National Scenic Byway · New Mexico

Jemez Mountain Trail

Through the Jemez Mountains from Los Alamos past Valles Caldera, Jemez Springs and Jemez Pueblo, with two branches west to Cuba.

Also known as Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway

Jemez Mountain Trail: Cabezon Peak

Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source

  • Length163 miles[1]
  • Drive timeAbout three hours to drive, or a full day to see the whole byway[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
  • RoadsNM-4, NM-126 and US-550[2]
  • Start and endLos Alamos west on NM-4 to La Cueva, then on to Cuba either by NM-126 or by NM-4 south to San Ysidro and US-550 north[2]
  • Fees and passesThere may be area-use or special attraction fees along the byway.[1]
  • Best seasonYear-round: spring and summer, autumn for yellow aspens, and winter for snowy mountains[4]Summer is the busiest time.
  • SurfacePaved except a stretch of about 10 miles on NM-126 west of La Cueva[2]
  • Vehicle notesThe unpaved part of NM-126 through the Santa Fe National Forest is passable only when weather permits and your vehicle can manage it.[2]
  • Seasonal closuresMost roads are cleared after snowfall, but unpaved NM-126 is generally closed in winter.[4]

Before you go

Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.

About the drive

The Jemez Mountain Trail runs west from Los Alamos on NM-4 past Valles Caldera National Preserve to La Cueva, where it splits. One branch follows NM-126 past Fenton Lake to Cuba; the other drops down NM-4 through Jemez Springs and past Jemez Pueblo to San Ysidro, then follows US-550 north to Cuba.

The canyon stretch is the heart of it: high volcanic cliffs over the Jemez River, Battleship Rock, the mineral dome of Soda Dam and the pools of Spence Hot Springs. Bandelier National Monument and the Gilman Tunnels are short side trips.

Part of NM-126 west of La Cueva is unpaved, so take it only in good weather and with a suitable vehicle. Allow about three hours to drive, or a full day to see the whole route.

Stops along the way

  1. Los Alamos

    Town at the east end of the NM-4 section.

    Official information · 35.88809, -106.30698

  2. Valles Caldera National Preserve

    Wide expanse of mountain meadow and forest.

    Official information · 35.91509, -106.5105

  3. Battleship Rock

    Rock formation FHWA lists among the byway's sights.

    Official information · 35.82853, -106.64096

  4. Soda Dam

    Dome-shaped mineral formation the river spills through.

    Official information · 35.79142, -106.68643

  5. Jemez Springs

    Small town under high volcanic cliffs along the Jemez River.

    Official information · 35.76864, -106.69227

  6. Jemez Pueblo

    Pueblo the byway passes on NM-4.

    Official information · 35.61392, -106.72588

  7. Cuba

    Gateway town against the Sierra Nacimiento.

    Official information · 36.02225, -106.95838

  8. Fenton Lake State Park

    Forest lake park on the NM-126 branch.

    Official information · 35.8829, -106.72759

Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

Food along the way

Farmers markets within about 25 miles

  • Jemez Springs Community Farmers' MarketJemez Springs, NM · about 0.0 mi from the route
  • San Felipe Farmers' MarketAlgodones, NM · about 19.7 mi from the route
  • Espanola Farmers MarketEspanola, NM · about 20.2 mi from the route

Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.

Food events nearby

Dated public events within about 50 miles, during the drive's best months, from our events calendar. Dates can change; confirm with the organizer.

In season during the best months to drive

The drive's best months are Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.

Keep exploring

Scenic drives nearby

More scenic drives in New Mexico

Food and farms in the area

Sources

  1. America's Byways: Jemez Mountain Trail (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
  2. Jemez Mountain Trail (Recreation.gov) (checked 2026-10-29)
  3. Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway (New Mexico Tourism Department) (checked 2026-10-29)
  4. Jemez Mountain Trail: Visitor Services (byways.org, FHWA National Scenic Byways Program) (archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
  5. Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-29.

Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).

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