Valles Caldera National Preserve is one of the most amazing places on earth and is worth a drive across the country to check out. It is a collapsed super-volcano that exploded around 1.2 million years ago and is featured in Wandering in the Clear Light of New Mexico, 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Albuquerque, and in this recent brief article in the Albuquerque Journal. One look at it will take your breath away.

Valle Grande at Valles Caldera

Because of the books and article, I have been to the Preserve many times and have explored much of its backcountry. But there was one remote corner on the western edge of the Preserve that I had not explored – Sulphur Springs. Up until 2020, Sulphur Springs was part of a small privately-owned 40-acre in-holding.

When I last stopped by the Caldera visitor center a few weeks ago, I noticed that the Park Service has recently established a trailhead, at the end of an old Forest Service road to provide easy access to Sulphur Springs. Since Sulphur Springs is in the Preserve’s backcountry and off-limits to dogs, I had to wait until I got back to the area without my dogs.

I finally got back last week to do a quick reconnaissance excursion and didn’t even think to bring my camera. Fortunately, I did have my phone to take some pictures because what I ran into was amazing. Continue Reading →