In the course of the hundreds of Rio Chama rafting trips that we've logged during the last 30 years, none of us has ever had a bad trip. Such is the magic of the Rio Chama. No matter the weather, the water level, the season, the crowded Big Eddy boat ramp on a blistering Sunday afternoon, or even the coffee forgotten at home, the Rio Chama remains "The People's River." Its stunning beauty, plus its exceptional camping, user-friendly whitewater, and mostly predictable flows, combine to create one of the Southwest's premiere, multi-day, river running experiences.The spectacular, towering canyon walls of the Wild & Scenic section through the remote Chama River Canyon Wilderness is New Mexico's own "Grand Canyon." The geology of the Rio Chama is so exceptional that this river is ideally suited for a river guide with a geological theme. And so, following the release of the Rio Grande geologic river guide in 2011, we turned our (part-time) attention to the Rio Chama. Although most Rio Chama recreation is focused on the El Vado to Big Eddy stretch, thedecision was easily made to include the entire boatable section, from the highlands in Colorado to the confluence with the Rio Grande, as each section of the river displays its own visual spectacles and assortment of adventures. Plus, the geology is magnificent and diverse along the entire length of the river.

Situated on the Colorado Plateau at 7,000 feet above sea level, Flagstaff is home to three national monuments and the San Francisco volcanic field. John Bezy¿s ¿Guide to the Geology of the Flagstaff Area¿ is the one guide you need for exploring the marvelous and diverse geology of northern Arizona. Written for the general public, the 53-page text includes more than 45 pictures and illustrations, from the cross-bedded Coconino Sandstone of Walnut Canyon to squeeze-ups on the Bonito lava flow of Sunset Crater.The text walks you through a lava tube, to the edge of a sinkhole, and along the chilled margin of a pristine lava flow, all the while explaining the processes that shaped the spectacular geologic scenery of Flagstaff and environs.