Time
stands still in the Village of Chama at the base of the scenic 10,000
ft. Cumbres Pass. Boom times came to the town when the narrow-gauge
railroad arrived in 1881, and Chama became a mining, logging and
transportation hub for much of the New Mexico Territory. Today,
Chama is a charming settlement of 1,250 residents.
Few destinations
offer the unspoiled scenery of the Chama Valley. With an average
altitude of 7800 feet, the Chama Valley offers a wide spectrum of
recreational activities all year long. There is year 'round access
via major highway and the region enjoys a four-season climate. The
Chama Valley is bordered by three popular wilderness areas: the
Carson, Rio Grande and Santa Fe National Forests.
In SPRING,
mid-May snowmelt creates spectacular El Chorro Falls, cascading
from the Brazos Cliffs. SUMMER is a celebration of outdoor activity:
boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, 4-wheeling, the Cumbres
& Toltec Scenic Railroad and more. Cool evening temperatures
in FALL paint the mountainsides with brilliantly colored foliage.
The Valley is also a hunter's dream with an abundance of mule deer
and elk. In WINTER, the mountains can be blanketed with snow, creating
a snowmobiling and crosscountry skiing wonderland under the bright
New Mexico sun. |