Chama: Railroad, Weaving, and Local History

If you’re looking for a hotel in Chama, local interests can help you shape your stay. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is known for its scenic route and designated historic significance; other points of interest include handweaving, historic architecture, recurring events, and activities on the Rio Chama. These topics offer different starting points for planning your trip: consider whether you’d like to center it on a train ride, a workshop visit, an event, or an outdoor activity.

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad runs for 64 scenic miles. The ride begins either in Chama, New Mexico, or in Antonito, Colorado. Chama is therefore one of the two named departure points to consider when planning a rail journey. The railroad is also a National Historic Landmark. This excursion brings together the scenic route and the railroad’s historic significance.

The operating dates are seasonal. If you’d like to include a ride in your trip, check the specific dates for your preferred travel period. This will help you coordinate the train ride with the other priorities for your stay while keeping its seasonal operation in mind.

Handweaving and Architectural History

Tierra Wools invites visitors into its workshop and gallery to watch local weavers handweave on Rio Grande-style looms. The visit focuses on a specific craft process: you can see how the looms are used. Both the workshop and the gallery are part of the invitation to visit, so the experience includes both the weavers’ work and the place where you can watch them.

The Foster Hotel offers another perspective on Chama’s architectural history. Built around 1881, the building is a wood-frame structure; two larger additions made of wood and adobe were added later. The complex is in the vernacular architectural style of northern New Mexico. The construction and later additions show different phases in the building’s history. Historically, the Foster Hotel was one of Chama’s first commercial establishments. The building thus combines a distinct architectural form with its early commercial role in the town.

Events Throughout the Year

Chama Days takes place annually on the second weekend in August. The exact event dates and program may vary from year to year. If you’d like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates and program for the relevant year in advance.

Chama Christmas in the Mountains is also an annual event and takes place in downtown Chama. Visitors can explore local shops and independent vendors from the Four Corners region. The Chama Valley Art Festival & Studio Tour, by contrast, focuses on artists’ creative process: visitors experience it firsthand in studios around town and in the surrounding valley.

There’s a practical difference to keep in mind when choosing your travel dates: the second weekend in August is the stated date for Chama Days; if you’re traveling for Christmas in the Mountains or the Studio Tour, check the dates for each event. That way, you can take into account the different highlights—a festival, a visit to downtown, or a glimpse into artists’ work—in line with your reason for traveling.

CDT Trailhead and the Rio Chama

From Chama, the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) trailhead at Cumbres Pass is more than 12 miles away via NM-17 N/CO-17 N. Check road conditions before setting out. This information refers to a specific trailhead and a named road route.

The Rio Chama runs along the east side of Chama, where visitors can try fly-fishing. These two points of interest offer different kinds of outings: for the CDT, the focus is the trailhead at Cumbres Pass and the road route; for fly-fishing, it’s the river on the east side of town. You can decide whether to visit a specific trailhead or include fly-fishing on the Rio Chama in your trip.

Discover more destinations: Vallecitos, Dixon, Chimayo, La Jara, Ohkay Owingeh, Abiquiú

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