A Drive along the Jemez Mountain National Scenic Byway

It is supposed to be a beautiful day so we decide to drive the Jemez Mountain National Scenic Byway.

We stop at  the Walatowa Visitors Center in the Jemez Pueblo.  The Pueblo has 3400 Tribal members, descendants of the native people who lived and hunted in these mountains centuries before the first European Explorers.   There are no photos allowed in the Pueblo. 

I have been surprised to see Lilacs here.

Valles Caldera is a Super Volcano - unfortunately the Park does not open until the end of May so we did not get to see it.

We get a peak of the Coronado State Monument remains of the Pueblo of Kuaua

Our first stop is at the Soda Dam.

Water from underground hot springs has flowed here for centuries and has formed these strange formations.

The Jemez River flows by.

The little cave behind us actually lead into a smaller cave with a shallow pool where kids were playing.

Next stop Battleship Rock.  A sheer cliff of welded Volcanic Ash that resembles the bow of a ship.

We hiked a bit around the campground and tried to follow a trail but found out it was 2 miles one way and uphill.

We drive to our next destination - Spence Hot Springs.

After a winding switchback hike we arrive at the Hot Springs.

I dunked my feet for a short while and took in the view.

We never pass an overlook!

From there we continue to Jemez Falls Campground where it is supposed to be a short hike from the campground to the Falls.  What we didn't know was that the campground was still closed and it was over a mile walk in.  It was a nice hike through tall ponderosa pines.  It's times like this that I really feel guilty that poor Tucson doesn't have a yard.

We arrive at the Falls

We stop and take a break.

Next is Fenton Lake State Park.  The place is hopping with picnickers and fishermen.

Route 485 which is supposed to have some tunnels is shown on the map right next to the Park, but we don't find it.  On our way we turn down what might be a road and find this overlook.   We stop and talk to some people leaving and ask them where 485 is.  They say that the dirt road below is it and that it is about 20 miles long, we would be better going back through Jemez Falls as the tunnels are only a few miles in from there.

So we had back to Jemez Springs and through the Red Rocks.

The first tunnel looms ahead!

The tunnels were blasted through solid rock back in the 1920's to construct a rail line to haul logs out of the Mountains.  The narrow road through the gilman Tunnels follows the Guadalupe River.

We double back to town for dinner.

We do Los Ojos Saloon.  I had the Chicken Burrito Grande in Green Chile Sauce (green veggies are good for you!)  Gary had the Green Chile Chicken Sandwich. 

A great drive and the sun sets on another beautiful day!

Till  Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n


Melissa, Gary & Tucson