Chama, NM: 5 Ways This Town Is a Fantastic Adventure Homebase!

Chama – A Brief History

Since its creation in the early 1880s, Chama has been and remains a Train town. In February 1880, the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad began construction of the San Juan extension, a route that went from Alamosa, CO to Silverton, CO by way of Cumbres Pass, Chama, and Durango. Railroad service to Chama began in February, 1881 and facilities for servicing railroad equipment, a depot, warehouses and stockyards were set up along the route surveyed for the railroad. A post office was established that year.

During the brief period of construction from 1880-1881 almost immediately became a boomtown. The possibilities for development attracted both industrious and disreputable characters from all around. Individuals interested in developing the coal mines in Monero rapidly appeared on the scene as did representatives of the lumber industry, laborers, engineers and contractors to build the railroad and buildings required to accommodate the mass of people attracted to the booming railroad town of Chama.

Through the years, the main industries in the area have been logging, mining and sheep and cattle ranching.

Chama is now the western terminus of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, a steam-driven, narrow gauge heritage railway which carries visitors to and from Osier, Colorado, and Antonito, Colorado, during the summer months. This is the remaining 64-mile portion of the Denver & Rio Grande’s San Juan Extension between Alamosa, and Durango, Colorado. The tracks from Chama westward to Durango were abandoned in September 1967 and torn up soon afterwards.

Chama offers a unique blend of cultures. In the shops and cafes, you will hear a mix of English, Spanish and Native languages, often used in concert. The local economy, once fueled by agriculture, is increasingly fed by tourism and new businesses started by transplants from more congested urban areas.

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#1. Enjoy the Adventures offered on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad!

Chama is a Train Town to its core! Although closed for the season during our November visit, we enjoyed walking around the train yard and remembering back to our own wonderful experience back in the fall of 2015.

From the San Juan Mountains to the Conejos Valley, the Cumbres & Toltec Railroad travels 64 scenic miles. Your ride begins in either Antonito, Colorado, or Chama, New Mexico. You’ll wind along steep mountain canyons, high deserts, lush meadows, over trestles, and through tunnels. The Cumbres & Toltec is a National Historic Landmark that moves – a completely authentic steam railroad. Our railroad has steamed through history and across the Rocky Mountains since 1880. (cumbrestoltec.com)

This historic steam engine-led train is the “real deal”. Check out the beautiful views and fall colors below from our trip from Antonito to Chama in the fall of 2015! We were seated in a Parlor car but also had access to the open-air one a few cars down. The trip took about 4-5 hours, then we loaded on a bus for the 1 hr drive back to Antonito. (route map photo courtesy of Cumbres & Toltec website)

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#2. Walk around Chama and see lots of fun Train themed business and decor!

The train depot is located on the main street through town. We enjoyed the walk, as many of the businesses have a train theme!

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#3. Chama business offer great food and drink options

We chose Chama as a home base for our road trip to a remote Historic Park. Good choice! There are many good restaurant options and a particularly nice coffee shop. Plus a well-stocked market! And many options for places to stay.

• Rio Chama Espresso Kitchen & Wine Bar – Google Maps – We loved this Coffee Shop! They serve good pastries and breakfast sandwiches, as well as lunch menu items. It also has a wonderful outdoor patio with a firepit. We opted to stay inside on our chilly November morning.
• My Mom and Dad’s Restaurant – Google Maps – We at breakfast here on our second morning. Very good!
• Outlaw BBQ Company – Google Maps – We ate dinner here the evening we arrived. Very good!
• Local – Google Maps
• TWIST Good Food – Google Maps
• Felicianos Homerun Pizza – Google Maps
• JV’s Place – Google Maps
• Glorybry’s Taco House – Google Maps
• Fina’s Diner – Google Maps
• Lowe’s Market – Google Maps – a terrific market to stock up for a road trip!

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#4. Great home base for a day trip to Chaco Canyon!

Chaco Canyon has been on Jason’s top 10 list of cultural places to visit ever since he learned about it. It has cultural ties to Mesa Verde in the southwest corner of Colorado as well as the Taos Pueblo which we have also visited and enjoyed.

Our first attempt was in November of 2022, which ended in muddy roads and a flat tire! Our second attempt was done on the fly, on a 2024 weekend that was forecasted for sunny clear weather and therefore dry roads. There are few towns around, so Chama seemed like a good home base – close enough for a day trip and big enough to have amenities and supplies. Fortunately, Chama exceeded expectations and was a perfect choice!

