Santa Fe to the Ghost Ranch
 

We will be taking a trip to New Mexico this July and want to drive the most scenic route to Santa Fe from Colorado. I was thinking of visiting the Sand Dunes park in Colorado then heading over to Chama, NM overnight. Next morning start driving down to Santa Fe via highway 84 going thru O'keefe country. Is the scenery as interesting from Chama to the Ghost Ranch as it is the rest of the way to Santa Fe? We are very interested in the colored rock outcroppings, mesas and desert more so than trees and mountains. Maybe we will stay in Espanola and drive back to hike at the ranch. Any thoughts are appreciated.

I'd suggest not staying overnight in Espanola. Not the nicest town to stay in. Not even great to drive through.

I'll get back to you about the drive part.

Debi

I have driven from Santa Fe to Abiquiu so can only vouch for that part of the drive. I would try to stay at Ghost Ranch so you can get an early start to the day. There are several good hikes that will give you some beautiful views. We were allowed to hike in the private area by her home and the red hills that she painted. Not sure what they would allow with a private party but there are a lot of trails you would like and none of them difficult unless you have a bad knee.

If you cannot stay at Ghost Ranch try Abiquiu Inn. You can take a tour of Georgia's home in Abiquiu which is an informative and interesting tour (small groups around 16 people I think). Also, Bode's store has great burritos and is a unique store -- groceries with a tack and feed area!

I would say the scenery is probably better from Abiquiu/Ghost Ranch to Chama than Abibuiu to Santa Fe. Not much after you get outside of Abiquiu south.

Also, Espanola is not a tourist spot to stop. Just hotels, groceries and such. I would choose to stay either in Abiquiu or Santa Fe. Its about an 1 1/2 if I remember correctly from SF to Abiquiu.

Sheila

topping for Debi's imput

What Sheila said. :-) We were just up in Chama last month, and the scenery is better from Chama to Abiquiu.

It's a little over an hour from Abiquiu to Santa Fe.

I will say Espanola has a great emergency room, though, if you find yourself in need of one. :-)

Lee Ann

From what you say you want to do I would strongly recommend stay for a couple nights at Ghost Ranch. It is a magica place. Simple accomodations,simple cafateria meals but the most beautiful scenery anywhere. Ghost ranch has numerous hiking trails that take you back into the canyons. You would need more than a couple days to see it all. Just Down the road( a thirteen mile drive into the heart of valley is Christ in the Desert Monastary. Well worth the drive you can visit for the day or stay over night in quite contemplation. Save the drive from Espanola..stay at Ghost Ranch, the Abiquie Inn or a charming B&B Paras de Abiquiu just outside of Abiquiu. You need to sign up for the Georgia OKeefe house tour as soon as the office opens in the spring.

Ditto what Artman said about the food -- very basic camp-style food. But you aren't there for the food, you're there for the desert beauty at the ranch.

Lee Ann, I hope its not first-hand knowledge of the ER? What happened?

Just a little trivia at Ghost Ranch. The small log cabin on the way in to the ranch was filmed in 'City Slickers' as well as some of the land. That's what the sweet lil' old lady tour guide told us.

BeachGirl, it was first-hand experience, unfortunately.

While we were in Chama at my fil's house, Mr. Pickle and our 11yo son were having a snowball fight. DS tripped over a log and gashed his leg open on a sharp branch stub.

12 stitches later, he has a lovely upside-down V-shaped scar on his shin.

We stopped at the medical clinic in Tierra Amarilla, and they sent us to Espanola's hospital. Everyone there was great, and we were in and out in about 90 minutes.

This was DS's fourth trip to the ER (two broken arms, two sets of stitches) and now he jokes that the next time he needs to go, we should drive up to Espanola. Even though it takes 90 minutes to get there, it's still faster than our local ER! :-))

Lee Ann