Heron Lake IV: Lodging and Services

IV. Accommodations and Services for Heron Lake

Summary of Area Services:

Competitors and friends have a choice of camping inside the state park in improved or primitive camp sites. Outside the park, choices include camping, rv parks, rental cabins and apartments, lodges, motels, and bed and breakfast inns and homes, located from five to twenty miles distant.

Full bath houses/park restrooms with hot water showers about 1 mile away. 1/2 mile to Park headquarters, 1 mile drive to boat ramp and mast-up storage lot with mast-raising crane. About 1.5 miles to convenience store/gas outside the park and 7 miles to cabin rentals and nearest restaurants (Tierra Amarilla or Stone House Lodge). Additional services, groceries, and lodging available in Chama (17 miles), Dulce (36 miles), Pagosa Springs (66 miles), or Española (74 miles).

Camping

The park is popular with families and 80 to 90% of park visitors are campers.

Within Heron Lake state park are 250 developed camping sites, 54 of which have electricity. Some of the sites also have full septic hook-ups.

Park fees are $5 per vehicle entry/day use. Camping fees are $8 for primitive camping (including anchoring in a cove, but no camping fees are charged for marina guests staying in the marina), $10 for developed sites, $14 for electric sites, and $18 for full hookups. Annual day-use and annual camping passes may also be purchased.

Campsites at Heron Lake are generally open on a seasonal basis, with portions of the Willow Creek campground generally open year round. Many of the primitive campgrounds are generally closed from September 30 to May 1. Most of the developed campgrounds other than Willow Creek are open from April 1 to December 21.

Marina Point, Oso primitive camping area

Primitive camping (no utilities) is available in the Oso area near the marina point. Several locations are highly scenic. Vault toilet is available at the marina toilet; hiking or driving will bring campers to the facilities of the Vistors' Center or the showerhouse and bathrooms at the Blanco Campsite.

Willow Creek

Willow Creek and Blanco Campgrounds have developed camping with water, power and sewer hook-ups. Forty of these RV sites are on a reservation system and another thirteen RV sites on a first come first serve basis. Blanco is the "luxury camping" end of Heron's spectrum whereas the far west shore of the lake has remote and primitive camping.

Showerhouse and bathroom in Blanco Campground.

Island View, Salmon Run, Brushy Point,

Brushy Point, Island View, and Salmon Run Campgrounds offer a less developed camping opportunity with designated campsites. The bathhouse between Island View and Salmon Run has hot showers. The driveway off NM 95 splits into three forks; left to Salmon Run, straight to the main Island View campsites along with the camp host and bathrooms with hot showers, and right to the Island View Reservation Sites.

Dam area and West side primitive camping

Ridge Rock, Ponderosa, and Piedra Cove campgrounds and the Rincon recreation area offer a range of camping and day use experiences from designated, improved campsites to completely undeveloped primitive areas. Ridge Rock is just west of the dam and is not far from the La Laja boat ramp, as are Ponderosa and Piedra Cove. By contrast, the Rincon area is completely primitive; it embraces the western shore of Heron Lake.

Commercial Campsites and RV Parks

Stone House Lodge RV park Stone House Lodge, NM Highway 95, mile 13, Los Ojos, NM 87551, 505 588-7274, fax 505 588-7714, shl@direcway.com. Dry camp $8, daily full RV hook-up $18.50. Marilyn's place can satisfy all your basic needs for camping, lodging, dining (cafe 5 days a week), and basic shopping.

Brazos Lodge, $30 per night full hook-up. Lodge suites $100 and $150/night, cabins $90 to $350, 2-bedroom condos $150.

Sky Mountain Resort RV Park, 2743 South US Hwy 84/64, Chama, NM 87520, www.skymountainresort.com, info@skymountainresort.com alongside Rio Chama, pull-throughs & back-in spaces, 46 full hook-ups w 50 amp electric, heated bathhouse, laundry room.

Rio Chama RV Park, 2 blocks north of railroad depot on Highway 17 to Alamosa. 505 756-2303, www.coloradodirectory.com/riochamarv Full hookups, 65’ pull-throughs, 20, 30, 50 amp electric, full restrooms with hot showers, tent area.

Commercial Lodging

Los Ojos, 6 miles:

Tierra Wools Guest House (Casita). 91 Main St., Los Ojos, NM 87551. 505 588-7231, 1 888 709-0979, www.handweavers.com. Suites with kitchens.

