Setting out the last Saturday in October, I thought we'd have missed most of the
fall foliage, but was delighted that the bosque glowed yellow all through Abiquiu.
Even further north the white aspen trunks were a beautiful contrast to the dark green
conifers--even the brush was silvery and purple. But a couple of hours traveling
through the incredibly beautiful landscape of northern New Mexico, we arrived at
The Elk Horn Lodge in Chama.
Our extremely cozy, wood-paneled cabin had a cute little kitchen (with fridge, stove,
toaster, and coffeemaker), large bathroom, and plenty of space for eating, working,
or curling up with a good bone. Right outside our front door were acres of land for
those post-prandial walks, and the Rio Chama was just a two-minute walk behind our
cabin. And talk about quiet--not a sound!
Although there were lots of trails right outside the door, we were in an adventurous
mood and headed north on Hwy. 17. We quickly entered Colorado and found many, many
beautiful hiking areas right off the road like Trujillo Meadows, Red Hook Trail, and
Spruce Hole.
After hours spent crackling through the leaves, we'd worked up quite an
appetite. We continued north, amid spectacular mountain scenery, until we discovered
Mrs. Rios restaurant at a picturesque bend in the road. We all sat out on their
wide, sunny deck, enjoying the expansive valley, towering mountains, and delicious
food before heading back to Chama for the night.
...then quiet and serene Abiquiu Lake
ride the narrow gauge Cumbres &
Toltec Scenic Railroad which winds through the San Juan Mountains to
Antonito, Colorado, and is open from Memorial Day week-end through October 21st
visit nearby Los Ojos, stroll the quiet streets, peruse its galleries and
the wonderful Tierra Wools hand weavers
in early spring, watch for the Brazos Falls in the Brazos Cliffs
Wildlife Refuge
bounce your way down the Rio Grande on a white-water rafting tour
For more information on Chama, visit Chama.com.