Prelude: Valles Caldera South Rim--Rabbit Mountain, Paso del Norte, and Peralta Pass

Seasons and Sights Seen Along Valles Caldera South Rim

Summer

Overview of Paso del Norte-Peralta Pass Area from Valle Grande

Taken from Valle Grande Staging Area, looking toward NM-4, this is the south rim, going west (right) from Rabbit Mountain along the Paso del Norte-Peralta Pass area of the Valles Caldera rim. Note how much lower in elevation the Paso del Norte-Peralta Pass portion is. It’s a steep way down from Rabbit Mountain to continue west along the rim. A possible route, on VCNP property, leads down a logged, windswept, southwestern arm of Rabbit Mountain and would let you out exactly at Paso del Norte at the cattle guard on Paso del Norte Road, Forest Road 268. The Valles Caldera rim then goes uphill on a single track motorbike trail to Peralta Pass.

I didn’t yet own a camera when we explored the south rim from Paso del Norte to Peralta Pass so this photo is only a prelude to that area. On the Valles Caldera Rim Trail blog's index of trip reports from 2005 into 2009, there are more photos and information on this area.


Special thanks to Donald and Dorothy Hoard for their encouragement and help on this project.