Jemez Caldera Loop

This scenic drive begins just a notch south west of Espanola on highway 30, just at the base of the towering Lava flows created when the Jemez Volcanoe erupted about a million years ago. The road is very smooth and wide, enlarged in the early 90s for the many commuters that make their way up the hill every morning to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Although there is the option to drive straight to Los Alamos, up the steep side of one of the flows, many choose the main route along highway 4 through White Rock and eventually to Bandelier National Monument. A few minutes after heading to White Rock you will pass Tsankawi, the ancient remains of a Pueblo Indian settlement built in the 1400s. Tasankawi is technically part of Bandelier National Monument, but is undeveloped and unexcavated. A wonderful trail will take you from the parking lot over the ancient volcanic tuff. The path has been eroded from the countless visitors, and in places has cut into the rock up to two feet deep.

After driving through the town of White Rock and its two stop lights, the road winds back into the ancient lava flows, snaking its way up and down the sides of the steep cliffs. Just before arriving at the top of the southern most lava flow you see a giant radio telescope used by researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory to investigate theories of the cosmos.

The entrance to Bandelier is just off highway 4. If you have the time and will not be in the area again, Galloping Galleries highly recommends visiting the Monument. However, if your goal is the Valle Caldera and Jemez Springs, there is still another hour of driving ahead.

The road quickly begins a step ascent up the side of the Jemez Caldera, winding back and forth in tight switchbacks. The hills in this area have been charred by the recent Cerro Grande fire, which was the unfortunate result of a Forest Service control fire that got seriously out of hand. In addition to the hills, the fire destroyed the homes of 429 Families in Los Alamos and forced the evacuation of the entire town. When the smoke settled about a months later, over 47,000 acres were burned.

About fifteen minutes after climbing the rim you arrive at the southern edge of the vast Valle Caldera. Geologist estimate that the Jemez Volcano once toward 20 to 30 thousand feet above the valley floor. When it erupted a million years ago, the volcano spewed so much ash that it collapsed in on itself, forming the 15-mile diameter Caldera.

After leaving the heart of the caldera, the road begins its round about journey to Jemez Springs, where the traveler can find wonderful Cafés, Galleries and mineral springs. The loop can be completed by continuing on to Jemez Pueblo and highway 550 which will take you to Bernalillo, just north of Albuquerque. If your planning a day-long excursion from Santa Fe and your final destination is Albuquerque, this trip is highly recommended.