jemez national recreation area

We ventured along highway 4 after a couple we had met in ABQ told us about the area. This ended up being the highlight of our trip. There is a beautiful waterfall along the road. We stopped and bought authentic Native American food that was reasonably priced and very good. Bring a water bottle and some shoes you don't mind getting muddy if you plan to hike up to the spring. It's an easy hike and worth the time an effort. Beautiful drive even if you aren't up for the exercise. Wonderful views and we saw several fields of elk and other wild life along the highway.

Route 4 twists and turns through the scenic Jemez Mountains. Coming from Albuquerque, you'll drive through the Jemez Pueblo where the poverty exists side by side with spectacular red rock beauty. Note the hornos in virtually every yard - most are still in use just as they were centuries ago. There are many hiking trails, numerous pull offs for fishing and picnicking, the soaring Battle ship Rock, Jemez ruins, the town of Jemez Springs with funky shops, restaurants (don't miss Los Ojos) and the hot springs themselves. Stop at the Wallatowa visitor center for information, historical display, maps and the opportunity to purchase some locally made goods. Farther up the road is the Valles Caldera which is a destination not to be missed. Note the monasteries just off the road. My husband and I frequently turn off route 4 at route 485 which leads to the Gilman tunnels and an amazing canyon. You'll drive through a small community with many abandoned homes, just after which the road narrows and leads through two former railroad tunnels. The canyon and surrounding canyon scenery is truly amazing and totally unexpected. The Rio Guadalupe runs alongside the road affording an opportunity to catch some native browns. The road turns into route 376 - unpaved and washboard surface - and continues through a heavily wooded area and the meadow at the Rio Cebolla of which 200 acres are currently off-limits due to a Forest Service study.Wherever you go, you'll find scenic beauty and solitude - if you get off the road and explore.

The scenery is spectacular, but I wouldn't spend more than a day here. It is a depressed area, so be prepared to see a lot of poverty on the drive up from the south side. We even saw some illegal dumping on one our drives off of Highway 4. However, the drive up 4 from Los Alamos is fantastic. The location isn't the best for driving to other tourist attractions in the area. If you are a mountain biker, keep going up the road. This is not a mountain biking friendly area. Also, in an event of an emergency, you will have no cell phone service.

An amazing trip - either for a special feast day like today, or simply to wander through the local attractions. Beautiful place!

Went to Jemez on saturday afternoon for a drive. Stopped at some roadside huts to have an indian taco that everyone raves about. They were huge and chile was so good will definitely go again. Then went to the soda dam and that was nice to see the water flowing out of the rock on the side of highway. We drove a little way up the road and found a nice area to park. We walked down the river and it was very nice and quiet. We had the whole area to ourselves. The dog was ecstatic to be out doors he played in the river the whole time we were there with my daughter. It was really nice and we will definitely be going back again soon.

The scenery coming from the south, State Highway 4 off of 550, west of Bernalillo, NM, is spectacular, as is the scenery coming from Santa Fe through Los Alamos from the north, where the Valles Caldera is located. Either route will lead to the small town of Jemez Springs, where there's an upscale spa and hot springs, some shops, a couple small inns, restaurants and bars. There are also a couple lodges to the north of town and be careful coming in that way as there are elk in the road. Coming from the south, you pass through part of the poverty of the Jemez Pueblo, where as of the 2000 Census, 25.5% of the population lived below the poverty line. But shortly, you are in the cliffs of the Jmez Mountains, with abundant overnight camping facilities along the way. The Los Ojos Restaurant and Saloon has decent food and evidence of the local hunting culture, like the enormous elk head on the wall. But the cliffs are amazing. There is a fee for overnight camping- http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/recreation/districts/jemez/index.html