Chama River Canyon Wilderness
The Wild and Scenic Chama River, popular among river rafters and canoeists, runs through six miles of the Wilderness. Its beauty is so impressive that most people don't bother visiting the relatively unspectacular grassland that dominates the upland portion of the area Trail access is poor here above the colorful sandstone bluffs and lovely rock formations that rise to high rims on both riverbanks. Backpackers can hike along portions of the Chama River, then pitch their tents in a secluded wooded campsite above one of the canyon's high-water beaches.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | New Mexico |
| Size | 47,035 acres |
| Designated | 1978, by Congress |
| Center point | 36.33° N, 106.66° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 21) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 7 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
5 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 157 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Continental Divide Trail ↗ | 102 | |
| Continental Divide Nat Scenic ↗ | 43.6 | |
| Potrero ↗ | 6.9 | |
| Hart | 2.1 | |
| Hart Canyon | 2.1 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedMesa Juan Domingo Fall Rx
14 mi from the center point
- PrescribedStone Angel Fall Rx
22 mi from the center point
- PrescribedWillow Irtc Piles Fall Rx
38 mi from the center point · 411 acres
- PrescribedPaliza South Rx
43 mi from the center point · 412 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 14.6 miO'Keeffe, Georgia, Home and Studio ↗National Historic Landmark
- 4.2 miWhitaker Dinosaur Quarry ↗Abiquiu, NM
- 14.8 miGonzales, Tomas, House ↗Abiquiu, NM
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for New Mexico
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Chama River Canyon Wilderness?
47,035 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Chama River Canyon Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Chama River Canyon Wilderness in?
New Mexico.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Chama River Canyon Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1978.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Chama River Canyon Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Chama River Canyon Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 36.334° N, 106.663° W. Valles Caldera National Preserve is 21 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Chama River Canyon Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Mesa Juan Domingo Fall Rx at 14 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Chama River Canyon Wilderness?
Valles Caldera National Preserve (21 mi) and Manhattan Project National Historical Park (29 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Chama River Canyon Wilderness?
The National Register has 3 listings within 15 miles, including O'Keeffe, Georgia, Home and Studio and Whitaker Dinosaur Quarry.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.