drop, 7 lifts, 58 runs Angel Fire, New Mexico , 70 miles away, 2077 foot drop, 7 lifts, 74 runs Wolf Creek, Colorado , 83 miles away, 1604 foot drop, 7 lifts, 77 runs   Hotels Near Rio Chama: Holiday Inn Express & Suites LOS ALAMOS ENTRADA PARK, Los Alamos , 15 miles away Comfort Inn & Suites Los Alamos, Los Alamos , 15 miles away The Inn At The Delta, Espanola , 15 miles away Santa Claran Hotel, Espanola , 16 miles away Rodeway Inn Espanola, Espanola , 16 miles away   Campgrounds Near Rio Chama: Abiquiu Inn, Abiquiu, 3 miles away Riana, Canones, 13 miles away Eastgate - Sunrise RV Park, Los Alamos, 15 miles away   Trails Near Rio Chama: Apache Trail, Rio Arriba , 2 miles away Palacio Trail, Rio Arriba , 3 miles away San Lorenzo Trail, Rio Arriba , 5 miles away Lemitas Trail, Rio Arriba , 5 miles away Vallecitos Trail, Rio Arriba , 10 miles away   Public Lands Near Rio Chama: Bandelier National Monument, Los Alamos - NM , 15 miles away Santa Fe National Historic Trail, Santa Fe - NM , 26 miles away Carson National Forest, New Mexico , 29 miles away Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico , 34 miles away Fenton Lake State Park, New Mexico , 35 miles away   Golf Courses Near Rio Chama: Los Alamos County Government Recreation Division Golf Course, Los Alamos , 14 miles away Black Mesa 1 Golf Course, Espanola , 17 miles away   Lakes Near Rio Chama Los Alamos Reservoir, Los Alamos , 16 miles away