April 2023 | Issue No. 35 |
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Hello & welcome to my April 2023 newsletter! Thanks for tuning in for the conclusion of my New Mexico Bucket List series. This month I'm sharing destinations that are all relatively short day trips from Albuquerque (less than 2 hours one way). There are truly some stunning landscapes that are fairly easily accessible & so unique from one another. And of course I included Albuquerque because it's easy to forget how many things there are to see & do right here at home. What do you think of this New Mexico Bucket List? Ready for an adventure? If you missed last month's newsletter, you can view it here. And, as always, you can visit my website to check out highlights from all of my past newsletters. |
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Roughly 1.25 million years ago, a massive volcanic eruption created the 13-mile wide caldera now known as the Valles Caldera. The preserve features lush forests, volcanic domes, winding valley streams & old growth Ponderosa pine groves. The landscape in the preserve is a contrast to the typical New Mexico desert found at lower elevations. You may be rewarded while there with wildlife sightings including elk, coyotes, prairie dogs, black bears, bald & golden eagles, wild turkeys & other bird species. This impressive wilderness is a favorite destination for travelers, history buffs, adventure seekers & photographers. You can participate in recreational activities including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, scenic drives, as well as crosscountry skiing & snowshoeing in the winter. |
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The Pueblo of Acoma stands atop a sheer-walled, 367-foot sandstone bluff known as Sky City. A federally recognized Native American Tribe, Acoma Pueblo encompasses 431,664 acres. It is home to more than 5000 tribal members with roughly 250 dwellings, none of which have electricity, sewer or water. In 1629, construction began on the massive San Esteban del Rey Mission. Both the Mission & the Pueblo are Registered National Historical Landmarks & are on the National Register of Historic Places. Acoma Pueblo was named the 28th Historic Site by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the only Native American site to have been recognized with the designation. Pueblo of Acoma tours are privileges granted by the Acoma Tribal Council, therefore you must register for a guided tour in order to visit the Pueblo. |
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El Malpais translates to "the badlands" in Spanish. For more than 10,000 years people have interacted with the El Malpais landscape, sculpted from a million years of volcanic activity. The most recent volcanic activity was about 800 years ago. The vast rugged terrain is filled with lava flow as well as ice caverns. This juxtaposition is created as the lava insulates underground water that flows into the lava tubes, cooling it & turning it into ice. There are several ice caves located within the monument. The El Malpais National Conservation Area was established in 1987. Contemporary Native American groups, including the Ramah Navajo & Puebloan peoples of Acoma, Laguna & Zuni continue their ancestral uses of El Malpais today. |
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La Ventana Natural Arch, easily accessible by vehicle, is located just off Route 117 within the El Malpais National Conservation Area. It is a wonder to behold in person.. You can hike up to & into the arch. Although the arch area is surrounded by extensive black lava fields, the arch itself is composed of Zuni sandstone. Compressed sand dunes hardened into the soft rock, then thousands of years of wind & water erosion along with frost wedging allowed deep cracks to form. Constant freeze & thaw cycles formed the opening of the arch. The arch will continue to grow over time, then will eventually crumble back into sand. This area illustrates the many layers & natural forces involved in geological creation & destruction. |
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One of New Mexico's smaller national monuments, El Morro National Monument is a forested, high elevation hidden treasure among nearby rugged volcanic landscapes. El Morro is a towering vertical mesa of sandstone. Over 2,000 drawings & messages dating as early as 1,000 years ago have been carved into the cliffs, known as Inscription Rock. The pool at the base of the cliffs has long been a destination for travelers seeking reliable, clean water. The site of the inscriptions is accessible via a half mile, paved trail. A longer loop trail along the top passes the ruins of an ancient pueblo. You can access a campsite & visitors center as part of the monument site. |
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Cabezon Peak is the largest of the Rio Puerco necks, some of the best-preserved volcanic necks in the world. Sitting at an elevation of 7,786 feet, Cabezon Peak looms more than 1,100 feet above its base & 2,000 feet above the nearby valley. The views from the top of Cabezon Peak are impressive & a favorite for rock climbers. The 1.9 mile hike to the summit is a technical ascent that requires mountain climbing experience & gear to traverse the nearly vertical cliffs. Cabezon, translated as “big head,” is believed to have religious significance for the local Pueblo & Navajo Indians. You will wind down dirt roads through small villages on your way to this remote location, but viewing this ancient volcanic plug is worth the trip. |
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Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of wilderness, with elevations up to 10,200 feet. You will see petroglyphs & dwellings carved into the rock cliffs dating human presence in the area to over 11,000 years ago. By 1150 Ancestral Pueblo people began to build more permanent settlements like the one at Bandelier; by 1550 the inhabitants had moved from their homes here to pueblos along the Rio Grande. Access to the dwellings & kivas gives you a firsthand experience of the history & geology of this well-preserved community. The park was named for Adolph Bandelier, a 19th-century anthropologist & in 1916 legislation to create Bandelier National Monument was signed by President Woodrow Wilson. |
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Petroglyph National Monument protects numerous natural resources, including five dormant volcanic cones, hundreds of archaeological sites, roughly 24,000 images & two detached parcels of land featuring ancient geologic formations. The West Mesa was formed over 100,000 years ago by a series of volcanic eruptions creating boulders that were the perfect material for carving petroglyphs. Humans have inhabited the Rio Grande Valley for 10,000 years; this monument is an amazingly well preserved archaeological opportunity to learn & experience a piece of ancient history in our backyard. Established in 1990, Petroglyph National Monument covers 7,244 acres & is a shared management partnership between the National Park Service & the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division. |
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No New Mexico Bucket List would be complete without including Albuquerque. Last on my list, but certainly not least, Albuquerque is truly a unique & exceptional place. There are many must-do & must-see worthy experiences here. One is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, occurring every October. This is truly one of the most magical experiences. Seeing photos of this event from afar gives you a glimpse, however experiencing a mass ascension in person is something you carry with you. Kids of all ages delight in the majesty & color that abounds during the week-long international event. Another experience on all visit Albuquerque lists is riding the Sandia Peak Tramway. You'll get a bird's eye view of Albuquerque from the top of the Sandia Mountains, a sight that lets you appreciate the soul of the land surrounding the city. These experiences are merely a couple of the reasons Albuquerque is a must on any New Mexico Bucket List. |
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The Real Estate market in Albuquerque this spring continues to be a Seller's market. With a low inventory of available homes, now is definitely the time to list your home if you have been thinking about it. Please reach out to me if you have questions about buying or selling this year. I can help you negotiate the process successfully to accomplish all of your 2023 real estate goals. |
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Thanks for joining me for this last segment of my New Mexico Bucket List. What a list of amazing destinations just in time for nice weather & road trips! Please share any spots I may have missed that are your favorites or places you'd like to visit that I didn't mention. I'm always on the lookout for new places to explore & share in future newsletters. This has been a fun way to get to know New Mexico a little better & find out some of the history of these beloved destinations. I hope you'll join me next month. Thanks for being here! |
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