About Chama, New Mexico

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High in the Rocky Mountains of New Mexico lies a hidden gem. From its sparkling headwaters to its confluence with the mighty Rio Grande, the Rio Chama carves a valley of scenic beauty second to none...

Forget your stereotypes of New Mexico. The first thing you will notice is that the land here is remarkably green. Water from melting snows high in the Rocky Mountains swells area creeks, rivers and two of New Mexico’s largest lakes, Heron and El Vado. This abundant water feeds an ancient network of acequias, irrigation canals first established by native peoples and later expanded by hardworking Hispanic farmers.

Everywhere you turn, you are greeted by towering mountain peaks, scenic vistas and deep, colorful gorges. Been to Yosemite? You’ll be struck by the similar beauty of our own Brazos Cliffs. All forms of outdoor recreation are at their finest here, with every season offering a new treat and challenge...more

Many cultures have called this water-blessed land home...

Today, these cultures live and work in harmony, offering visitors a chance to sample genuine local New Mexican cuisines, unique cultural events and colorful artisan wares. Visitors are greeted with smiles and a warm welcome!
Chama History

Communities in the Rio Chama Valley may not be as well known as their more congested neighbors like Santa Fe or Taos, New Mexico, but to most visitors, the laid-back Rio Chama Valley is the promised ‘Land of Enchantment’.

Historic Chama is not a single place, but a diverse valley region stretching south from the Colordo border to the Tierra Amarilla Valley and down to Abiquiu, New Mexico, famous for its art treasures...

Crowds may be smaller here, but the attractions are grand! For the history buff, art lover, nature enthusiast and cultural explorer, the Rio Chama Valley offers boundless opportunities.

Top Outdoor Sports Destinations - the many public lands within a few minutes drive of your Chama Valley lodging.

Chama is a small town in extreme north central New Mexico, United States. It is notable as a terminus for a scenic narrow-gauge railroad and for winter sports.

The nearest major airport is in Albuquerque. Santa Fe has very limited air service connecting to Denver. Amtrak's Los Angeles - Chicago Southwest Chief route serves North Central New Mexico with a stop in Lamy, about 15 miles south of Santa Fe on US Highway 285, and a shuttle that transports passengers between Lamy and Santa Fe. Drive times to Chama are as follows:

From Albuquerque (3-hours)
From Santa Fe (2-hours)
From Taos (1:15-hours)
From Pagosa Springs (1-hour)
From Durango (2-hours)

You will enjoy the beautiful drive no matter which direction you are coming from. The valley is beautiful year 'round! The route from the south (US highway 84) is generally open year-round; approaching from Colorado via Colorado SR 17 and high Cumbres Pass can be problematic in the winter, although it's open more of the time than not.

If you've gotten there, you've gotten around; Chama is a small town in which all of the in-town points of interest are within walking distance of each other and the in-town lodging. For reaching the recreational sites near Cumbres Pass, a vehicle with 4-wheel drive and snow tires is desirable during the winter, although the road is plowed frequently. There is a 2500' elevation gain between town and pass that may challenge some automobiles.

Chama offers abundant activities, year round. If you're interested in the narrow-gauge train (see under Do) but unable to ride it, the train station has a small set of displays. There are a number of things to do in Chama. There are a couple of trail riding stables, fishing, hiking and just overall sight-seeing. Chama offers some of the country's best game hunting and fishing. Rio Chama and Rio Brazos offer challenging white-water adventure for rafters and kayakers. Winter enthusiasts will enjoy snowmobiling, xc-skiing and snowshoeing. It is only a short drive to access El Vado and Heron Lakes, Tierra Wools, Brazos Cliffs. Yes, Chama is a small "village" - but you will enjoy the serene and majestic rockies!

The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, station is in the center of town on Hwy 17, +1 575 756-2151 or +1 888 286-2737, [1]. One of the main attractions of the town. The narrow-gauge railroad runs into the high country near Cumbres Pass, through scenic Toltec Gorge, and on to its opposite terminus at tiny Antonito, Colorado. Tour options range from half-way trips to and from a station near the Gorge (delicious, all-you-can-eat lunch is provided) to round trips to Antonito, with return on either rail or bus. For information and reservations, which are recommended, as the train fills up during summer weekends.
Cumbres Pass becomes a wonderland for Nordic skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobilers during the winter, owing to the high snowfall that this part of the Colorado Plateau usually receives. Snowpack is variable year to year, but is usually satisfactory from December through February.
During the spring/summer/fall there are numerous hiking trails throughout the area. Check out the Sargent Wildlife Area at the north end of Pine Ave., two streets west of Chama's main street which is Terrace Ave. The main trail ends in Chromo, Colorado.
The Chama Chili Ski Classic is held over Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend each year.

Several souvenir shops are located near the railroad station. There are several shops across from the train station that offer high end and low end articles for sale, original oil paintings with a western theme, eclectic stained glass and southwest jewelry. Nearby Tierra Wools offers award winning, hand-made wool products for sale, as well as a tour of the factory.

Camping

Several of the lodges have associated RV parks, and there are other developed campgrounds in the area, including lakeside camping at El Vado and Heron.

The trails around Chama are a haven for the outdoor enthusiast. Many day hikes are accessible at Seargent's Wildlife Park and at the El Vado and Heron Lakes area. The Chama Trail extends between the two lakes for 6-miles. There are unlimited miles of trail for overnight packing trips in the mountains north of Chama, toward Colorado. The historic Continental Divide Trail is undergoing improvements and is open to packers.

Serious adventure in winter camping is available near Cumbres Pass, in the form of a small network of yurts, cabins that can be reached on Nordic (cross-country) skis or snowshoes. The Southwest Nordic Center, based in Taos, maintains the yurts and the reservations for using them; PO Box 3212, Taos NM 87571, +1 575 758-4761, [7]. Most of the yurts are 2 to 3 miles (on skis) from the parking lots along the road over the pass; intermediate-level Nordic technique is a good idea for the ski in. Another yurt, the Spruce Hole Yurt, is also available for rental. It is maintained by a local Chama outfit called Cumbres Nordic Adventures.

El Chorro Falls, south of Chama, is one of the world's highest waterfalls (ranked around 170th on the list), when it's active. However, it's not active very often, or for very long -- it's produced by spring runoff over the towering Brazos Cliffs, lasts only a few weeks in the spring, and is usually completely gone by June. If you happen to be in the area in April or May, try driving south from Chama on US 64 toward the village of Tierra Amarilla, then east toward the cliffs, and see if you can glimpse it in the distance (no road approaches the falls).
The Brazos Cliffs themselves are spectacularly scenic and beckon the rock climber, but unfortunately, they're 100% on private property and access is severely restricted. There are some hunting lodges at the base of the cliffs, notably Brazos Lodge [9] and Corkin's Lodge [10], that include many outdoor recreational opportunities among their (generally pricey) amenities and give good views of the scenery (including El Chorro when it's running); in general, however, they forbid or strongly discourage climbing on the cliffs.

RR Ranch Properties

About Chama, New Mexico