ABIQUIU RAFTING FIELD GUIDE
River Music on the Rio Chama: A Three-Day Float with Pat Byrne & Colin Brooks in Abiquiu
A three-day guided rafting and camping trip on the Rio Chama that pairs lively riverside music and gourmet camp meals with scenic canyon float—this guide explains what to expect and how the trip flows.
River Music on the Rio Chama: A Three-Day Float with Pat Byrne & Colin Brooks in Abiquiu.
Far Flung Adventures’ three-day River Music trip carries small groups down the Rio Chama from Abiquiu, combining wilderness rafting and riverside concerts by Pat Byrne and Colin Brooks with camping, campfire camaraderie, and gourmet meals amid high sandstone cliffs and evergreen-lined canyon.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Riverside Music Every Night
Evenings around the campfire become a centerpiece of the trip as the duo of Pat Byrne and Colin Brooks perform riverside, turning wilderness camps into intimate music gatherings.
Gourmet Camp Cooking
Meals are a feature of the experience—gourmet camp cooking anchors evenings and provides the fuel for relaxed mornings, hikes, and river runs.
Stark, Monumental Canyon Views
The route threads evergreen-lined canyon, multi-hued sandstone walls up to 1,000 feet, and views of the Brazos Cliffs and San Juan peaks, delivering classic northern New Mexico river scenery.
What the day feels like
What the Three Days Feel Like
The trip unfolds as a balance of motion and pause: a Friday morning shuttle and scenic put-in lead quickly to riffles and the evergreen-lined Chama Canyon; days alternate leisurely breakfasts, optional hikes to side canyons or Navaho Peak vistas, afternoons on the river negotiating rapids, and evenings of riverside music and campfire conversation.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits—and who should reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The trip runs Friday morning through Sunday afternoon; plan itineraries around an early Friday departure and a mid‑afternoon to late‑afternoon take-out that allows return to Abiquiu by early evening.
Meet at Bode's General Store, 21196 US‑84, Abiquiu, NM for trip check-in and shuttle departure.
Consult the operator for the official trip gear list; plan for layered clothing, sun protection, and personal items for two nights of riverside camping.
Gourmet camp meals are provided as part of the trip program, with dinners and breakfasts served at camp and shared riverside evenings.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
When does the trip start and end?
The three-day trip runs from Friday morning through Sunday afternoon.
Where is the meeting location?
Meet at Bode's General Store, 21196 US‑84, Abiquiu, NM for check-in and the shuttle to the put-in.
What is the minimum age to participate?
The trip accepts children ages 6 and up.
How challenging is the river?
Expect a mix of swift riffles and Class II rapids, with longer Class II–III stretches on the final day into the upper Abiquiu Reservoir.
Where is the take-out and when will we return to Abiquiu?
Take-out is at the upper Abiquiu Reservoir in mid-afternoon on day three, allowing return to vehicles in Abiquiu before approximately 5:00 p.m.
Who operates this trip?
Far Flung Adventures operates the River Music with Pat Byrne and Colin Brooks three-day trip.