ABOUT
Jemez Adventures (JA) was formed to provide guidance and travel/action tips aimed at fishing, hiking, camping and mountain drives in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico.
This includes books and map-packs with detailed information about adventures in the Jemez Mountains. Started to enlist friends of the Jemez and help outdoors people find fishing locations and tips for catching Jemez trout, JA has expanded to include guidance on Short Hikes in the Jemez Mountains, Jemez Drives and Camping (both coming soon), and specials such our as our 'A Favorite Dozen Jemez Mountain Flies'.
THE JEMEZ ADVENTURES
STORY
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The Mountains
The Jemez Mountains are one of the truly wild places left in the southern Rockies. A small mountain range (roughly 70 miles N-S by 60 miles E-W) the Jemez is primarily public land. Public access is through the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) West, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Bandelier National Monument, Fenton Lake State Park, San Pedro Parks Wilderness, Dome Wilderness, and Bandelier Wilderness. There are two large reservoir lakes with extensive public access, hiking, and camping on the Jemez perimeter – Abiquiu and Cochiti. The Jemez has over 30 small trout streams and two high elevation public lakes that attract fishers, hikers, and campers. These recreation resources are rarely crowded – but when they are there are always options to find a similar location within a short drive.
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Perimeter Jemez towns provide outdoor supplies and easy access to the forest. These include San Ysidro, Cuba, Coyote, Youngsville, Abiquiu, and Espanola. Towns interior to the mountains include Jemez Springs, La Cueva, Los Alamos, White Rock, and Ponderosa, all of which are unique mountain communities with their own charm and welcoming ways. The overview map below highlights Jemez public lands and communities.
Getting to the Jemez—Paved routes for getting to the Jemez include:
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From Albuquerque and Bernalillo - I-25 to US 550 to NM 4 in San Ysidro going north to Jemez Springs, the Valles Caldera, Jemez Falls, and State and Forest Service campgrounds.
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From Santa Fe - US 84 to NM 501 to NM 4 in White Rock (where buses take visitors into the Bandelier Monument).
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From Cuba - US 550 to NM 126 and on to FR 70 (San Pedro Parks Wilderness) and FR 20 (Rio de Las Vacas) or Clear Creek and Las Vacas campgrounds
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From Youngsville - NM 96 from Cuba or Abiquiu Dam to Forest Roads 100 & 99 for the Canones National Recreation Trail and lots of dispersed camping areas.
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From Espanola - NM 30 to NM 502 to the Tsankawi Ruins, and via NM 502 on to Los Alamos museums and trails.
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From Los Alamos - A Jemez city with museums, trails, and an atomic history. The Jemez high country is reached from NM 501 to NM 4, going west NM 4 climbs steeply with hairpin turns and leads to the Valles Caldera National Preserve and Bandelier Wilderness. Go east on NM 4 to the Bandelier National Monument and White Rock.
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From White Rock – A Jemez town with a wonderful Rio Grande overlook park with picnic areas and trails. Going west on NM 4 leas to the Tsankawi Ruins and Espanola. The Bandelier Monument is east of White Rock and buses for it leave from here (visitor bus center on NM 4).