El Vado/west side of Heron, 7 miles:

Stone House Lodge, NM Highway 95, mile 13, Los Ojos, NM 87551, 505 588-7274, fax 505 588-7714, shl@direcway.com. 1-bedroom cabins or small apartment (1 queen) $75-80, 2-bedroom cabins (queen, double, twin) $110-135, large cabins or large apartment $145-275, Stone House (20 people) $450. Marilyn Morrison, www.stonehouselodge.com

Brazos, 15 miles:

Brazos Lodge, HC 75, Box 103, Chama, NM 87520, State Rd. 512, 505 588-7707, www.brazosrentals.com. 1-4 room non-smoking cabins, general store/coffee & gift shop. David & Yvonne Sainze, 800 558-7707.

Corkins Lodge, Brazos, 505 588-7261, 800 548-7688, www.corkinslodge.com. Tom Melk.

Chama, 18 miles:

The Hotel and Shops, shamrock Hotel, PO Box 1096, Chama, NM 87520. 505 756-2416, 800 982-8679, www.thehotel.org roger@thehotel.com Terrace Ave (Hwy 17) across from the train station in Chama. Gift shop downstairs, art gallery upstairs, porch overlooking the od train station. Roger Hogan.

Y Motel. PO Box 945, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-2166, inexpensive. Marilyn Jensen.

Elkhorn Lodge, Rt 1, Box 45, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-2105, fax 505 756-2638, reservations 800 532-8874. Jim & Jill Lane, www.elkhornlodge.net

Vista Del Rio Lodge, HCR 75 Box 37, Chama, 87520, 505 756-2138, 800 939-9943. At the “Y” on Hwy 17. Direct dial phones, TV, HBO, refrigerator, coffeemaker, non-smoking rooms available, no pets, hot tub.

The Timbers at Chama. Dave Spira has stayed here and recommends it for those who appreciate a fine southwestern mountain experience. 505 588-7950.

Little Creel Lodge & RV Park, Fay & John Harris, PO Box 781, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-1824, http://www.littlecreelresort.com/

Cumbres Suites Lodge, 2042 S. Hwy 17, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-9139, toll free 877 756-9139, Suites with king & queen beds, non smoking, no pets, tv, hbo, deluxe continental breakfast. Terrie & Kip Corey.

Branding Iron Motel, PO Box 557, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-2162, 800 446-2650, http://www.brandingironmotel.com/

River Bend Lodge, Sandra Antillon, PO Box 583, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-2264, 800 288-1371, www.chamariverbendlodge.com, http://www.riverbendlodge.com/

El Mesón Lodge, PO Box 647, Chama, NM 8720, 505 756-2114, elmeson.org, info@elmeson.org. Phones, cable tv, in room coffee, double queen, king beds, nonsmoking/smoking rooms. Ernesto Soto.

Spruce Lodge, Scott Cole, 866 695-6343, 505 756-2593

Chama Trails Inn, Starla Santos, 800 289-1421, 505 756-2156

The Lodge at Chama, Frank Simms, 505 756-2133, www.lodgeatchama.com

Vista del Rio, Kim Smith, 800 939-9943, 505 756-2138

Chama Station Inn, PO Box 677, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-2315, 888 726-8150 http://www.chamastationinn.com/

South El Vado, 18 miles

El Vado Ranch & RV Park, David Cooper, 505 588-7354, www.elvado.com, NM Hwy 112. Cabins $96 (1-2 persons) with kitchenette, day use $5 per vehicle.

Bed & Breakfast, all in Chama, approx. 18 miles:

Cardin’s Crossing B&B, 551 Maple Ave., Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-2542, 800 852-6400. B&B, gourmet breakfast, homemade apple pie. Narrow Gauge room with queen or Doll House room & suite. $85 for two guests, $25 per additional. Tom & Mary Cardin. Tom is a photographer and Mary is a painter; she also is a gourmet cook and chief chef for feeding work party volunteers for the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad.

Lightheart Inn Still in business or not?

Gandy Dancer, 756-2191

Parlor Car B&B, 311 Terrace Ave, 3rd St. at Hwy 17, PO Box 967, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-1946, 888 849-7800. Full breakfast served at 8:30 a.m., three guest rooms w private baths, non-smoking. Wendy Joyhnson.

