Questa, Red River, Angel Fire & Taos, New Mexico

This sweet dog is part owner of the park.  She roams around and usually shows up at dinner time.

The Rio Grande del Norte National Monument is comprised of rugged, wide open plains at an average elevation of 7,000 feet, dotted by volcanic cones, and cut by steep canyons with rivers tucked away in their depths.

My lucky day.

La Junta Point towers above the confluence of the Río Grande and the Red River.

La Junta Point is at the southern end of the Wild Rivers area, this point atop the gorge rim overlooks the confluence of the Rio Grande and the Red River, with good views over the plateau and of the distant mountains. A short interpretive trail runs from the parking lot to the rim itself, making it an easy place to hop out of the car and get a quick look.

Since the trail was closed I didn't have to hike all the way down to the confluence.  

Red River on the left and Rio Grande on the right.

Looking North up the Rio Grande.

Our first air down of the trip

Seemed kinda funny to air down before crossing the water

Willard Prospect Mine

Cabin Cluster - Buffalo Mine

Golden Treasure Group Mine

Goose Lake

Too bad we didn't bring our fishing poles

Ready for a haircut

On our earlier visit to Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument we found out about a guided hike given by the Bureau of Land Management.  This Saturday's hike was on Big Arsenic Trail guided by Ranger Tim. Big Arsenic Springs Trail, a mile-long interpretive trail which descends 680 feet from the rim to the base of the gorge, crossing Arsenic Spring which feeds into the river and ending at a group of petroglyphs. 

Taking a break next to Big Arsenic Spring before continuing to the petroglyphs

Female Rocky Mountain Big horn sheep

San Antonio Catholic Church

 The church was built in the mid-1800’s by the first families of what was then the village of San Antonio del Rio Colorado.

It was in 2008 that the west wall of Questa’s historic church collapsed. Volunteer laborers had been working almost non-stop since winning their struggle with the Archdiocese of Santa Fe for permission to begin restoration. The Archdiocese believed the damage to the structure was too great to bother with and favored replacing the historic heart of this community with a simpler, modern structure with a metal roof. Thankfully a lot of faith, lobbying, determination, and compromise prevailed.

The fixtures inside the church were not damaged; the beautiful Stations of the Cross were all saved. Volunteers worked with our USDA Forest Service staff to choose and fell trees, milling new timbers for the structure in the same ways that our families did generations ago. The new stained glass was made here by local craftspeople.

Young, old, Catholic, or not; Volunteer workers gathered Saturdays from 8a.m. to noon, and beyond. After a blessing by the priest; work began and lunch awaited all helpers, for seven years.

The church is always open during daylight hours and welcomes all guests.

Little Red Caboose cabin

Definitely a one of a kind cabin

Cabresto Lake

Happy to report, Bigfoot is alive and well

Due to the elevation the salad dressing exploded when I went to take the lid off. I caught the majority of it but it was everywhere.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Angel Fire, New Mexico

The Memorial grounds and Chapel were first envisioned by Dr Victor & Jeanne Westphall to honor their son, 1st Lt David Westphall, who died in combat in 1968 during an ambush in Vietnam.

The Memorial was dedicated in 1971 and was the first major Vietnam memorial in the United States. In 1987 Congress recognized the site as a memorial of national significance. The visitor center features educational exhibits. The grounds are a peaceful and beautiful backdrop for the Chapel.

"Dear Mom and Dad"

This life sized statue depicts and American infantryman in the field trying his best to keep in touch with folks back home.

A piece of History

The Huey helicopter on the Memorial grounds served with the 121st AHC, where it was known as Viking Surprise and was one of the first smokeships in Vietnam.  In 1967, it was damaged so badly during a rescue operation that a total of 135 bullet holes were counted in it.  It was repaired and assigned to the 118th AHC to serve a second tour.  In 1999, it came to the Memorial grounds courtesy of the New Mexico National Guard.

What a surprise!

The book on display, Tap Code was written by Dave's cousin Sara W Berry.

Lunch spot under the trees

Taos, New Mexico

Taos Plaza is the center of the Taos Historic District where locals and visitors gather for live music, farmers markets, and to stroll through shops and galleries.

On the corner of Hwy 522 and Hwy 64

Not sure what it is but it is now coming "Later" rather than "Sooner"

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is on US Hwy 64 about 10 miles west of Taos and is perhaps the most accessible attraction in the monument.  

They need to update the sign. Rio Grande del Norte is no longer a State Park.  It was added to the national parks system when it was proclaimed as a national monument by President Barack Obama in 2013.

Most Beautiful Steel Bridge

1966

This steel arch bridge spans the Rio Grande Gorge a dizzying 650 feet above the river. There are observation platforms at each end of the bridge and a walkway on both sides of the road to allow pedestrians to cross the bridge.

Looking South from the bridge

Looking North from the bridge

Earthship Biotecture

Earthships are self-sufficient off-grid buildings that work in harmony with natural phenomena in order to: re-use materials, heat & cool, generate power, collect water, treat sewage and grow food.

Greenie Peak

Elevation 11,145 feet

Anchor Cabin

Bitter Creek

In 1899, the Edison Mine boasted a 10-stamp amalgamation mill and crusher from Denver, powered by a steam engine and boiler inside an engine house.  The mill ran for 20 house a day for only 18  days before flooding.  By 1960, the equipment was removed except for the boiler stack.  Today the heavy beams from the frame of the stamp mill are found alongside Bitter Creek, held together with wire cables.

We knew what this sign meant but have never seen it explained like this

Viewing the Gorge outside of the Monument

El Aguaje Trail

Switchbacks from the campground to the river

Across the way is La Junta Point

If you look closely you can see the rock slide which has the trail closed

Lunch spot over looking the confluence

Rio Grande on the left and Red River on the right.  It's hard to see the Red River but if you find the walking bridge you can make out the river on either side.  It causes the largest rapid where it collides with the Rio Grande.

John Dunn Bridge is located in Arroyo Hondo. It crosses the Rio Grande near the confluence of the Rio Hondo.  Around 1893 John Dunn bought a bridge that crossed the Rio Grande and established a business taking passengers and freight from the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad at Tres Piedras to Taos. The bridge burned down and he rebuilt it in 1908. He built a hotel near the bridge for travelers. The hotel provided fresh fish from the Rio Grande and fresh milk from his milk cow. It was a toll bridge for which he charged $1 per person and less for livestock. He provided daily mail service from the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad at Tres Piedras to Embudo, Taos Junction and Taos, that was otherwise delivered unpredictably.  He operated the bridge until 1912 when he sold it to the Territory of New Mexico who made it a free bridge.

The bridge was closed in 2007 following a rockslide.

The next river exit is 15 miles down river

There ought to be Otters

Native to northern New Mexico waters, the North American River Otter was sought after and trapped-out by the mid-1900s to extinction in New Mexico.  

Making a come back

The otters that now occupy the rivers of northern New Mexico were captured and relocated from Puget Sound in Washington State. Since 2008, 33 river otters have been relocated and released  into the  Rio Pueblo De Taos.  After a 60 year absence from the Rio Grande, the river otter is once again flourishing in northern New Mexico. 

Town of Arroyo Hondo