The Rio Chama, a major tributary of the Río Grande, flows through a multi-
colored sandstone canyon whose walls increase to 1,500 feet above the river as
you travel downstream. Co-managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and
the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), 24.6 miles of the river is Congressionally
designated as a Wild and Scenic River and flows through the Rio Chama
Wilderness Study Area managed by the BLM, and the Chama River Canyon
Wilderness managed by the USFS.

Towering cliffs, heavily wooded side canyons, and historical sites offer an
outstanding wild river backdrop for the angler or boater. To protect the river
environment from overuse, and to maintain an opportunity for a high-quality
experience, boating is limited to set number of boaters per day. There is a
lottery system to assign launch dates.

**LOTTERY INFORMATION**

Because of the demand for trips in late spring and summer, the BLM uses a
lottery system to reserve weekend (Friday-Saturday) launch dates from April 15
through September 15. Please not that for a launch after September 15 and
before April 15, no advance reservation is required – you simply show up at
the launch site, fill out a registration form, pay the fees, and go.

Rio Chama Lottery

The Rio Chama, a major tributary of the Río Grande, flows through a multi-colored sandstone canyon whose walls increase to 1,500 feet above the river as you travel downstream. Co-managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S.  Forest Service (USFS), 24.6 miles of the river is Congressionally designated as a Wild and Scenic River and flows through the Rio Chama Wilderness Study Area managed by the BLM, and the Chama River Canyon Wilderness managed by the USFS. 

Towering cliffs, heavily wooded side canyons, and historical sites offer an outstanding wild river backdrop for the angler or boater. To protect the river environment from overuse, and to maintain an opportunity for a high-quality experience, boating is limited to set number of boaters per day. There is a lottery system to assign launch dates.  

LOTTERY INFORMATION 

Because of the demand for trips in late spring and summer, the BLM uses a lottery system to reserve weekend (Friday-Saturday) launch dates from April 15 through September 15. Please not that for a launch after September 15 and before April 15, no advance reservation is required – you simply show up at the launch site, fill out a registration form, pay the fees, and go. 

<a href="https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/new-mexico" rel="nofollow">Rio Chama Lottery</a>

Bird's eye view of the park

Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River

El Vado Dam and Reservoir, features of the Middle Rio Grande Project, are
located on the Rio Chama about 160 miles north of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Recreation at El Vado Reservoir is managed by the New Mexico Division of Parks
and Recreation under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The Park is
open 24 hours and is a fee area. The boat ramp is located at the north end of
reservoir via State 95, and is limited to high water use. No concessionaires.
No food service. No lodging within park. Nearest lodging 23.5 miles from
headquarters to Chama. Year-round fishing for rainbow and brown trout. State
license and trout stamp required. Kokanee salmon season Nov. 1-Jan. 31. Stream
fishing downstream from dam. Boating must conform to New Mexico regulations.

<a href="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=El+Vado+Dam" rel="nofollow">El Vado Dam</a> and Reservoir, features of the Middle Rio Grande Project, are located on the Rio Chama about 160 miles north of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Recreation at El Vado Reservoir is managed by the New Mexico Division of Parks and Recreation under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The Park is open 24 hours and is a fee area. The boat ramp is located at the north end of reservoir via State 95, and is limited to high water use. No concessionaires. No food service. No lodging within park. Nearest lodging 23.5 miles from headquarters to Chama. Year-round fishing for rainbow and brown trout. State license and trout stamp required. Kokanee salmon season Nov. 1-Jan. 31. Stream fishing downstream from dam. Boating must conform to New Mexico regulations.

El Vado Reservoir

**Know Before You Go!**  
**El Vado Lake State Park has closed access to the remaining boat ramp and is
prohibiting the use of motorized boats due to dropping water levels and safety
concerns. The lake is still open for non-motorized vessel use such as
canoeing, paddle boards or kayaking. The boat ramp will be reopened to
motorboats when lake level conditions improve. Please check the Park status
before you go on****New Mexico State Parks.com**  
El Vado Lake is a reservoir located in Rio Arriba County, tucked away in the
northern mountains near Tierra Amarilla. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy
District completed the construction of El Vado dam in 1935 to store irrigation
water in order to honor Native American water rights of the six Middle Rio
Grande Pueblos. The dam was updated in 1953-1954 by the United States Bureau
of Reclamation and the outlets were modified in 1965-1966 to accommodate
increased flows associated with San Juan-Chama Project.  
  
