Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River Permit
Southwest Rivers · New Mexico
22 wilderness miles of northern New Mexico sandstone canyon, on water released from El Vado Reservoir. Friday and Saturday launches go through a lottery.
Get an alert when a Rio Chama launch date opens.
Rio Chama lottery dates
Apply December 1 to January 31. Results, Feb 14.
- LotteryDec 1–Jan 31 · Results, Feb 14
- Quota seasonApr 15–Sep 15
Who issues Rio Chama permits. Source: Recreation.gov. Read the official permit page.
- route distance, point to point
- 22mi
- max group size
- 16people
How to get a Rio Chama permit
As of September 2026, Rio Chama in Southwest Rivers, New Mexico requires a permit issued via lottery. Rio Chama is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. The Rio Chama lottery opens December 1 and closes January 31, with results announced February 14. The permit season for Rio Chama runs April 15 through September 15. The Rio Chama route covers 22 miles, rated moderate.
- Type
- River Access
- Location
- Chama Canyons Wilderness, NM
Step 1: Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Verify your email and add payment info ahead of time.
Step 2: Apply during the lottery window
Submit your application between December 1 and January 31. Apply for multiple dates to increase your odds.
Step 3: Wait for lottery results
Results are announced February 14. Check your email and your Recreation.gov account.
Step 4: Apply again next time
PermitSnag reminds you about the Rio Chama lottery dates we hold, so you can apply again. You can also enter as a pool with friends.
More on Rio Chama: Live availability activityWhen Rio Chama permits open upRio Chama Wild and Scenic River lottery datesDo I need a Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River permit?Estimate your lottery oddsBoost your odds with a pool
How much a Rio Chama permit costs
Rio Chama permit fee: $6 lottery application fee, $5 per person recreation fee, plus an $8 per person launch fee at Cooper's El Vado Ranch.
The Rio Chama trip
- Distance
- 22 miles
- Route Type
- Point to Point
- Duration
- 2-3 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
About this permit
The Rio Chama permit covers the 22 miles from Cooper's El Vado Ranch to Chavez Canyon, through a BLM Wilderness Study Area and the designated Chama Canyons Wilderness. BLM calls it the wilderness section and rates it Class II to III. A permit is required from April 15 to September 15. Outside those dates boaters self-permit on site before launching.
Only Friday and Saturday launches go through the lottery. Everything else is first-come, first-served starting April 1 at 8 a.m., which is also when unclaimed lottery permits release. Because releases from El Vado are scheduled, BLM uses Friday and Saturday as the definition of weekend and Sunday through Thursday as weekday.
Quota is counted in launches per day and it is genuinely small. Early season allows 6 total weekend launches, 2 each on Sunday and Monday, and 1 each Tuesday through Thursday. Release season allows 11 weekend launches, 3 each Sunday through Wednesday, and 1 on Thursday.
Rio Chama trip highlights
- Class II to III water through a wilderness canyon
- Scheduled reservoir releases, with water leaving El Vado between 10 a.m. and noon on Friday and taking about 12 hours to reach Chavez Canyon
- 35 commonly used camp areas marked with posts and names, none of them reservable
- A private launch facility at Cooper's El Vado Ranch with its own per-person fee
- An equipment inspection at launch, with a 3-year suspension for showing up without required gear
How hard the Rio Chama trip is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required5/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route4/5
Best for: Experienced hikers with excellent fitness and relevant technical skills.
Recommended experience: Multi-day backpacking or river experience recommended.
When to float Rio Chama
Best time to visit
BLM splits the season into early season from April 15 to July 15 and release season from July 16 to September 15, when weekend flows are augmented Friday through Sunday for boaters. Recommended minimums are 80 to 100 cfs for kayaks, inflatable kayaks, packrafts and canoes, 150 cfs for rafts under 10 feet, 200 cfs for rafts over 10 feet, and 500 cfs for rafts over 14 feet.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Backcountry Tips
- Tomorrow: 65% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
Today
53°
43°
27%
Wed
53°
43°
65%
Thu
60°
38°
Fri
66°
41°
Sat
67°
44°
Sun
67°
43°
22%
Mon
63°
42°
22%
Rio Chama rules, gear and safety
Rules & regulations
- 01Permit required April 15 to September 15 between El Vado Ranch and Chavez Canyon, self-permit on site outside those dates
- 02Group limit is 16 heartbeats, and dogs count toward it with a limit of 2
- 03The permit holder must be 18 or older
- 04Permits are non-transferable and no alternates are allowed
- 05Lottery covers Friday and Saturday launches only, one permit per season
- 06All other days are first-come, first-served from April 1 at 8 a.m.
- 07Friday permits may launch Friday or Saturday, Saturday permits must launch Saturday
- 08Campsites are not reservable, including the four large group camps
- 09Cancel at least 5 days before launch or face a no-show penalty that blocks permits for the current and following 3 calendar years
Hazards & considerations
- Flows that BLM describes as highly variable and not guaranteed, driven by irrigation demand and storage decisions
- Extremely low flow trips that need small boats and light packing
- A wilderness canyon with limited access for evacuation
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Rio Chama.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Rio Chama · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Rio Chama FAQ
How does the Rio Chama lottery work?
It covers Friday and Saturday launches only. Applications run December 1 to January 31, results come out February 14, and winners have until March 15 to accept. Every other day of the week is first-come, first-served from April 1 at 8 a.m.
How many Rio Chama permits are issued per day?
BLM publishes the quota by season. Early season allows 6 total weekend launches, 2 each on Sunday and Monday, and 1 each Tuesday through Thursday. Release season allows 11 weekend launches, 3 each Sunday through Wednesday, and 1 on Thursday.
Do I reserve campsites with a Rio Chama permit?
No. BLM states there are no campsite reservations. There are 35 commonly used camp areas marked with posts and names, and four large group camps, none of them reservable.
Do dogs count toward the Rio Chama group limit?
Yes. The launch limit is 16 heartbeats and dogs count toward your group size, with a limit of 2 dogs.
Rio Chama river conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Rio Chama.
Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Rio Chama permit
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Dolores River
Another runoff-dependent desert canyon float, 32 miles from Gateway, Colorado to Dewey Bridge.
Tradeoffs
No lottery and unlimited permits, but a much less reliable season and a Class IV crux.
Where to stay near Rio Chama
- Cayton CampgroundSan Juan National Forest
- Burro Bridge campgroundSan Juan National Forest
- Matterhorn CabinGrand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest
- All New Mexico campgrounds
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
No permit needed to start
Two ways to land it
Track cancellations or run a lottery pool
Lottery concierge
Your next shot at Rio Chama
Applications open December 1, 2026 and close January 31, 2027. Results are posted February 14, 2027.
Track this permit and your concierge takes those dates from here: an email when applications open, another before the deadline, and one when results post. You apply once and stop watching the calendar.
Better odds with a crew
Rio Chama permits are drawn by lottery. Every friend who applies adds another entry, so a crew gets more shots at the same permit than any one of you alone.
One of you runs the pool (Pro or a $19 alert). Everyone else joins free.
Know the moment you win
Auto win-detection tells you the moment your Rio Chama application wins, so you never have to check Recreation.gov. It reads the result email you forward us, so it takes a one-time setup in your inbox (about two minutes, and we walk you through it). Auto win-detection is on Pro or a $19 permit alert.
Turn on auto win-detectionOpens the official lottery. You submit your entry. We never automate or store your Recreation.gov login.
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