by Zuni Kid & Enabler

This vast area recently became an official Wilderness Area. Within the boundaries are a myriad of places and things to see, geological and cultural. The Ancients, Spanish settlers and later on cowboys etched Petroglyphs in patinated stone. Enjoy the amazing rock formations in the form of hoodoo’s and abundant colored cliffs. There are hog-back ridges adjacent to ancient hot springs long since extinct.

Some cold water mineral springs still bubble as reminders of past days of splendor. If you have ever been to Yellowstone you will recognize the former hot springs by the calcite and calcium carbonate deposits.

If the kids are into dinosaurs, there is plenty of evidence around. Look for gizzard stones, those rounded polished, often colorful, stones that once aided in the breakdown of plant material can be found throughout the Ojito.

Volcanism is evident all around. In fact volcanic plugs and dikes dominate the Rio Puerco valley. Some such as Cabezon Peak, AKA Vulcan’s Throne rival Devils Tower in Wyoming.

There are a couple of difficult caches in the Cabezon Peak area, one not logged yet and another with no logs in more than a year. The latter is not difficult and in some really neato country.

Vulcans Throne is quite difficult for those not in good shape and willing to negotiate some iffy terrain. I have not logged this one and probably never will.

The Ojito area is easily accessible for the most part in 2WD except in wet weather.

There are essentially two distinct areas of interest to cachers, use these caches as searching points for this beautiful area:

#1 Visit GCHWW1 on geocaching.com for directions. An exercise in searching. You will find many fun caches in this area.

#2 Much further up the highway toward Cuba. Visit: GC59FF on geocaching.com for directions.

Another area later. It has millions of caches of all types.