"Hangin' in Jemez on a Summer Day" Jemez Springs by kymbanm

Jemez Springs Travel Guide: 10 reviews and 21 photos

The Jemez Mountains ... dirt of fall colors ....

I love taking day trips from Albuquerque to the Jemez (pronounced 'Hay-mez' by locals). This area is known for it's color .... dirt of red, orange, and everyday brown ...... Just north of Albuquerque, at the junction of N.M. 44 and State Highway 4, quietly begins one of New Mexico's most spectacular scenic drives; the Jemez Mountain Trail. This road was declared a National Scenic Byway in recognition of its fantastic natural and cultural resources.

On the way to the village of Jemez Springs, you will pass the Old Pueblo, several galleries and shops .... and if you are REALLY lucky, a fry bread stand to get a taste of true New Mexico :) This wonderful village won the 1995 All American City. Nestled in a tree shaded valley, which has restaurants, lodgings, seasonal arts & craft fair, public bath house, as well as galleries, this quaint little village is certainly worth a visit.

Even if you aren't a walker or wanderer, you can see so much just from your car. I take Hwy 4 from Hwy 528 and decide on my route from there. Every few miles are signs to help guide you. North of the area is Santa Fe, south is Albuquerque - so just follw the signs for the city you are heading towards and you'll be fine.

Soda Dam ....

Soda Dam

Aaaah, Soda Dam was raging today! I haven't seen the water this dark from strong flow in ages ... I hope you can see the falls in the shadow in the middle of the picture :)

This natural formation was created over centuries from calcium deposits brought upwards from an underground hot spring ... no, this isn't erosion .... this a a large deposit of calcium carbonate left behind by the spring itself.

And how do you find this natural wonder? Well, just head north out of Jemez Springs .... less than 5 miles up the road, on the right, you'll see the pull off as well as the dam. Yup, it's right alongside the State Route 4 :)

Aftermath of the Cerro Grande Fires .....

Scars of the fire ....

In 2000, the Cerro Grande fires near Los Alamos made the national news. On May 4th of that year a prescribed burn which was begun on federal land at the Bandelier National Monument and quickly grew beyond expected containment. Within days, this fire required the evacuation of 18,000 residents of Los Alamos, destroyed over 400 homes and burned 47,650 acres.

The President declared an emergency on May 10 and a major disaster on May 13, 2000. Federal and state disaster teams established temporary housing, disaster recovery centers and crisis counseling programs.

The Cerro Grande Fire remains the most costly federal fire disaster, with more nearly $570 million in disaster expenses and claims paid to individuals, businesses, communities and tribes.

Now, in 2005, the scars of this disaster are still seen. FEMA worked hard to prevend further deforestation due to mudslides, and natural reforestation can be seen in various locations along the drive north of Jemez Springs.

Intro Updated Aug 11, 2005
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Reviews (8)

Frying my Fry Bread & pokin' it w/ a stick :) - Jemez Springs

FryBread!!!! Wooo HOOOOO!!!! Restaurants (2)

One of the treats of driving through Pueblo lands is the chance to get some Indian Fry Bread!! Most folks who haven't... more travel advice

Can you SEE the dwellings??? - Jemez Springs

Bandelier ...... ahhhh Things to Do (5)

This little gem is a piece of natural, as well as man made history. Bandelier has been a national park since 1916, and... more travel advice

Valles Caldera Things to Do (5)

Caldera in Spanish means "kettle" or "cauldron"; in geology, this term has come to be known as a volcanic collapse... more travel advice

The color or rock .. and dirt - Jemez Springs

The Jemez Corridor Things to Do (5)

If you are coming from the Albuquerque area, you will naturally drive through the portion of this drive known as the... more travel advice

Warnings and Dangers (1)
The reality of fire ....

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Comments (4)

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toonsarah Aug 29, 2011 at 9:07 AM

Looking forward to visiting this area next month - thanks for the useful tips and inspiring photos :-)
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scottishvisitor Aug 22, 2006 at 1:28 PM

I love day trips but this place must be awesome to visit!!
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jojocan Jun 12, 2006 at 10:23 PM

diablo? kenny?
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zaffaran Nov 30, 2005 at 9:35 AM

A terrific, informative and very WARM page. Thank you for sharing, Kymba!