Cimarron Canyon to Chama, NM

We left Cimarron Canyon Monday morning with Melba & Bobby for a “long” day’s drive of about 120 miles to Hopewell Lake, NM. Stopped at the Rio Grande River overlook just west of Taos to take in the view and to get some pics of the bridge and the river.

When we arrived at the Hopewell Lake Campground we discovered that the only spots we could easily get our 2 rigs into had horse corrals and LOTS of horseflies! No problem, though, since we found a boondocking place just a little ways from the regular campground.

We parked the rigs and spent the afternoon exploring other possibilities for our next stop.

We decided to spend the next night with full hook-ups at the Rio Chama RV Park on the river in Chama, NM. Our sites were just feet from the river and the Cumbres & Toltec train tracks.

The train we had ridden from Antonita to Chama when we were here in 2007 runs right outside the park and behind our campsite. Thankfully, though, the train only runs past twice a day!

It was a tight squeeze between the trees, rocks and power post, but Roger’s superb driving abilities put the coach exactly where it needed to be and R-1 is really one of the finest spots in the park.

We arrived in Chama early enough on Wednesday to go exploring and still get back in time to see the train go by the campground. Here are some shots of places we saw on our way to Chama

and on our afternoon drive north of Chama: