Rio Chama
Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), and camping is free. Rio Chama is a National Forest campground near Abiquiu, New Mexico.
First-come, first-served
- National Forest
- Managed by
Rio Chama sits inside Santa Fe National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com. It sits 0.2 miles outside the boundary of Chama River Canyon Wilderness; its permit and camping rules and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.
Getting a site
- Managed by
- National Forest
- Reservations
- None, first-come
- Fee
- Free
Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-30
What's there
- ✓ Toilets
- ✓ Fire rings
On site: Toilets and fire rings.
Access and cell service
- Elevation
- 6,406 ft
36.3546, -106.6740 in Rio Arriba. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Common questions
Do you need a reservation at Rio Chama?
No. Rio Chama is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.
How much does it cost to camp at Rio Chama?
Camping at Rio Chama is free.
Who manages Rio Chama?
Rio Chama is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Around Rio Chama
Hot springs and swimming nearby
Nearest to Rio Chama, in straight-line miles: Abiquiu Lake (swimming hole, 16 miles), and San Antonio Hot Springs (hot spring, 29 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Free
Echo Amphitheater - Sites
- 10
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $20 per night
More campgrounds: camping near Abiquiu and campgrounds in Rio Arriba.
Sources
- apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-30