Weekend Getaways: The New Summer Camp

National Geographic Adventure, June/July 2008
by Christopher Percy Collier

Raft Wild Milds, New Mexico
The 31-mile (50-kilometer) Rio Chama is a late summer drought buster, springing to life with the flick of a dam release. Make sure the water's running, then push off below El Vado Lake with Los Rios River Runners ($325 for two days; www.losriosriverrunners.com). "This isn't the high desert of hard edges and cracked earth," says guide Liz Hagerty. "It's lush with tall grass, wildflowers, and ponderosa pines." Settle on a campsite inside the 50,300-acre (20,356-hectare) wilderness area and hike to fossilized dinosaur footprints and hot springs. Craving a rush? Run the last few Class IIIs in a single-person duckie.