I had never heard of Valles Caldera (pronounced VIE-yays kall-DAIR-uh) until I heard a verbal exchange at a place to eat in Santa Fe. After hearing what other people said, I set aside other elements of the itinerary to see the hidden gem of New Mexico.
Before going to the reservation, I refueled the car and bought lunch and bottled water at Los Alamos, home of the Manhattan Project. The reserve has little water and rises to more than 8,000 feet above sea level. You have to save yourself from dehydration and height pain. Since the nearest gas station is in Los Alamos 32 km away, so is a full tank.
According to park department commands, I drove down jemez highway (pronounced HAY-mez), which passes through the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Your phone or GPS will probably tell you the wrong address. At the LANL checkpoint, the officer implemented it for my driver’s license and destination. When I said Valles Caldera, he said I would appreciate it.
The momentary inconvenience along Highway Four made up for it when I first saw the boiler. I gassed with admiration. A beautiful green bowl with a low dome that stretches in front of me. Deep green trees on the slopes have given way to lighter green grasses and past wildflowers. Grassy meadows are called valleys in Spanish. the reserve, the caldera floor reports harsh winters that are too bloodless for the trees).
My first thought: why is this position better known?My moment thought: Hurrah!What a non-violent pleasure it will be!
I parked in a meeting to catch my breath and read more about the scenery. I had made the right resolution to eliminate my itinerary based on a half-listened conversation.
The quiet appearance of the reserve masks a bumpy past: there are three young supervolcans in the United States; Caldera Valleys is the oldest of the three, including Yellowstone in Wyoming and Long Valley, California; the Caldera de Valles exploded 1. 25 million years ago. Annular fractures created a depression of 12 miles to 14 miles on earth. The dramatic cave is not the latest crisis of volcanic anger. The eruptions continued until about 40,000 years ago, forming domes and lakes. Some of the domes look like giant buttons. Some of them are high enough to be mountains. Redondo Peak is the top of the Jemez Mountains at 11,253 feet.
Caldera rocks helped develop the theory of plate tectonics in the 1960s.
Professional advice: Although a volcanic eruption is unlikely to occur, be aware of the dangers and follow the reserve protection tips.
Arrive at the guest center which opens at 8 a. m. if you intend to drive or ride a horse on the backcounty of the reserve, as the reserve limits the backcounty. Permits can only be obtained from mid-May to October and are only valid business hours on the date of issue Hikers, cyclists, skiers and snowshoes can enter the interior without a permit.
Because access is limited, the interior provides the most productive opportunity to see wildflowers. Monitor members of the largest moose population of the moment in New Mexico. Also look for badgers, black bears, blue birds from the eastern mountains and golden eagles.
Be prepared for driving challenges. The roads are dirty and eroded when it rains. I was driving a small passenger car, but I presented a free-height vehicle. I was alone, but I introduced bringing in some other user to monitor the obstacles. Yes, it had some narrows. h. Fishermen catch trout in jaramillo and san antonio streams. Purchase a New Mexico fishing license and a conservation license.
Pro tip: download and print Backcountry Driving Companion. Cell service is reliable.
The cottage district is four miles from the guest area. Parking is for those who have a driver’s license. Even without a vehicle, it’s a simple hike. Here you can discover five historic buildings, as well as the tactile station of Valle Grande. Netflix filmed the series Longmire on the Ranch Foreman. Cabin The cabins are very picturesque and a laugh to photograph. Be sure to come with wildflowers in your pictures, however, stay away from the porches and don’t visit the buildings.
Pro tip: Longmire is the eleventh film or TV series filmed in the cauldron, and some of the movie sets are still visible.
History Grove is about 4. 5 miles from the front gate. When I entered the 125-acre ancient forest, a cone of silence fell around me, even my mind calmed down as I heard the soft sounds of the forest around me, ponderosa pines and Douglas fir are between 250 and 400 years old. They are a component of the small diversity of mature forests in the United States.
Walking through the woods is like in an old cathedral, a position of deep reverence. The scent of pines and firs enveloped me calmly.
If time is very limited or if you have lost your daily driving permit, walk along the La Jara trail. It’s a simple 1. 5-mile hike around one of the “yetton” domes, which stretches from the guest center. Stretch your legs and walk your dog. When I did, the small parking lot in the guest center was full, but I didn’t see any other hikers. I saw a coyote, but not other wild animals. The prairie dog colony was curiously silent. I enjoyed the view of the Valle Grande and the Montaña del Sur, as well as the many summer wildflowers.
About 800 meters from the door, climb a hill to a movie cabin. The cabin overlooks the Valle Grande and the Valle Escondido. The view extends for 15 km to the eastern edge of the caldera. Continue the Simple Hidden Valley Trail into Jemez River Canyon. flowing into South Mountain.
Walking through the grass to the knees produces a great crunch, but the legs with insect repellent.
Banco Bonito Loop is a 15 km hike through a lunar landscape over the flat rear of the caldera. Lava flows turned the landscape into rocks, dotted by giant pines directly Ponderosa, a combination. The trail passes through the prairie El Cajete. “shallow bowl”, and the locals were racing horses there. Walk the moderate path in the opposite direction and rejoice in the shade under the ponderosas. To raise mileage, take a walk in the meadow.
The International Dark Sky Association named Valles Caldera as a foreign dark sky park in 2021. Currently, the Highway 4 exits offer the only access points at night, however, the park is working to expand access. The reserve organizes astronomy events every month. from May to September. Follow the booking’s social media accounts for updates of the occasion.
Pro tip: Florissant fossil deposits on Gold Belt National Scenic Route and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park are starry sky parks.
When the winter shadows are long and the snow is deep, spend skiing and snowshoeing in Valles Caldera. The reserve’s most productive cross-country skiing is positioned on the northern slopes of the reserve, but the entire reserve is open to Nordic skiing. . Bring skis and canes with giant baskets and wear pants.
If you know how to walk, you can pass with snowshoes, all you want are snowshoes, boots, pants and canes, the bookstore of the reserve rents snowshoes and canes.
The reserve has no trails and attendance in winter is low.
Do you hear the sound of silence?
In 2020, the reserve acquired 40-acre sulfur resources at the western end of the reserve. The large caldera already made the reservation as Yellowstone National Park. The addition of the Sulfur Cannon completes the process. The Sulphur Springs domain includes smoking dust pots, hot springs of sulfuric acid and fumaroles, volcanic openings that emit hot sulfuric gases.
The National Park Service is lately mastering hot springs for visitors through clearing mine debris and installing safety devices. Until the procedure is completed, visits will remain limited.
If you’re founded in Santa Fe like me, avoid white rock overlook when you return. Don’t worry when you see several baseball fields on the road; you have come to the right place. The road ends at the viewpoint. By the time that day, my jaw dropped scared. The view is 270 degrees of amazement when you contemplate the Rio Grande below. Arrive a while before sunset for the most productive images.
My direction to the ran along the Bandelier National Monument. The Swiss cheese rocks I saw on the side of the road were Bandelier Tuff. Es the volcanic rock that has come out of the Caldera Valleys. The Blue Dot and Red Dot trails go to the canyon, while the White Rock Canyon Rim Trail offers wonderful perspectives from above. Climbers can see the Gallows Edge.
Roxie is the director of exploration at roxieontheroad. As the blog call suggests, she loves to spend a vacation on the road on less busy roads. Sometimes she travels alone and with her husband Eric. Whether alone or together, they find a laugh and an adventure wherever they are. Eric and Roxie have two cats, Dalbie and Lola.
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