Valles Caldera
Valles Caldera National Preserve is a beautiful valley created by enormous volcanic activity that shaped the entire region. It has drives, hikes, cross country skiing, and gorgeous views and is located along the awesome New Mexico State Road 4 that winds its way through the Jemez Mountains.
This volcano erupted 1.25 million years ago and threw ash all the way to Kansas and Wyoming. It then collapsed making it one of the world’s best examples of an intact volcanic caldera. It is also a “defining example of the caldera resurgence phenomenon”, according to the NPS. They also say that this beautiful landscape helped prove the theory of plate tectonics!
This area was also important for obsidian to the paleoindians of around 10,000 years ago. The Archaic Indians, Anasazi/Ancestral Puebloans, and the Spanish also took advantage of the immense resources here.
There are many critters in the caldera but the one you’ll notice the most is the Gunnison’s Prairie Dog which are everywhere! Be careful if you have your pup cause these guys love to carry fleas.
If you’re a fan of fantastic Neo-Western TV shows staring a kickass old white Australian guy pretending to be a Wyoming Sheriff then you’ll love spotting Longmire’s Cabin which you can walk around when the gates are open. A lot of this place is closed until June due to its elevation and weather.