The "Gateway" to the Jemez Mountain Trail begins at the junction of US 550 and Hwy. 4, at San Ysidro, a villge named for the patron saint of farmers. San Ysidro remains the only surviving settlement of the original seven "Pueblos de los Jemez" formed under the Spanish crown. The village features a restored Spanish adobe church and, in keeping with its name, offers both the bounty of the harvest and the works of local artisans.

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Jemez Pueblo is about five miles from San Ysidro, located at the gateway of the majestic Cañon de San Diego. There are over 3,000 tribal members, most of whom reside in a single Puebloan village known as Walatowa - the Towa word meaning This is THE place. Enjoy traditional Jemez foods, and arts and crafts available at roadside stands in the beautiful Red Rocks area. Jemez Pueblo has recreation areas where you can picnic, fish, and enjoy the great outdoors.

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Walatowa Visitor Center

Learn about the Jemez Pueblo at the Walatowa Vistors Center through information, exhibits, a nature walk and its gift shop. Studio tours, bread making demonstrations and examples of traditional social dances are available with advanced notice. For more information call 877-733-5687.

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Further north, Forest Road 485 features the Gilman Tunnels, which were blasted out of rock in the 1920's to allow logging train access along the rushing Guadalupe River gorge.

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Ponderosa Winery

Continuing north along Hwy 4, two side roads provide notable diversions. State Route 290 leads to the ranching and winemaking community of Ponderosa. Wine production in Sandoval Country dates back more than two centuries. Both Spanish and Italian settlers brought grapes and other fruits for the purpose of making wine. Grapes for the first Christian Brothers Winery in American were planted in Bernalillo in 1877. Four commercial wineries in Sandoval County offer visitors an opportunity to enjoy this long tradition. Ponderosa Valley Vineyards and Winery on the southern slopes of the scenic Jemez Mountains boasts the largest Reisling vineyard in New Mexico and offers many award inning varieties and blends. For more information call 505-834-7487.

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Jemez Springs is selected as the smallest ever All-American City in 1995, the quaint village is nestled amid high, volcanically layered mesa walls and offers a respite from your journey. Sample delicious cuisine at one of numerous restaurants and, after your meal, wander through local galleries. Treat yourself to a soak in the natural mineral waters of the bath house and make yourself at home in one of several local bed and breakfast inns. The pine scented nights are cool and quiet, filled only with the sound of rushing water. Wolf Canyon Scenic Guided Tours of Jemez Springs offer guided horseback tours of the Jemez Mountains and the San Pedro Park Wilderness area. Groups of up to 15 can be accommodated. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing trips are offered during the winter months. For more information call 505-829-3540.

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Further along Hwy 4 is Soda Dam where water from underground hot springs has flowed for centuries. The buildup of mineral deposits has formed a unique and spectacular natural dam that blocks the Jemez River.

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Jemez Springs Bath House

Since its reopening in 1993, the Jemez Springs Bath House has become an insider's secret, popular with New Mexicans, celebrities and spa enthusiasts from all over the world. Off the beaten path of the Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos tourist centers, this historic mineral bath house is one of the best excuses for a visit to the Jemez Mountains and some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Southwest. For more information call 505-829-3303

The bathhouse is well maintained but retains its historic charm. The decor is country Victorian and the atmosphere is small town friendly and relaxed. Every effort has been made to avoid the "institutional" feel of larger facilities. There are only eight large concrete individual tubs, each privately curtained. An outdoor cedar tub is available for groups of up to six. Both the baths and the outdoor tub are filled with 100% mineral water using a combination of hot water directly from the spring (at 154 to 186 degrees Fahrenheit) and water that has been cooled in large outdoor tanks next to the bath house.

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Also along the Trail is Battleship Rock, a sheer cliff that rises suddenly above the river like the prow of a ship. A few miles past Battleship Rock is the parking lot for Spence Hot Springs, a very accessible and scenic place for a long soak in hot mineral waters.
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Jemez Falls

Just 3 miles off of National Scenic Route NM 4 is the Jemez Falls. Located at an altitude of 7,880 ft above sea level, the river drops 70' through a spectacular series of falls.

