Chama Campground and the High Road to Taos

We started out our July camping trip with a stop in Chama, NM.  We stayed at a lovely campground that sat along the Chama River, although we weren’t lucky enough to have a spot right on the river.  Nevertheless, we had a great first day exploring….that began with fun time with Max!

This view of a train trestle is where the Cumbre Toltec Railroad generally runs, carrying passengers up to Colorado along some mountain scenery that is to die for!  However, due to the COVID virus, the train isn’t running in New Mexico.  Temporarily, it begins it’s journey in Colorado, just over the state line.  Although lovely, I think the trestle looks a bit lonely.

But, not lonely for long!!  Max decided the tall grassy area along the side of the Chama River and in front of the trestle was a great place to romp and play.  There was a small ditch at the near side of the grassy area that he didn’t see at first, so he took a tumble or two and ended up with grass stuck in his collar.  However, he did finally get the idea and learned to leap over where the ditch was!

We didn’t take the high road to Taos all the way there, but we did take it far enough to get to what looked like a small ranch.  In fact, it’s what’s called a “cow camp”.  I guess when ranchers are herding their cattle, they use this area as a bit of a base camp.  Right now, though, all that is grazing there are a few horses!

Beautiful views were all along the road, and we stopped so I could capture this image looking down across the valley.  The clouds were so perfect, just hanging in the blue sky, with the green trees trying to reach up to touch them, and mountains in the background.

On our way back toward Chama, we saw what appears to be a “dude ranch” called Red Rabbit Ranch.  The newer buildings were very large and quite spectacular, and off to the side, almost hidden, was this little cabin.  We sort of thought it might be the original homestead for the ranch.  Quite the quaint touch and rather down-home after the rather elaborate new structures.

Enjoy!!