Rio Chama

Did this run on May 14 2011, overall this great run. It was fence and wood free from the put in to the fisherman's bridge takeout. Level was around 1600cfs. Took about 2.5 hours for us to run straight through without stopping to scout or eat. Lots of nature to see and the scenery is quite different than the Monastery to Big Eddy section of the Rio Chama. Found this section to be a bit easier than Monastery to Big Eddy.

First few miles, before the gravel pit, there several shallow spots that are easily avoidable. Only other notable hazard is a very short low head dam, you will hear it before you see it. Possible to skirt it on either side due it's it's very short and stubby nature. Big Mamma Chama was a long rock garden, maybe solid III at 1600cfs. A few more thousand CFS would make it a stout rapid. Otherwise the rest of the rapids were mellow class II / III wave trains.

I would recommend that everyone do this run at least once as it is all natural flow and only runs a few weeks out of the season. I personally would not want to run it any lower than 1400cfs because I do not like to paddle flat water. Although I am sure it is possible to run it lower than 1400cfs.

Shuttle is straight forward if you take out at the fisherman's bridge, recommended unless you like long flat water paddling.

Visual Guage Height Beta:

The waterline at the put in was almost at the point where the steel bridge support meets the concrete on the east most pylon. The center Bridge support had a small pillow on it. Should be around 1600cfs or so.