NM waterfalls (1 Viewer)

[alia176]

I wanted to save this link so that we can refer to it for future trip potential. @Dizzy gets the credit.

New Mexico Waterfalls - DougScottArt.com

www.dougscottart.com

 

[Dizzy]

'Little Chasm' on the Rio en Medio

Just upstream, more like a waterslide, and yes, during summer a long time ago, I rode it.

Little Tesuque

same as above

lower Big Tesuque (yesterday)

 

[NMBound]

These are awesome. My wife has been wanting to photograph some waterfalls so count us in.

 

[empty80]

Looks like some solid trout pools!

 

[marcfj60]

Looks like some solid trout pools!

Was thinking the same thing.

 

[alia176]

Was thinking the same thing.

So no skinny dipping?

 

[ststephen69s]

Ooh, I’d like to go! I’m in.

 

[ststephen69s]

So no skinny dipping?

Depends, you bringing a girlfriend?

 

[Dizzy]

There is a road, just west of Montoso Peak, off of Santa Fe National Forest Road 24NB, that overlooks the deepest section of gorge on the Rio Grande in the state. Here, you can get an auditory of the lowermost falls of the Rio Frijoles in Bandelier National Monument. I wonder if there is a spot where it can actually be viewed?

Below is the confluence of the Rio Frijoles with the Rio Grande, taken with a 90mm lens.

Parajito Mountain, 10,441' and Parajito Plateau

There are a couple of places with a decent overlook, and it takes a bit of effort to discover. I made this trip in November, on my bicycle, because there isn't much shade out there. Better off in a 4Runner, but plan on doing it in a 40.

and, later on in late December

 

[alia176]

Is the Little Chasm accessible now due to the CV-19 deal? If so, can we just park anywhere then hike in?

 

[Dizzy]

It is. But, the Rio en Medio trail from Chupadero is overwhelmed. I went twice, both times on Sunday morning, both times, no parking. The first time was a traffic jam with a driver who couldn't turn around (there are no spots) or, steer in reverse. The last time, there were signs about the number of parking citations given for each of the last seven days. There is only about seven legitimate parking spots there.

I would consider the approach from Aspen Ranch, or the Nordic Ski Loop off of 475. Or, park before daylight, planning on someone else doing a bad parking job.

Pretty much anything along NM475 is quite reasonable during the last few weeks. Big Tesuque campground is/was parkable, and there is a nice one about twenty minutes hike downstream, on an informal trail, from there, before the south fork confluence. Also, the bushwack from the Borrego Trail crossing going upstream to the lower falls isn't half bad, there is better GPS coverage in that canyon then I get in town. I wear leather gloves on those hikes, because the ground is unstable, and I typically have to break a fall at some point.

Most of the time that I visit, I skip Little Chasm, that was before all of the upper Pecos watershed parking facilities were roped off.

 

[alia176]

Great, thank you for the heads up as I've never been there and didn't know the protocol. I wouldn't mind tagging along with you since you seem to be well versed in this area.

 

[Dizzy]

I'd worry about this spot, if the word got out. So, PM me for location.

It is a huge sculpted piece below some challenging terrain, and you can see how the stream's trajectory changed from its former.

There is always something interesting below the sheer(ish) cliff.

It was really nice getting there at that time in the evening. I used a different route out, because I couldn't locate the exact way in. Light changes rapidly in the late afternoon, and every time I enter this box canyon it is something different, regardless of how many times my routes cross.