Chama River Canyon Wilderness

The Wild and Scenic Chama River, popular among rafters and canoeists, runs through six miles of this Wilderness. Its beauty is so impressive that most people don't bother visiting the relatively unspectacular grassland that dominates the upland portion of the area. Trail access is poor above the colorful sandstone bluffs and rock formations that rise to high rims on both riverbanks. Backpackers can hike along portions of the Chama River and pitch their tents in a secluded wooded campsite above one of the canyon's high-water beaches. Water levels reflect releases from the upstream El Vado Lake Dam, but you can usually float the river, with portages, all the way from the Colorado border to the Rio Grande through the rainbow-hued Chama River Canyon. Trout often flourish in the river, and onshore residents include mule deer, black bears, elk, coyotes, and mountain lions. Varying canyon elevations provide a wide range of vegetation, from low-lying piñon-juniper woodland to ponderosa pine and fir. Most of the Wilderness lies in Santa Fe National Forest, with a portion in Carson National Forest.