Jemez Falls

Jemez Falls drops 70 feet over a basalt cliff into a mist-filled grotto on the East Fork of the Jemez River, making it the tallest waterfall in the Jemez Mountains and one of the most impressive in New Mexico. The falls are framed by towering ponderosa pines and Douglas firs, with the volcanic rock stained dark by mineral deposits and draped in moss where the spray reaches. The cool, shaded canyon feels worlds apart from the arid landscapes that dominate most of the state.

The trail is a gentle quarter-mile walk from the Jemez Falls Campground through old-growth forest to a viewing platform above the falls. A steeper spur trail descends to the base of the falls for a closer encounter with the spray and the pool below. The campground itself is a scenic destination, with sites nestled among massive ponderosas along the river.

Spring snowmelt from April through June produces the most dramatic water flow, though the falls run year-round from the river's consistent mountain sources. The Jemez Mountains offer a wealth of nearby attractions including Valles Caldera National Preserve, Soda Dam, and the Jemez Hot Springs. The drive from Albuquerque through the Jemez Valley is one of New Mexico's most scenic.