ABIQUIU EVENTS FIELD GUIDE
Campfire Songs on the Rio Chama: A Three‑Day Float with LVDY through Abiquiu’s Canyon Walls
A small‑group, three‑day river trip on the Rio Chama featuring live, riverside music, gourmet camp meals and mellow Class II–III whitewater.
Campfire Songs on the Rio Chama: A Three‑Day Float with LVDY through Abiquiu’s Canyon Walls.
Float through the evergreen‑lined canyon of the Rio Chama outside Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico, for three days of gentle rapids, campsite performances and wilderness nights under ponderosa and Douglas firs.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Riverside Campfire Performances with LVDY
Evenings are anchored by live music at camp, an intimate element of this small‑group trip that blends performance and river life.
Gourmet Camp Cooking
Meals on the trip are described as gourmet, prepared at camp to complement long days on the river and nights around the fire.
Mellow Rapids and Sweeping Scenery
The Rio Chama on this route offers mostly mellow Class II water—escalating to Class II–III on the final run—paired with sandstone cliffs and canyon wilderness.
What the day feels like
What the three days feel like
The trip moves from a Friday morning rendezvous through scenic shuttle country to a riverside launch, then downstream into Chama Canyon Wilderness where guests negotiate riffles and Class II rapids, spend nights on high‑water benches beneath ponderosa pines and Douglas firs, and finish mid‑afternoon on Sunday after a lively final stretch of Class II–III water into the headwaters of Abiquiu Reservoir.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who gets the most from this trip—and who should think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
This is a three‑day trip running from Friday morning through Sunday afternoon.
Meet at Bode’s General Store, 21196 US‑84, Abiquiu, NM; the group typically departs from there for the shuttle to the put‑in.
Passengers may choose paddle boat, oar boat, individual or two‑person inflatable kayak, or stand up paddleboard for this mellow, family‑friendly river.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the trip?
The trip runs from Friday morning through Sunday afternoon—a three‑day itinerary.
Where and when do we meet?
The meeting point is Bode’s General Store at 21196 US‑84 in Abiquiu, NM; the group meets there in the morning (9:00 a.m. is the listed meeting time for Day 1).
How many people are on the trip?
This special trip is limited to only 16 spaces for a small‑group experience.
What kinds of boats are available?
Options include paddle boat, oar boat, individual or two‑person inflatable kayak, and stand up paddleboard.
What level of paddling ability is required?
The river is described as mostly mellow and family friendly, with Class II sections and a final stretch reaching Class II–III; the route accommodates a range of abilities.
What happens in the evenings?
Evenings feature campfire music and gourmet camp meals at riverside campsites.