Yellow Hills Ranch
The most amazing places
on Earth are often the most threatened. Some environmentalists suggest the best
approach would be for everyone to stay home and not visit the world's
artifacts. We suggest bringing your Earth Whisper ways and support the Earth's
precious treasures by the way you walk the land.
We describe our Ranch ecotours as "responsible travel into the Earth's natural wonders." Designed to help conserve the environment, they enhance the wellness and life of the area and its local people. When you travel to a place of breathtaking beauty like Yellow Hills Ranch and hold the intention to minimize your impact, deepen your respect, appreciate the wonders, provide financial benefits to local people and raise your own awareness and sensitivity for the magnificence of life, you give real power to the emerging industry of Ecotourism.
When we sponsor an
Eco-Tour, we add a few wisdom tips into the mix for deepening your "Walkabout"
experience. As you uncover some hidden off-the-trail breathtaking wonder, we
put in respect and gratitude for your special moment. We call it the "Earth Whisper Way." It is easy to
do when you can stay present with nature's magnificence. Earth Whisper
Walkabouts inspire our visitors to experience their own magnificence as
well.
Ecotourism has become a growing source of revenue for the long-term management of more than 33,000 protected areas worldwide. We encourage our visitors to listen, love and contribute to the well-being of an area and its community. Should you choose to join us and experience the Earth Whisper way, the Foundation for Humanity warmly welcomes you to the adventure of a life time.
Sunny Weather: This extraordinary region of New Mexico has a mild, semi-arid climate with abundant sunshine. The summer monsoon season does bring brief but exciting thundershowers in the late afternoon and the winter months can have snowstorms. Most visitors love the winter with its long stretches of sunny, cloudless days. At Yellow Hills Ranch, temperatures can range from highs in the low-90s during the summer to winter lows that may drop below freezing. Here is an summary of Ranch area weather.
Arrange a Yellow Hills Ranch Eco-Tour
Learn more about our Individual or Group Tours with Accommodations
You can visit us in New Mexico. To arrange an EcoTour to Yellow Hills Ranch, just write our fear-free tour guide an email:
Here are descriptions of some of Jeff's favorite spots you may want to see when visiting us.
Rio Chama
River: One mile from the Ranch gate, a major tributary of the Rio
Grande flows through a colorful sandstone canyon where canyon walls climb to
1,500 feet as you travel downstream. Nearly 25 river miles have been designated
by the U.S. Congress as a "Wild and Scenic
River.' Fishing is
especially good on the upper mile. Car camping is popular on the lower 8 miles.
You can also enjoy Class II rapids along the entire 31-mile segment (advance
permits required) or take half-day trips on the lower segment (no advance
permit needed.) Popular for its great fly fishing, there is also river rafting,
boating, kayaking, camping or backpacking into this unique wild river wildlife
paradise. Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River
El Vado Lake : Located a few miles from Yellow Hills Ranch, El Vado Lake State Park offers fishing, boating, water-skiing and cross-country skiing. A 5.5-mile scenic trail along the Rio Chama connects El Vado with nearby Heron Lake. The entire area is a major wintering ground for bald eagles as well as red-tail hawks, water ouzels and ospreys.
Lake Heron: The second largest lake in New Mexico is 20 minutes
from the Ranch. This water wonderland is a "no wake lake' so you won't
encounter speeding boats when seeking a quiet experience in your kayak. This
5,900-acre lake is approximately 4 miles long and 3 miles wide with an
elevation up to 7,186 feet. Featuring over 200 camping and picnic sites with
two boat ramps, Lake
Heron offers exceptional
salmon and trout fishing as well as small boat sailing. A 5.5-mile hiking trail
crosses the Rio Chama Gorge on a pedestrian suspension bridge and then continues
southwest through wooded terrain to the El Vado Lake State Park. During July, August, and
September, the lake is an extraordinary oasis to swim and cliff jump. Heron Lake
Chama: A short drive from the Ranch is the town of Chama, popular for the longest narrow gauge railway in the United States. The scenic ride crosses the Colorado and New Mexico state line several times while staying at an altitude over 10,000 feet for much of the trip (Chama to Antonito, Colorado and back to Chama.) Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
Hidden Ruins: In addition to the stunning nature sites marked on public maps, there are unmarked places too--like hidden hot springs and Native American ruins--a mere twenty minutes from the Ranch. There's no map telling you where to find those 800 year old Native American ruins but we know the way.
Ghost Ranch: 35 minutes south of the Ranch is the home of Georgia O'Keeffe--the Ghost Ranch with its Living Museum and the Ghost House with its Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology. Near the Ghost Ranch is the Echo Canyon Amphitheatre State Park, Christ in the Desert Benedictine monastery, the jaw dropping views of the Rim Vista trail and the Plaza Blanca earth formations that look like huge light grey sand castles. Ghost Ranch
Grand Hiking Day/Hot Springs Dusk Delight: The
Ranch itself offers tremendous hiking and cross country skiing when you want to
jog, walk or ski through this rare stunning scenery. After a boot-camp type of
hike, you deserve a grand hot springs
soak just one hour away. " Pagosah"
is the Southwestern Ute word for healing waters. With soaring cliffs, ragged
peaks, magical alpine pools, cascading rivers and mineral soothing hot springs, this dramatic
geological wonder invites any Earth Whisperer to deepen their calm-centered
experience with an inspiring backcountry wilderness retreat. Pagosa Springs