Chama Falls (East Fork)

While the exploration was enticing, this waterfall's pay to play is poor. Buried deep into a pretty Colorado valley with other large single waterfalls that are far to access, East Fork Chama Falls was good to check off the list, but hard to recommend. The canyon itself doesn't offer significant interest or aesthetics, but does finish in a novel location with twin falls. This waterfall is a confirmed nesting site for the Black Swift, listed as a Species of Special Concern by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The swifts migrate from Brazil annually to occupy this site from late May until late September, raising a single chick. The swifts are susceptible to disturbance from human activities near their nests, including noise and movement, direct disturbance or destruction of their nests, and trampling of vegetation. Canyoneering/climbing at this waterfall during the Black Swift nesting season (late May - late September/first frost) is likely to cause direct damage to nests, eggs, and young, and disturb adult swifts enough to cause them to abandon their nest and offspring. Click here for more information on the Black Swift.

East of Cumbres Pass, which connects Antonito, CO and Chama, NM, turn north on FS 121. The dirt road goes through signed Private Land to access National Forest and trailhead to the north. The upper reaches of the Chama River are quite spectacular with easy trail hiking in this long valley. At 6.15 miles from pavement, the road hooks a sharp left to the Archuleta Corral / Chama Basin TH and campground. The Chama River Trail starts here, but a few miles can be taken off the hike by instead continuing straight past a few dispersed campsites and parking at (37.04703, -106.54478), which is the start of a nice trail at a blocked off old road. Hike North on use trails. This area is well used by horseback riders. Find an opportunity to cross the Chama River to the West and intersect the main trail. One more Chama River crossing aligns the trail on the East side of the river for the rest of the approach. In a clearing at (37.07758, -106.54884), the first good view of the Middle Fork Chama Falls (aka Ribbon Falls) appears. This waterfall is probably the 385' described in a few accounts, but accessing the top of this singular falls would take a lot more work. The flow is also greater. Pass an old cabin at Cabin Creek and continue past where the trails thin out. Another old trail came in when hiking up the ramp to the top of East Fork Chama. Drop into the creek above the first rappel and short technical section.

A few short DCs R1: 40' from a tree DCR DC then DC: 15' R2: 180' from willows set back 60' from the 120' falls