The protection of Chile’s rivers is a matter of ongoing public and constitutional interest in the wake of Chile’s failed 2019–2024 constitutional reforms. In this article we review and evaluate opportunities for greater legal protection and restoration of rivers in Chile. The legal analysis was complemented by a survey of social attitudes about river protection needs and several interviews with key experts and stakeholders, which found strong concern for enhanced river protection mechanisms in Chile. We conclude by outlining critical pathways towards durable legal protections for the future of Chile’s rivers.