Cerro Grande (New Mexico) Explained

Cerro Grande
Elevation Ft:10207
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence Ft:660
Prominence Ref:[2]
Range:Jemez Mountains
Location:Sandoval County, New Mexico
Map:New Mexico
Map Size:192
Coordinates:35.8694°N -106.4128°W
Topo:Bland
Easiest Route:Trail hike

Cerro Grande is a 10207feet summit[1] on the rim of the Valles Caldera not far north of New Mexico State Road 4, the main highway through Los Alamos County. Like many mountains in the Jemez, Cerro Grande was mainly covered with coniferous forest, composed largely of ponderosa pine and aspen trees,[3] with a characteristic rincon (meadow) on its slopes on and south of the summit.

In May 2000, a prescribed burn on Cerro Grande got out of control and became the Cerro Grande Fire, a forest fire that burned 48,000 acres (190 km²) and destroyed hundreds of homes.[4] Much of the forest on Cerro Grande itself was not damaged badly or at all.[5] However, the whole mountain burned severely in the Las Conchas Fire of 2011.[6]

The summit can be reached by a short hike [{{convert|2.3|mi||sp=us}} each way, with an elevation change of {{convert|1200|ft||sp=us}}] from a trailhead along State Road 4. From the summit, one can see into Valle Grande to the west and into upper Frijoles Canyon to the south.[3]

Notes and References

  1. FO1677 . Grande . 2011-03-11.
  2. 25551 . Cerro Grande, New Mexico . 2011-03-11.
  3. Web site: Cerro Grande Route . Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico . U.S. National Park Service . 21 March 2022 . 12 July 2020.
  4. Web site: Fire Management: Lessons Learned From the Cerro Grande (Los Alamos) Fire and Actions Needed to Reduce Fire Risks . Barry T. . Hill . United States General Accounting Office . 2000-08-14 . 2011-03-06. Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, Committee on Resources, U.S. House of Representatives. Report Number GAO/T-RCED-00-273
  5. Book: Northern New Mexico Group of the Sierra Club . 2012 . Day Hikes in the Santa Fe Area . Cerro Grande . 171–174 . 978-0-9616458-5-4.
  6. Web site: Los Alamos National Labs & Radiation in New Mexico . Cultural Energy . 2011. Click on the "multi image composite map" to see Cerro Grande within the burned area.