Immense, grand vistas, land of Gold Rush stories and geological oddities. Graveled washes in rocky canyons, sand dunes, silence, vast sky, sparse vegetation. Time stretches into the distance, stars brilliant in the wide sky overhead… the stillness punctuated by calls of coyote or raven…

An area of great geological and biodiversity. Rugged mountains descend through grass and wildflower meadows to lush river-bottom land. Cottonwoods, oaks, and other deciduous trees line the rivers, while ponderosa pine forests and pinion-juniper cactus zones characteristic of high desert thrive close-by. Cliff dwellings and caves, pictographs, and shards of ancient pottery coexist with a wide range of wildlife. Hiking, moderate, doable by an average person. No campground fees.

The stunning Chama River Wilderness embodies the classic mesa-canyon country associated with the Southwest. Vertical rock cliffs striped in Georgia O’Keefe pastels frame the river’s course as summer brings bright sunshine and brilliant stars, the singing of canyon wren and cicadas, and an occasional afternoon thunderstorm.

The fertile Earth reveals herself in lush woodlands, streams, and lakes. Moose wander a forest thick with ferns and moss-covered boulders. Beaver ponds and the lake’s glassy water reflect mountains and sky. Life abounds – almost erupts – as geese honk, ducks quack, and loons call across the distance. Beaver and otter patrol the shoreline as eagle and osprey dive for fish. Hiking assessment: Moderate – about 2-1/2 miles, rolling to mostly flat.

Along the lake shore, swirls of mist lift from the water with the morning sun as islands emerge from the fog. Leaves are turning gold and crimson as geese splash down to rest on their southward journey. The forest offers a thousand treasures in miniature kingdoms of moss, fields of mushrooms sprouting from mossy logs, and water splashing through boulder-strewn streams... all amidst the brilliant palette of autumn leaves.

Mountain, desert, and river ecologies blend together in a rich and diverse intermingling. The first designated wilderness in the world, this is an area of stunning variety. Incredibly rich in animal life – deer, mule deer, turkeys, wild boar, and elk are common. Birthplace of Geronimo, it was once home to the Apaches as well as ancient cliff-dwelling peoples who mysteriously disappeared 800 years ago. Evidence of their stay remains, their energy palpable. Hot springs and geothermal energy abound.