The Movie Set Cabin

Cerro La Jara Stop 5

~2 min drive

The large mountain in the distance directly ahead of you is Redondo Peak. The smaller peak just to the right is Redondito. These mountains are part of a resurgent dome in the center of Valles Caldera. A resurgent dome is different than a volcanic dome; it wasn’t extruded as la…

North East Fork

~3 min drive

Easy 1.14-mile walk with minimal elevation gain near North East Fork.

Alamo Spring

~6 min drive

Moderate 10.51-mile high desert trail to Alamo Spring with gentle elevation gain.

Cerro Pelado

~9 min drive

Moderate 3.79-mile summit hike with 780 ft gain and scenic ridgeline views.

Cerro La Jara Stop 4

~2 min drive

Look straight down the path. Cerro La Jara is to your right and South Mountain is directly in front of you. Both of these formations are volcanic domes. Volcanic domes are formed by the extrusion of lava that piles up in a dome shape. Cerro La Jara and South Mountain were form…

Bearhead Ridge

~8 min drive

Moderate 7-mile ridgeline hike with 1,342 ft elevation gain and panoramic views.

Pajarito Nordic

~13 min drive

Accessible high-altitude loop through Pajarito Plateau forests and meadows.

Cerro La Jara Stop 6

~2 min drive

So far, you have learned that about 1.2 million years ago, a giant volcanic eruption occurred and created Valles Caldera when the roof of the empty magma chamber collapsed. The material that was erupted (called the Bandelier Tuff) was deposited inside the new hole in the groun…

Peralta Canyon

~8 min drive

Moderate 10.5-mile canyon hike with 1,710 ft elevation gain in the Sandias.

Water Canyon

~13 min drive

Moderate canyon hike with steady elevation gain and scenic desert views.