Getting to Cumbres Pass, CO

imported
#1

I’m starting to plan my CDT section hikes for 2012, and one of them will be from Cumbres Pass, CO to Spring Creek Pass, CO.

I live in NYC, and can fly to Santa Fe or Durango, the “closest” airports…each being about 120 miles from Cumbres. From the airport, is there a good alternative to hitching? And if hitching is the only way, which is the better starting place?

Mike

#2

Chama is where you need to get to. It is possible via NM RTD busses. You can take the narrow gauge train from Chama to Cumbres Pass or hitch.

Take a bus from Santa Fe to Espanola, then take a bus from Espanola to Chama. The Chama route runs Tuesdays and Thursdays only.

Here is the link to NM RTD: http://www.ncrtd.org/

bearcreek

#3

Thanks much. I think you helped me last year, regarding snow conditions. So thanks again.

Mike

#4

You need to call the railroad and see if they will drop you off at the pass, there is no regular stop there, so you’ll have to make arrangements with them to see if they will stop the train and drop you off. Its a beautiful trip. The tickets aren’t cheap either, I believer the last time I went they were around $65.00. You may want to see if you could get someone from Durango to drive you there if you pay them for thier time and gas.

misqua

#5

Last year, I had no problem hitching a ride from Chama to Cumbres pass. The road gets a fair amount of summer vehicle traffic between Chama and Antonito. You could also probably find somebody in Chama to give you a ride up to the pass for gas money if you don’t want to hitch or take the train.

I also took the public bus from Santa Fe to Espanola and then the NM RTD from Espanola to Chama. The van ride was on time and free. It was great because you stop at all the small towns on the way up and get a real feel for northern NM.

Also, I had no problem hitching into Pagosa Springs and back for resupply from Wolf Creek Pass. Spring Creek Pass is a different story from what I heard but I think I got lucky because I got an easy hitch into Lake City to resupply. On the hitch, look for Colorado license plates because the Texans will not give you a ride (and there are a lot of them up there).

Westbrook

#6

It proves to be a real challenge to get to Cumbres Pass from NYC if you don’t hitch.

The plane to Santa Fe is $200 more than to Durango, and it’s 2 overnights (clearly not a good use of vacation days) to take the bus/bus/train. Further, the train costs $95. Hitching the last 12 miles from Chama would save a day and the train cost.

A taxi from Durango is expensive, but it’s looking to be in the ballpark with Santa Fe solutions. Hitching from Durango looks to be possible but slow, hot, and dry.

Mike

#7

Have you checked to see if there is still a bus from Denver to Albuquerque that passes that way? There used to be one that stopped at Antonito, which is north of the pass. If so, you might be able to convince the driver to drop you off at the pass. Unfortunately, Grayhound doesn’t have the same schedules in a lot of places.

ginny

#8

You could fly instead to Albuquerque via Southwest airlines for a total cost equivalent to the difference in air fare between flying into Santa Fe and Durango.

From Albuquerque, take Railrunner to Santa Fe. (ABQ Sunport to Santa Fe depot - $7) http://www.nmrailrunner.com/

http://www.ncrtd.org/ North Central Regional Transit District services Santa Fe, Espanola, and Chama by shuttle bus. If you click on “Espanola area” it says the route to Chama runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Apparently these routes are all free of charge.

So you could plan to fly in on a Monday or Wednesday, stay over at a motel near the airport in ABQ, then the next morning make straightforward connections all the way to Chama, arriving at 1:30pm with plenty of time to eat, relax, maybe find some other hikers in town, then bum a ride the final 10 miles to Cumbres Pass before dark.

blisterfree

#9

Thanks much.

The bus no longer stops at Antonito, but flying to ABQ will work very well. Somehow, news of Railrunner had missed me until now. I just booked the trip.

Mike

#10

The flight to ABQ, Railrunner, two busses…all of that worked fine.

By the way it turns out that the Chama Chamber of Commerce lady, Rose, runs a shuttle between Chama and Cumbres Pass. If you are in Chamaa you can find her in the same building as Visitor Information. Otherwise call her at (800)477-0149. My fee was very reasonable.

Mike