Date:         Fri, 26 Aug 2005 13:23:01 -0500
Reply-To:     Maggie Dew <maggie@WESTFAM.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Maggie Dew <maggie@WESTFAM.NET>
Subject:      New Mexico camping, LVC - Fryeday
Content-Type: text/plain

OK, then - camping spots in northern New Mexico.  These are for people who
don't like to camp next to the highway.  My first recommendation is to get
a AAA Indian Country map.  I've worn out four of these so far.  There is
good camping (and hiking) along the Rio Grande gorge north of Taos.  The
turn off from highway 522 to "Wild Rivers Recreation Area" is just north
of Questa.  Campground with several spots overlooking the gorge.  Hikes
down into the gorge.  Avoid late May and early June when the biting gnats
are insufferable.

Camping and hiking in the beautiful and colorful canyons of the Rio Chama,
north of Abiquiu (northwest of Santa Fe).  On Highway 84, north of Abiquiu
reservoir, there is a dirt road that turns west (if you pass the Echo
Ampitheater you've gone a little too far north) and follows the Chama
River.  It goes all the way up to a monastery at the end of the road, but
there is primitive camping and hiking before that.

There are lots more good spots in northern New Mexico.  If you want to see
spectacular prehistoric ruins, go to Chaco Canyon, southeast of
Farmington.  Prepare for some washboard to get there, but well worth it
and has a nice little campground at the base of a mesa.  Bandelier
national monument near Los Alamos has good trails and ruins - campground
there or you can camp in several beautiful places along Highway 4 between
Jemez Springs and Los Alamos.

That's a sample of some of my favorites - too many to mention. Enjoy.

Maggie
'85 Subaru-Westy "Anne Bonney"