We highly recommend this unique experience! Chaco Culture – Center of an Ancient World

The cultural flowering of the Chacoan people began in the mid-800s and lasted more than 300 years. We can see it clearly in the grand scale of the architecture. Using masonry techniques unique for their time, they constructed massive stone buildings (Great Houses) of multiple stories containing hundreds of rooms much larger than any they had previously built. The buildings were planned from the start, in contrast to the usual practice of adding rooms to existing structures as needed. Constructions on some of these buildings spanned decades and even centuries. Although each is unique, all great houses share architectural features that make them recognizable as Chacoan.

• Chaco Culture National Historical Park – Google Maps – 141 miles away
  • Chaco Culture National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
  • Brochures – Chaco Culture National Historical Park – find history, hiking trails, wildlife, dark sky information, all in pdf printable form.

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#5. Other easy day trips from Chama, as a home base

With a little more research, we have learned that Chama is a convenient home base for a wide variety of day trips! Beyond the Cumbres & Toltec scenic train and a long-day trip to Chaco Canyon, we have listed a variety of other great visit options. More detail can be found on our recent post on Rio Arriba County: Rio Arriba County, NM: A Road Trip full of Incredible Experiences! – Small Town Vibe

• Monastery of Christ in the desert – Google Maps – 56 miles away – visit a Monastery and experience a place of contemplation!
• Ghost Ranch (Georgia O’Keeffe’s House) – Google Maps – 47 miles away – visit a historic ranch in one of the most colorful locations in the West!
• The O’Keeffe: Welcome Center – Google Maps – 59 miles away – Learn more about artist Georgia O’Keefe’s time in New Mexico; visit her home and studio!
• Wine Country near Dixon – 97 miles away – Taste local wine in beautiful settings!
  • La Chiripada Winery – Google Maps
  • Vivác Winery – Google Maps
  • Black Mesa Winery and Cidery – Google Maps
• Los Luceros Historic Site – Google Maps – 84 miles away – Visit a historic ranch site!
• Española Valley Fiber Arts Center – Google Maps – 81 miles away – Visit a shop and learn about the cultural heritage of Fiber Arts in the area!
• Puye Cliff Dwellings – Google Maps – 92 miles away – Learn more about this ancient culture and see ancient petroglyph art!
• Santa Fe, New Mexico – 106 miles away – so much to do and see!
• Taos, New Mexico – 108 miles away – so much to do and see!

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Annual Events

• January:  Chile Ski Classic, (MLK JR. weekend)
• ​February:  Snoball Rally
• ​May:  Opening weekend for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic train
• ​June:  Chama Western Heritage Days, 2nd weekend
• ​July:  4th of July Celebration
• ​August:  Chama Days, 2nd weekend 
• ​September:  Chama Valley Art Festival, Labor Day Weekend (includes Artist Studio tours! – see artists create in their own space)
•                        Chama Walk, Jog, and Wag, 3rd weekend
• ​December:  Chama Christmas in the Mountains, 1st weekend
•                       Cumbres & Toltec Christmas Trains

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Organizations that support the Community of Chama

• Tourist | Village of Chama, New Mexico – Chama Village town services and tourism website
• Facebook – Village of Chama local government
• Chama Valley Arts | Nonprofit Art Center | 278 Maple Ave, Chama, NM 87520, USA – “We are dedicated to creating home for arts where our community feels inspired to discover, create and gather to honor cultural events while engaging in enriching experiences for all.“
• Elevate Chama: Community Events, Drive-In Movies & Local Support in Chama – “In our mission to elevate Chama, we believe in the power of partnership. By joining forces with other non-profits, businesses, and educational institutions, we aim to create a synergistic effect that benefits all corners of our community. Our collaborations with local schools are particularly dear to us, as they lay the groundwork for a brighter future, nurturing the potential of our children and youth through enhanced educational and extracurricular opportunities.”
• Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area – “Established by the US Congress in 2006, the Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA) encompasses Río Arriba, Santa Fe, and Taos counties and is dedicated to conserving and sustaining the varied cultural, historical, archaeological, and natural resources of Northern New Mexico.”
• Chama – New Mexico Tourism – Travel & Vacation Guide – New Mexico state visitor guide for Chama

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Map of Chama