Framedlight

We left the red rock area of Wawatowa and followed the Jemez River north towards our campsite. On the side of the road we spotted an interesting rock formation which turned out to be a soda spring, where hot spring water has formed a calcium carbonate and travertine bridge over the river. The spring is heated by volcanic magma underneath the Valles Caldera which we were to visit the next morning. There is evidence that humans lived in caves around here as early as 2,500BC. There were many hot springs in this area but unfortunately the building of the highway in the 60's involved blasting and changed the course of the water so that a number of the springs have stopped flowing entirely. We arrived at our camping site at Jemez Falls late afternoon. These State, National and Forestry Park sites in the US are absolutely beautiful and the reason why I wanted to to rent a camper van. There are large pitches underneath the trees, often with your own picnic bench and barbecue provided. As i...