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The Los Alamos National Laboratory continues its role at the forefront of science and technology. In the city of Los Alamos....nature and science has combined resources to preserve the ancient past and prepare for the future. For more information contact the Los Alamos Visitor Center at 505-662-8105.

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White Rock

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The Bradbury Science Museum is located in downtown Los Alamos, New Mexico, the home of Los Alamos National Laboratory. The Museum serves as a bridge between the Laboratory and the community, helping to improve science education and science literacy. The Museum also serves as a window to the Laboratory, interpreting the Laboratory's history and current research. Book stores, restaurants, gift shops, art galleries, motels, pharmacies, a shopping center, and the public library are all within walking distance of the Museum. For more information contact 505-667-4444

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Traveling northwest on US550 along the Jemez Mountain Trail loop is the town of Cuba. Cuba is the gateway to the famous Chaco Culture National Historic Park and the San Pedro Parks Wilderness Area. It is also the main route from New Mexico into Southern Colorado, Utah and the Four Corners area. The town of Cuba, meaning "large tank" or "vat", is a hub city which supports many surrounding communities with goods and services. Cuba was originally named La Laguna, because it was full of water. Settlers drained the area, and it became Cuba when a post office was established in 1887 during the Spanish American War. Although the population of Cuba is less than 1,000, the combined population of the communities within a 30-mile radius is more than 7,000. Within this small town are several grocery and convenience stores, repair shops, motels and restaurants. For more information contact the Cuba Regional Visitor Center at 505-289-3808.

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PARKS AND MONUMENTS

North and west of La Cueva off Hwy 4 and Hwy 126 you will find many enjoyable fishing spots, including popular Fenton Lake, which offers picnic areas, wheelchair accessible platforms and ice fishing. For more information contact 505-829-3630.

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The one million-year-old Valles Caldera (15-mi diameter) is the centerpiece of the Jemez Volcanic Field in North Central New Mexico. The caldera was formed when the volcanic pile collapsed in response to a huge eruption of ash from the magma chamber. Subsequent resurgence of magma formed domes along the caldera ring fracture, including Redondo Peak which is over 3000 feet above the caldera floor.

Today the Baca Ranch encompasses most of the Valles Caldera. After two years of negotiations, the White House reached an agreement to buy the 95,000 acre ranch for $101 million to permanently protect as national preserve lands. A bill appropriating the money was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Clinton late in 1999. Authorizing legislation, called the Valles Caldera Preservation Act, H.R. 3288/S. 1892, passed the House and Senate and was signed by President Clinton on July 25, 2000.

The Valles Caldera National Preserve is managed by a board of trustees appointed by the president and will be opened to the public within two years. Members of the Valles Caldera Trust hold regular board meetings to share information with the public as they formulate plans for the Preserve. For more information contact 505-661-3333.

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Bandelier National Monument is a wonderful place to see the ruins of many cliff houses and pueblo style dwellings of 13th-century Pueblo Indians. The Monument is a special place to learn about the history of the Jemez Mountain Trail area. This monument has exhibitions and self-guided tours. Ranger-guided tours are also given upon request. Currently, over 500,000 people visit this and Jemez State Monument every year. For more information contact 505-672-3861.

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Jemez State Monument is a special place to learn about the history of the Jemez Mountain Trail area. This monument has exhibitions and self-guided tours. Ranger-guided tours are also given upon request. Currently, over 500,000 people visit this and Bandelier National Monument every year.

The pueblo was first built in the AD 1500s by ancestors of the modern residents of Jemez Pueblo. The Jemez people lived a typical Southwestern lifestyle for that time. They raised corn, beans and squash in Jemez Canyon along the Jemez River and also up on the nearby mesas. They hunted deer, rabbits, elk, and other game from the forests. They had plenty of water from the Jemez River, and hot springs nearby. In the best of times they may have had a somewhat idyllic life, but the climate could be fickle.

Jemez State Monument consists of the ruins of an ancient pueblo of the Jemez people known as Giusewa and the ruins of a 17th Century Spanish Mission known as San Jose de los Jemez. The mission had a unique octagonal-shaped bell tower. There is a museum and signed trail at the Monument, which is part of New Mexico State Monuments. For more information contact 505-829-3530.

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