Cabezon

CABEZON & THE RIO PUERCO VALLEY

You'll think you're in the middle of an old western movie set out here, as this is High Desert scenery at its best. We'll drive by Mesa San Luis on the way to Cabezon (Big Head), which dominates the landscape as this ancient volcanic plug rises 1,400 feet off the desert floor. There are dozens of these towering volcanic plugs (the Spanish called them Cerros) up and down the Rio Puerco Valley and we'll see several of them on this trip, including Cerro Cuate (Twin Neck), Cerro de Guadelupe, Cerro Cochino (Hog Neck) and Cerro Parido (Bald Neck). Jutting out into the desert like a green island is Mesa Chivato, which towers over a thousand feet above us. At the northern end of this mesa we'll see the massive rock formation named Boca del Oso (Bear Mouth) by the Spanish. In the spring and fall we can drive to the top of Mesa Chivato, which is covered with a lush, green forest.

Millions of years ago this valley was under an inland sea and we have found fossilized sea shells here (sorry, we can't keep them). We'll also stop by an old ghost town in the Rio Puerco Valley. The views are spectacular everywhere we go on this trip and we'll make lots of stops for the photographers so don't forget your camera!

Advisory: This area is pure wilderness and there are no restrooms or facilities of any kind once we turn off the main highway.

Best time: Year round - but it's especially beautiful in June when we'll see hundreds of Cholla Cactus in bloom.

Price: $75.00 per adult

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RIO PUERCO VALLEY