Rio Chama Campground, Small Group Sites
The Rio Chama is a developed no-fee campground where reservations are not required. Located along the Rio Chama Wild & Scenic River, the developed campground offers a great place for families, groups, or RVs to come camp on the river's edge. Uses: camping, hiking, fishing, and river access. Facilities: This site offers two group sites with two picnic tables and fire rings, and one vault toilet and trash bin. Special Instructions: Smaller RVs (up to 20 feet) can be accommodated at some sites. No drinking water is available. Forest Road 151 is not recommended for travel when wet.
More like this: first-come in New Mexico · tent only in New Mexico
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | May to December |
| Forest | Santa Fe National Forest |
| Rules | Motorized vehicles or mechanized equipment are prohibited in the Chama River Canyon Wilderness. All pets must be on a leash. Fishing is allowed in accordance with the NMG&F Dept. regulations. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 36.3551° N, 106.6727° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedPaliza South Rx
45 mi from the campground · 412 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 38.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 8.1 mi
- 9.6 miRio Chama Fishing ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 3.6 miContinental Divide Trail ↗102 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_scenic_or_historic
- 3.6 miContinental Divide Nat Scenic ↗43.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_scenic_or_historic
- 4.7 miLa Presa1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 4.8 miPotrero ↗6.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Chama River Canyon Wilderness, which overlaps Santa Fe National Forest.
- inChama River Canyon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 47,035 acres
- inSanta Fe National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,681,851 acres
- 10.1 miCarson National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,592,477 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Guidebooks for New Mexico
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Is Rio Chama Campground, Small Group Sites open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season May to December.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Rio Chama Campground, Small Group Sites?
Rio Chama Campground, Small Group Sites is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Rio Chama Campground, Small Group Sites is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Rio Chama Campground (under 0.1 mi, first-come), Echo Amphitheater (8.3 mi), and Riana (15.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby