Chama
Canyon Wilderness
This 60’ high seeping waterfall is at the headwall of
Potrero Canyon. Notice the
enormous block of ice that I am
standing by to the right of the falls. This ice is formed by a spring that
makes it’s own 18’ high waterfall.
This
block of ice does not melt until June. The winters build up of ice that was in
the main falls got melted by the
flowing water of spring run-off in Potrero Canyon. The slot canyon above this falls is
shoulder width…!!!!
There are many waterfalls within Chama
Canyon Wilderness. Most of them
are dry pour-overs that only flow during heavy rains. Some of them flow continually because of being fed by a
perennial spring. Seeping Falls in
Potrero Canyon and Fuertes Falls in Fuertes Canyon are perennial. However their flow is quite small. If you visit them, be prepared for deep
mud as you will be hiking up a flowing creek bed of red chama clay
“stick-to-your-shoes”gumbo. These
large boulders I am standing on in the photo above are alabaster.
Near by Presa Canyon which is not shown on
my map below, has two very impressive dry pour-overs and a “shoulder-width”
slot canyon…..!!!!!!!!!!! All
three of these canyons mentioned here can be accessed from Skull Bridge.
Enhanced
National Geographic 7.5’ topo map
Send questions and
comments to doug.vivian@yahoo.com