In the early 1900s El Vado was once a thriving and bustling logging town, but
now lies at the bottom of El Vado Lake. It was northern Rio Arriba's largest
sawmill town. El Vado and Heron Lake State Parks are connected by a 5.5-mile
scenic trail along the Rнo Chama.  
  
El Vado Lake has camping, allows horseback riding, showers, group shelters,
electrical hookups, restrooms, dump stations, boating/boat ramps, fishing,
playground, trails, and R.V. pull through sites.  
Make a reservation on the New Mexico State Parks reservation website.

Know Before You Go!
 
El Vado Lake State Park has closed access to the remaining boat ramp and is prohibiting the use of motorized boats due to dropping water levels and safety concerns. The lake is still open for non-motorized vessel use such as canoeing, paddle boards or kayaking. The boat ramp will be reopened to motorboats when lake level conditions improve. Please check the Park status before you go on New Mexico State Parks.com El Vado Lake is a reservoir located in Rio Arriba County, tucked away in the northern mountains near Tierra Amarilla. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District completed the construction of El Vado dam in 1935 to store irrigation water in order to honor Native American water rights of the six Middle Rio Grande Pueblos. The dam was updated in 1953-1954 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation and the outlets were modified in 1965-1966 to accommodate increased flows associated with San Juan-Chama Project. 

In the early 1900s El Vado was once a thriving and bustling logging town, but now lies at the bottom of El Vado Lake. It was northern Rio Arriba's largest sawmill town. El Vado and Heron Lake State Parks are connected by a 5.5-mile scenic trail along the Rнo Chama. 

El Vado Lake has camping, allows horseback riding, showers, group shelters, electrical hookups, restrooms, dump stations, boating/boat ramps, fishing, playground, trails, and R.V. pull through sites. 
<a href="http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/elvadolakestatepark.html" rel="nofollow">Make a reservation on the New Mexico State Parks reservation website</a>.

El Vado Lake State Park

The Rio Chama WSA is located in northern New Mexico. The landscape consists of
gently rolling sagebrush-covered plains and a 900 foot deep canyon of colorful
siltstone and sandstone carved by the Rio Chama. Piсon woodlands cover the
hills, and forests of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir cover the north facing
slopes. The diversity of habitat types provide for a variety of wildlife. This
scenic area includes excellent opportunities for river rafting; the Rio Chama
is designated as a Wild and Scenic River. This WSA is adjacent to the Chama
River Canyon Wilderness, which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

The Rio Chama WSA is located in northern New Mexico. The landscape consists of gently rolling sagebrush-covered plains and a 900 foot deep canyon of colorful siltstone and sandstone carved by the Rio Chama. Piсon woodlands cover the hills, and forests of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir cover the north facing slopes. The diversity of habitat types provide for a variety of wildlife. This scenic area includes excellent opportunities for river rafting; the Rio Chama is designated as a Wild and Scenic River. This WSA is adjacent to the Chama River Canyon Wilderness, which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Rio Chama Wilderness Study Area

Heron Lake is a reservoir in Rio Arriba County, in northern New Mexico. The
lake is part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation San Juan-Chama Project, which
transfers water from the upper reaches of the San Juan River through the
12.8-mile Azotea Tunnel (and under the Continental Divide), into Willow Creek
and the Rio Chama (and ultimately into the Rio Grande). The lake, dam, and
state park are named after Kenneth A. Heron, an engineer in the early 1900s
who realized that water could be diverted from wetter areas to the north, to
the benefit of more arid regions to the south. Heron Dam was completed in
1971; it is owned and operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Heron Lake
became a State Park in 1973.  
  
