Iron Horse Adventure: Valles Caldera, New Mexico
Valles Caldera is a 13 mile wide volcanic caldera in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico. If you love riding your motorcycle through awesome landscapes, you’ll find the Caldera very fulfilling, with its hot springs, streams, fumaroles, natural gas seeps and volcanic domes that dot the caldera landscape. I was able to spend five days up in the Jemez Mountains over this past Labor Day Weekend. You could spend a month in this area of New Mexico and still not take in all the Valles Caldera has to offer. I wasn’t able to find the time to check out the waterfalls, and several other areas that I wanted to visit, yet I hope this video captures a small part of this awesomely beautiful area. Join me on this Iron Horse Adventure where we ride many of the mountain back roads.
Approximately 1.2 million years ago, a volcanic eruption created this 13-mile wide circular depression known as the Valles Caldera. The preserve is known for its huge mountain meadows, abundant wildlife, and meandering streams. The area also preserves the homeland of ancestral native peoples and embraces a rich ranching history. The Caldera preserve offers some of the best mountain meadow fly fishing in New Mexico.
Valles Caldera, New Mexico: “The Crown Jewel”
If you ever happen to journey through New Mexico, you wont want to pass through without visiting this supervolcano. You can view Elk, learn about the historic cabins and prehistoric sites. This area of Northwest New Mexico is know as the “Crown Jewel.” About 120,000 visitors come to the preserve each year to enjoy activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, and simply enjoying this southwest geologic gem. The busy season in Valles Caldera runs from May-October.
Links to some of the bikers that I mentioned in the video:
Panhead Billy Burrows Billy has been living off his motorcycle since the late 1970’s. He’s a true legend in the motorcycle community.