Two Days on the Rio Chama: A Family-Friendly Float Through Ponderosa, Rapids and Rainbow Cliffs

On the Rio Chama, a two-day float with Far Flung begins at Bode's General Store (21196 US-84, Abiquiu, NM), where van engines warm and packs are checked before an hour’s drive north to El Vado Ranch. The river starts as a clear trout stream braided by alpine runoff, then drops through evergreen-lined canyon with ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, threading between rainbow-colored cliffs that mark the approaching Georgia O’Keeffe country and the headwaters of Abiquiu Reservoir. Class II riffles punctuate long, relaxed pools—enough splash to thrill kids (minimum age 6) and enough calm to spot brown and rainbow trout and migrating waterfowl. Far Flung’s two-day format balances active river time with roomy, landscaped campsites on old high-water benches. Camp life is part of the draw: lightweight gear stowed in provided drybags, camp chairs to watch the stars, and riverside cooking that leans gourmet—hearty breakfasts, home-roasted sandwich meats, salsas and warm dinners honed over four decades of guiding. Tents, pads and sleeping bags aren’t included, but a sleep kit (two-person tent, sleeping bag and pad) is available for a modest nightly fee. Choices matter on the Chama: paddle boats, oar boats, two-person inflatables and stand-up paddleboards are all options so groups can mix and match craft. The first afternoon usually stays in the canyon wilderness, negotiating riffles and setting a campsite beneath sheltering trees. On day two a morning hike can climb a side canyon or Navajo Peak for a panoramic view, then the river narrows and cliffs grow taller before a quiet float past Christ in the Desert Monastery and a takeout at Chavez Canyon around mid-afternoon. This trip is a compact introduction to New Mexico’s river country—wild and scenic flows, trout-rich water, and geology that shifts from alpine to silty desert walls in a matter of hours. It’s ideal for families, multigenerational groups, or anyone seeking a gentle whitewater experience with real wilderness nights. If you like camp comforts and boats that let you sample both paddling and lazing on large pools, this is a standout way to experience the Chama River corridor. Meet at Bode’s General Store in Abiquiu at 9:00 a.m.; bring attention to food allergies, a sense of adventure, and day gear for a season of sun, splash, and desert-cliff sunsets. On the drive north you’ll pass views of the San Juan Mountains and the massive Brazos Cliffs, plus the village of Tierra Amarilla, site of the 1960s Reyes Tijerina land grant actions—small historical notes that foreground the landscape’s layered human story. Guides emphasize Leave No Trace river camping, pack out all trash, and minimize campfire impacts to protect cottonwood and willow riparian zones that sustain trout and migratory birds along this Wild and Scenic river.