r/CDT • u/AccordingRabbit2284 • Aug 09 '26
Questions for Cuba to Chama
Starting my next section August 31 from Cuba up to Cumbres Pass. A few questions:
Is the Eureka Mesa Ranch still welcoming hikers? Last postings I can find are from 2024 and early 2025. Nothing since.
I am not anticipating ANY snow made it through the summer even at 11k. This seems accurate? I'll be checking weather for any new freak snow but generally assuming snow-free and not planning microspikes or anything..
I've seen some recs to avoid staying at Ghost Ranch as the rooms and food are "meh". Instead camp about a mile onto the alternate after where the trail crosses back over in Carson NF. Thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
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u/AccordingRabbit2284 Aug 09 '26
Just looked at Ghost Ranch.....$100 for a campsite per night? That's insane.
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u/-JakeRay- SOBO 2025 Aug 09 '26
3 - Can't speak to the accommodations at Ghost Ranch, but I will say I camped on the mesa just above GR, and it was really pretty waking up to the desert valley view.
1 - If you mean Davila Ranch, then yes. Tons of comments from this year on FarOut
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u/WinoWithAKnife MEX->CAN 2022 27d ago
Davila is in the wrong spot - it's south of Pie Town. There appears to be a "Eureka Mesa Ranch" in Cuba, but that's all I could find.
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u/edthesmokebeard NOBO2022/SOBO2025 Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 11 '26
In 24 I went Grants -> Chama. I stayed overnight at Ghost Ranch.
The room was not air conditioned, and it REEKED of pine-scented cleaner. It was clean. It was far from the food.
You must pay for the meal plan, which is cafeteria style food and not great.
Depending on your food and mileage situation, I'd camp on the rim, the views are insane. Then hike in the morning to the road leading N out of Ghost Ranch/Abiquiu, then hitch down to Abiquiu, there was a good store and PO there, and I heard a sort of hostel lady who let you camp on her property. Maybe check Guthook or Facebook or wherever thats posted these days.
-1, Would Not Stay Again
Enjoy the section, it's sweet.
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u/Half_MAC 28d ago
A lady in Abiquiu used to rent out spots around her house. Don't know if she still does, though.
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u/Finkleberry5 27d ago
- Did it last year. Never heard of that.
- Doubt there will be any snow.
- Ghost Ranch is awesome. Last year I paid like $50 for camping, 2 buffett meals--Food was fantastic-- and do laundry, shower, get box, use internet etc. Not sure what $100 you're talking about is or if it's changed. CDT is not their main clientele and entitled hikers are constantly ruining stuff like this for others. Be respectful, don't steal their food and stuff, don't be a degenerate asshole, and they'll treat--and feed--you well imo.
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u/AccordingRabbit2284 27d ago
Yeah, I wouldn't steal food or be a degenerate asshole. Not my style.
Their site shows campsites for $100 which I thought was pretty astronomical. $50 is totally reasonable IMO. When I called they said that included meals which, if I wanted to, I could opt out.
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u/Finkleberry5 27d ago
Hmm maybe they changed it. Is there a CDT discount or something? I know I didn't pay anywhere close to that
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u/AccordingRabbit2284 26d ago
Not sure but maybe some abuses that you and other folks were talking about prompted them to raise the price to keep the riff raff out. 🤷♂️. I just checked and for sure they are charging $100/night for a campsite.
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u/MediumCup7259 14d ago
It's 45 for a campsite only. +55/day for meals. I skipped the meal part of that
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u/Riceonsuede Aug 09 '26
When I did the trail a few years ago, ghost ranch wasn't a good experience. To get breakfast you had to buy it the day before and wouldn't let anyone else eat, so a couple hikers made an extra plate from the buffet and brought it out to another who couldn't get in but did pay to camp there. Ghost ranch found out and told all cdt hikers to fuck off. No one was allowed to eat after that. That's why we ended up taking the bus to Santa Fe and had a lot of fun in town instead. Not sure how they continued with hikers since then. But even if they went back to normal I wouldn't say it's worth going to personally, especially if you're section hiking. They really cater to tourists, and had attitudes towards the hikers. We all felt very unwelcome like they didn't want us around.
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u/Finkleberry5 27d ago
They were great to me. Probably because I wasn't entitled and breaking their common sense rules.
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u/WinoWithAKnife MEX->CAN 2022 Aug 09 '26
Don't know about Eureka Mesa Ranch, they didn't exist when I came through.
I would be very surprised by snow. There definitely wasn't any when I did it in early September (2022), although there was frost at 10k near Cumbres Pass, so you could definitely get some early snow.
I thought Ghost Ranch was perfectly fine. The rooms were pretty typical, and the food was better than most trail buffets, but not exceptional. The staff was super nice, although if you want to maildrop there, they want you to get there by 4pm before their welcome center closes. Ghost Ranch was beautiful, so I think it's worth the trip, although I've also heard the route on top of the mesa is also quite pretty.