Photo Gallery Thirty-three

 New Mexico - Jemez Falls, Upper Frijoles Falls, Lower Frijoles Falls, El Morro N.M., Capulin N.M., & more.

The red brick three story building is "The Plaza Hotel" on "The Old Town Plaza" in Las Vegas, New Mexico.  Las Vegas, New Mexico was a major stop along the Santa Fe Trail.   This city, located along I-25 between Santa Fe and Raton, has over 900 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

Jemez Falls in the Santa Fe National Forest on the Jemez River in central New Mexico.  The falls are located at 7800 feet above sea level in the Jemez Mountains and  drop 70 feet in a series of cascades.  This view is from a cliff side overlook about half mile from Jemez Campground.

Fall color in Valles Caldera.

Capulin Volcano National Monument near Raton, New Mexico.  Capulin Volcano rises abruptly 1000 feet above the surrounding  plains and volcanic fields of northeastern New Mexico providing expansive views in all directions. This image, high on the volcano, shows the access road that winds two miles to the top at the crater.  The view is north. The peak on the horizon piercing the clouds is Robinson Peak.

Another similar image looking northeast taken somewhat lower on the volcano.  The volcano is quite steep and the cinders lie at or near the angle of repose.   Mudd Hill also appears in this image.

Looking east from above the clouds on the slopes of Capulin Volcano.

This image is looking west along the north face of Inscription Rock or "El Morro" at El Morro National Monument near Grants, New Mexico.  A spring at the base of this massive 200 foot high rock outcrop was a must stop for centuries as travelers crossed this seasonally dry region.  Thousands of passers-by carved initials and messages in this rock as they rested in it's shade.

A view generally east from the top of El Morro Rock.  This area was named as a National Monument as early as 1906.  The National Park Service was not created until 1916.  Early in the 20th century before indoor plumbing was ubiquitous a spring was a magical place. 

This view is looking to the west from the top of EL Morro toward the position of the previous image.  The rock viewed from the top is composed of both yellow and white sandstone.    

This tree along the switchback trail that climbs to the top of El Morro is commonly called an alligator juniper.

This is a lone pinyon pine growing out of a crevice in the rock on top of El Morro.  The railing is installed at the edge of a steep drop-off.  Since this is an older park you will find practices along the loop trail over El Morro Rock that would never be implemented today.  Large cutouts and steps have been cut into the rock to allow easy passage. The most curious practice are the acid etched stipples in the solid rock every six inches on both sides of the trail that are intended to direct your travel.

This is a view taken from the base of La Ventana Arch at sunset.  La  Ventana Arch is in El Malpais National Monument near Grants, New Mexico.

This view is looking northwest to a thunder storm from the Sandstone Bluffs Overlook in El Malpais National Monument.  The dark area in the mid-ground is the massive El Malpais lava flow.

This is a view looking southwest from the Sandstone Bluffs Overlook.  The line of bluffs runs approximately one mile on the east side of the lava flow.  Access is south from Hwy 117 off I-40 near Grants, New Mexico.

Another similar view southwest.

This is a huge ponderosa pine along the trail to Upper Frijoles Falls in Bandalier National Monument near Las Alamos, New Mexico.

This image exhibits very poor light but it does show the kind of strange swiss-cheese like rock formations that occur in several locations  along  the trail to Upper Frijoles Falls.  This kind of rock is a type of eroded volcanic tufa and it occurs throughout Frijoles Canyon.  The area must have been buried by volcanic ash at some time in the geologic past.

Another view along the trail looking up canyon toward Upper Frijoles Falls.  The canyon walls are close and several hundred feet high on both sides of the canyon near the falls.

Close-up of Upper Frijoles Falls from just below the trail.  This is a rugged area.  Frijoles Creek has carved out a very narrow and deep canyon composed of very loose rock.

A view to Upper Frijoles Falls from a small cascade along Frijoles Creek in this very narrow section of Frijoles Canyon.

A view approaching the plunge pool at Upper Frijoles Falls.

A View of Upper Frijoles Falls from the plunge pool.  This falls is more of a cascade than a freefall waterfall.  Standing in this location was pretty dramatic.  The falls drop in the range of 60 to 70 feet.  The surrounding  canyon walls are several hundered feet high and very close and narrow.

A view of Lower Frijoles Falls from the access trail.  Lower Frijoles Falls is a little over one-quarter mile farther down canyon from the upper falls.

Another closer view of Lower Frijoles Falls from the access trail.  This falls is not as large as Upper Frijoles Falls, however it is a freefall waterfall as opposed to a cascade.  After a heavy rain both falls would be dramatic. Access to the base of the lower falls  appeared  very difficult. 

The hike to both falls is a very fine four mile round trip hike.  The trail becomes more dramatic as it approaches Upper Frijoles Falls.  It is mostly downhill on the way in, uphill on the way out and exposed to the sun much of the way.

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