This week, I decided to check out The Jemez Mountains, a mountain range in North Central New Mexico. It is about an hour and a half drive from Rio Rancho, which makes it great for a quick day trip with friends and family. It is also great for hiking, camping, fishing, rock climbing, and so much more.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is a remarkable and must-see destination in New Mexico. Tent Rocks is located 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe near Cochiti Pueblo and famous for its picturesque cone-shaped formations. Sign up for our Newsletters Tent Rocks was formed by volcanic explosions made up of ash, pumice and tuff deposits over 6 million years ago. The monument is well known for its two hiking trails and are known as some of the.
Plein air artists brave the elements to create.
From April 17 through April 22, dozens of artists set up easels in Fenton Lake, Battleship Rock, Soda Dam, Bandelier National Monument, Gilman Tunnels, the Jemez Historic site, numerous fishing and picnic areas along the Jemez river, the Valles Caldera, Jemez Falls and San Ysidro to take part in a paint out sponsored by the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico (PAPNM).
The pieces made during the six days will be on exhibit at the Jemez Fine Art Gallery through May 7.
Wendy Ahlm paints using oils at Ponderosa Winery. (Courtesy of Plein Air Painters of New Mexico)
The High Road to Taos
This byway runs through and alongside many natural and cultural treasures, such as the Jemez Mountains and the sacred community of the Santuario de Chimayo. The drive provides roughly 2 ½ hours of pure natural beauty, ancient history, and rich culture. During your journey you may want to check out the El Posito, a hole in the Santuario de Chimayo, believed to have healing earth inside it. For those drawn to scenic beauty, we invite you to pull over to the side of the road and smell the abundant blue flax of June and July or the purple aster of August and September. The route ends in the Saint Francis Plaza of Rancheros de Taos, made famous by the paintings of Georgia O’ Keeffe.