Posada Encanto B&B, 277 Maple Ave, PO Box 536, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-1048, 800 756-1925. 1 block w. of Hwy 17/Terrace Ave. 5 rooms each with tiled bath, non-smoking, no pets. Teresa Smith, teresa@posadaencanto.com, www.posadaencanto.com

Little Rock House on Maple, 158 Maple St, PO Box 997, Chama, NM 87520, www.rockhouseonmaple.info 2 night minimum, $125 1-2 persons, $175 3-4 persons, cottage, non-smoking, no pets, small children not recommended, washer/dryer, full kitchen.

Dining

4 miles: Ed’s Grill and Mary’s Yard Sale, NM Hwy 95 mile 1.5. Casual dining, generous portions. The captain’s platter will definitely help you add significant ballast and rail weight to your crew.

7 miles: Stone House Lodge Café. 505-588-7274 . And good desserts; great big cinnamon roles and nice breads and pastries, plus basic comfort food for hungry anglers, hunters, and sailors. A couple of miles beyond the west end of Heron Lake.

7 miles: El Alamo Café, 1 mile north of Los Ojos. Closed Saturday. 505 588-7409, County Rd. 331. Very good breakfasts, friendly, family-room, fine place for casual Sunday brunch. Closed Saturday.

15 miles: Cliff View Restaurant in the Brazos canyon. A nice view of the Brazos cliffs from the forested canyon and somewhat upscale casual dining. State Road 512 runs eastward about 8 miles from a point a couple of miles north of Los Ojos (near mile 170) on Hwy. 64/84.

16-19 miles from the marina in Chama:

Elkhorn Café. Nice café with creative sandwiches, popular with local law enforcement, after whom some of their sandwiches are named.

Elkhorn Lodge Chuckwagon Show, $17.99, 800 532-8874, 505 756-2105

High Country Restaurant, Lounge, Package Liquor. Best dining in the Chama Valley; steaks, seafood, southwestern. Che Johnston. Live entertainment in lounge. Chama, NM, 505-756-2384, at the “Y”. Sunday brunch is special here.

Cookin Books, Chama, NM, 505-7569-1717. Adjacent to Chama Valley Market just south of the US64/84/NM17 "Y" intersection. This is a friendly, one-of-a-kind place with sandwiches and surprises, as well as a bit of a bookstore. It's run cooperatively by some of the same people who run the Chama Valley Market.

Bar-B-Que Place, ½ mile n. of Hwy 64/84 on Terrace Ave, 1749 Hwy 17, Chama, 505 756-2989. Dine-in or take-out. Sauce extra.

Branding Iron Restaurant & Lounge, Chama, NM, 505-756-9195.

Jennifer’s, 756-1956.

Patsy’s Bakery, 756-2108

Fina's Diner, Chama, NM, 505-756-9195

Foster's Hotel/Bar/Restaurant, Chama, NM, 505-756-2296 Popular with bikers.

Groceries, rv, camping, boat supplies

Henry’s True Value in Tierra Amarilla. Hardware, building supplies, tools, liquor, groceries, auto parts, camping supplies, all under one roof in Tierra Amarilla.

Heron Store and RV. Near mile 4.5, closest store to the marina. RV supplies, some camping supplies and groceries, ice.

Stone House Lodge. General store. Ice, some groceries, fishing tackle, gasoline, propane.

Chama Valley Market. Very good local grocery store with meat department and a wide variety of groceries and supplies.

Wood carving gallery and RV parts just east of the Chama "Y".

Family Dollar, auto parts stores, River Lumber.

Misc. shops

Art & Leisure
Tierra Wools. http://www.handweavers.com. Gallery, weaving demonstrations and classes, center for preservation of historic strains of sheep and local knowledge.

Galleries –

Local Color Gallery, etc.

Fuel

Margarita’s, Tierra Amarilla (for sale)
Chevron, Tierra Amarilla
Heron Store (closest to Heron)
Stone House Lodge (can also re-fill propane bottles), west of Heron Lake
Mustang, Chama (south of the "Y" and the Chama Valley Market", usually best price in Chama
Sundial Convenience Store, Chama (open late)
Chevron, Chama (west of the "Y")

Most gas stations in the Chama area have diesel, including the Sundial, which is open late and has separate pumps for diesel.

Communications

Pay phones at Henry’s True Value Hardware and Stone House Lodge.

Cell reception on the lake varies; with Alltel we get coverage on about 50% of the lake. Coverage is good in Chama.

The state park rangers, marina dockmasters, local fishing guides, and Stone House Lodge employees monitor VHF channel 16.