Valles Caldera Rim Trip Report

West Rim

Forest Road 144 – San Antonio North Cliffs Date: May 26, 2008 Purpose: investigate the north end of the west rim of San Antonio Canyon off Forest Road 144. Participants: Dorothy Hoard, Yvonne Delamater. Equipment: Garmin Global Positioning System Model GPS 12; digital camera Olympus Camedia C-3000; notebooks. Methodology: Park on FR 144, walk south down the rim, primarily looking for views. Conclusion: The cliffs above San Antonio Canyon have fine views of Valle San Antonio all the way back to Valle Toledo and Cerro Rubio in one place. Forest Road 144 here is a recreational road with many informal campsites beside the road and short side roads leading to more private camping places. It is a pretty area, although part of a Forest Service grazing allotment. Trip Report: We parked off Forest Road 144 where it makes the big turn to go around the Road Canyon ridges. We parked in a large meadow with evidence of camping near the trees. There were good snows and some rain this year, so the area was fresh and pretty with bright green grasses and lots of wild flowers beginning to appear. We hiked south along the rim, following the VCNP fence line. At some point, which I did not identify, the fence becomes a Forest Service allotment fence that runs along the rim. The VCNP fence goes into San Antonio Canyon somewhere. We crossed the fence and walked along the rim. No trail here. We crossed a definite trail going into the canyon. It was marked with red circles. A trail goes into the canyon.

The maps show a road going into the canyon. This road is gated and bermed against vehicles but is apparently used by fishermen going down to the San Antonio River. It is well used. We followed it a little way. Lots of trees along side the bank, so no really good views.

The fishers trail was once a drivable road.

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West Rim

The finest view from the west rim: Cerro de la Garita on the north rim is on the horizon, center. On the farther horizon, right, is the east rim with Sierra de Toledo and Turkey Ridge. In the notch between them is Tschicoma Mountain, highest point in the Jemez Mountains.

Side roads off FR144 come right up to the rim. There are informal camp sites and fire rings. We passed four people in lawn chairs sitting right on the rim admiring the view. This is Memorial Day. There were many campers and a fair bit of traffic. We continued south along the edge of the cliffs. There were many viewpoints along the way. South beyond the cliffs, the views became more obstructed by the trees. This is dense forest and deadfall was heavy. As we proceeded, we could no longer see into Valle San Antonio. We found occasional views into San Antonio Canyon. The water was running well; there were just a few fishermen. The gate on FR376 was locked so people had to walk in from here. San Antonio Canyon is nice, but it doesn’t LOOK like a caldera.

Fishers road into San Antonio Canyon. Cerro de la Garita on horizon.

Continuing south along the rim, we came to FR144. No sign of the motorcycle trail here. The road turned west while we continued south and soon we came to the top of the line of cliffs we had seen from Cerro de la Garita on October 18, 2007. Here is a fairly well used trail—but not the motorcycle trail. There is oak brush along the cliff edge but not enough to obscure some fine views into the Valle San Antonio. We could easily distinguish Cerro de la Garia on the north rim and Indian point on the east rim.

Narrows of the Rio San Antonio where the river turns south. The Valles Caldera National Preserve fence crosses the river here.

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Looking over to San Antonio Mountain on the preserve.

West Rim

Looking south down San Antonio Canyon.

San Antonio Hot Springs came into view near the red rock outcrop.

Views into the Valle San Antonio receded...

Side canyons come right up to the rim; occasionally it was easier just to walk on FR144. Walking on roads is unpleasant because the light reflects off the light-colored dirt right into your face.

We had to go around several little side canyons that drained to San Antonio Canyon. Once more we came to FR144 along the rim at the head of Oat Canyon. We headed back to the car on the road. The motorcycle trail goes right along the side of the road. Informant: Dorothy Hoard.

... but, we could look straight down onto the Rio San Antonio.

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West Rim

May 26, 2008, San Antonio Cliffs: Rim = red, FR144 = purple, our route = bright green.

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