The Jemez River's headwaters running through a narrow canyon meadow, lined with boulders and pine forest — The East Fork canyon, river running low through the meadow

JEMEZ RIVER TRAIL

out & back · Valles Caldera National Preserve, NM

3.4 MI total distance

246 FT elev. gain

EASY difficulty

OUT & BACK type

1–1.5 HR time

ANY LEVEL skill needed

field-notes.txt Valles Caldera National Preserve

This one doesn't have the giant vistas that the rest of the Valles Caldera hikes are known for, and I genuinely don't miss them. You're down in a tight canyon for most of it, with the Jemez River's headwaters running alongside the trail the whole way. It's a different kind of good.

Water, birds, solitude — that's the trail in three words. I did it solo this time and it was perfect for that, but Julia and I have hiked it together before too. Works either way.

There's an old movie set structure near the start of the trail, which is a fun surprise if you don't know it's coming. Worth a look on your way past.

Flat, short, easy footing. This is the one to bring a novice hiker on — nobody's going to struggle here, and the canyon does all the work of making it feel like a real hike anyway.

An old wooden movie set cabin standing alone in a wide meadow near the start of the trail, mountains in the background — The old movie set structure, near the trailhead

A meadow opening in the canyon, ringed by pine forest — One of several quiet meadow openings along the canyon floor

A grassy trail running along the treeline of the canyon — Easy, flat footing the whole way

The trail winding alongside a stream lined with boulders and pine trees — The river never strays far from the trail

★ WILDLIFE LOG

Northern Flicker — Colaptes auratus, a few along the canyon

Great Blue Heron — Ardea herodias, working the river

Elk — Cervus canadensis, spotted at a distance

VERDICT

★★★★★

One of my favorite hikes, full stop, even without the big views. The canyon, the river, the birds, the quiet — it adds up to more than the mileage suggests. Easy enough for a complete novice, good enough that I keep coming back. Go alone for the solitude or bring someone you like; it works both ways.

← back to trails