Heron Lake State Park is a scenic lake area that is ideal for kayaking,
sailing and windsurfing, as well as fishing for record-size trout and ice
fishing. The park is semi-connected to neighboring El Vado Lake State Park via
a 5.5 mile trail that takes hikers across a suspension bridge spanning the Rio
Chama Gorge and through incredible scenery featuring rock formations, cliff
walls, and high altitude arid forest land. Heron Lake State Park and the
surrounding area truly do offer sights that cannot be seen in other areas of
the state. Camping is popular here, with the park sitting at a relatively high
altitude and offering a climate and surroundings that differs greatly from New
Mexico's lower altitude parks.  
  
Heron Lake offers a visitor center with exhibits, primitive camping, 250
developed campsites, 54 electric campsites, 2 Picnic group shelters, boating,
fishing, education programs, swimming, trails, hiking, mountain biking, cross
country skiing, snowshoeing and exciting summer events.  
Make a reservation on the New Mexico State Parks reservation website.

Heron Lake is a reservoir in Rio Arriba County, in northern New Mexico. The lake is part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation San Juan-Chama Project, which transfers water from the upper reaches of the San Juan River through the 12.8-mile Azotea Tunnel (and under the Continental Divide), into Willow Creek and the Rio Chama (and ultimately into the Rio Grande). The lake, dam, and state park are named after Kenneth A. Heron, an engineer in the early 1900s who realized that water could be diverted from wetter areas to the north, to the benefit of more arid regions to the south. Heron Dam was completed in 1971; it is owned and operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Heron Lake became a State Park in 1973. 

Heron Lake State Park is a scenic lake area that is ideal for kayaking, sailing and windsurfing, as well as fishing for record-size trout and ice fishing. The park is semi-connected to neighboring El Vado Lake State Park via a 5.5 mile trail that takes hikers across a suspension bridge spanning the Rio Chama Gorge and through incredible scenery featuring rock formations, cliff walls, and high altitude arid forest land. Heron Lake State Park and the surrounding area truly do offer sights that cannot be seen in other areas of the state. Camping is popular here, with the park sitting at a relatively high altitude and offering a climate and surroundings that differs greatly from New Mexico's lower altitude parks. 

Heron Lake offers a visitor center with exhibits, primitive camping, 250 developed campsites, 54 electric campsites, 2 Picnic group shelters, boating, fishing, education programs, swimming, trails, hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and exciting summer events. 
<a href="http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/heronlakestatepark.html" rel="nofollow">Make a reservation on the New Mexico State Parks reservation website</a>.

Heron Lake State Park

Heron Dam and reservoir are part of the San Juan Chama Project. The reservoir
is on Willow Creek just above the point where Willow Creek enters the Chama
River. Recreation at Heron Reservoir is managed by New Mexico State Parks
under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The Park is open 24 hours.
There is a visitor center containing interpretive exhibits. The recreation
area is a fee area. No food service or lodging within park. Lodging available
in Chama. Sailing club concessionaire. Year-round fishing for rainbow and lake
trout. Kokanee salmon season is Nov. 1 - Jan. 31. West end of lake closed
6:00pm - 12:00pm in winter when Department of Game and Fish employees gather
kokanee spawn. There is stream fishing downstream from dam. State fishing
license and trout stamp required. Boating must conform to New Mexico
regulations. Boating restrictions limit motors to "no wake" speed.

<a href="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=118" rel="nofollow">Heron Dam</a> and reservoir are part of the <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=521" rel="nofollow">San Juan Chama Project</a>. The reservoir is on Willow Creek just above the point where Willow Creek enters the Chama River. Recreation at Heron Reservoir is managed by New Mexico State Parks under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The Park is open 24 hours. There is a visitor center containing interpretive exhibits. The recreation area is a fee area. No food service or lodging within park. Lodging available in Chama. Sailing club concessionaire. Year-round fishing for rainbow and lake trout. Kokanee salmon season is Nov. 1 - Jan. 31. West end of lake closed 6:00pm - 12:00pm in winter when Department of Game and Fish employees gather kokanee spawn. There is stream fishing downstream from dam. State fishing license and trout stamp required. Boating must conform to New Mexico regulations. Boating restrictions limit motors to "no wake" speed.

Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River

Directions

Stay Limit

Reviews

Nearby Parks

El Vado Reservoir

El Vado Lake State Park

Rio Chama Wilderness Study Area

Heron Lake State Park

Heron Reservoir