New Mexico State Road 17

New Mexico State Road 17 (NM 17) is a 9.59-mile-long (15.43 km) state highway in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. Its southern end is at US 64-84 in Chama and its northern end is at Colorado State Highway 17 at the Colorado state line.

State Road 17
NM 17 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NMDOT
Length	9.59 mi[1] (15.43 km)
Existed	c. 1940–present
Major junctions
South end	US 64 / US 84 in Chama
North end	SH 17 near Lobato
Location
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
Counties	Rio Arriba
Highway system
New Mexico State Highway System Interstate US State Scenic
← NM 16 → NM 18

Route description

The route begins at an intersection with US 64 and U.S. Route 84 in New Mexico south of Chama. The road then heads north into central Chama along Terrace Avenue. NM 17 then exits Chama and heads northeastward, passing through a wooded area in northern Rio Arriba County and running adjacent to the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. The road then reaches the Colorado state line, where it becomes Colorado State Highway 17, heading north towards Cumbres Pass.^[2]

History

Before 1940 it was originally part of NM 2 then later U.S. Route 285 (US 285). It was renamed NM 19 in 1940 when US 285 was rerouted through Tres Piedras. Then in the 1950s it was renamed NM 17 to match Colorado State Highway 17 (SH 17).^[3]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Rio Arriba County.

Location	mi[4]	km	Destinations	Notes
Chama	0.000	0.000	US 64 / US 84 – Tierra Amarilla, Dulce, Pagosa Springs	Southern terminus; road continues as US 64 east/US 84 south
​	1.750	2.816	NM 29 (First Street) – Edward Sargent Wildlife Area elk viewing facility	Southern terminus of NM 29
​	9.590	15.434	SH 17 east	Continuation into Colorado
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

• U.S. Roads portal