Valley of Fires New Mexico

September 2nd - 13th, 2023

Beautiful Valley

The temperature was warm to temperate this time of year. There are often afternoon thunderstorms which produce strong winds across the valley. The highest temperature was 93, but cooled off significantly by the 11th. The high on the 12th was only 71 degrees and very humid at 73% because of the thunderstorms the night before.

The campsite is easily accessible directly off a fairly level highway and an hour from I-25. It also features running water, showers, a dump station, and even a book store and information kiosk.

Campsites

The sites are all very well kept and the camp host Daniel is very attentive and friendly. There is running water and 50AMP electric at some sites. There is steady traffic coming to hike the very nice trail through the lava fields.

Notes:

• Shopping close - Only 4 miles away is a Family Dollar store, 2 gas stations, and a few restaurants.
• Great cell service with ATT at least. Data coverage is great. Full bars LTE.
• Absolutely no TV stations.
• Ruidoso and ski resorts are only 40 min drive up the hill. Great base camp for winter activities.
• There are lots of tarantulas this time of year. I saw two and had to turn the last on away from staying with us at our campsite.
• Diverse flying insects - They come in waves. Sometimes flies, then elm beetles, mantis, moths, and the most annoying little gnats that love to hang out around your eyelids and ears. The gnats did not come in huge droves, and some backlit fly tape sucked them right up. The flies on the other hand have learned about fly tape here and will hang out on your windows waiting to be released outside again.

Most of the Campsites face north/south so you will get a great view of the sunsets and sunrises

Here is the brochure for the self guided trail.

Side One

Side Two

Radiation Normal

The Trinity Site is only 20 miles southwest of the campground. Many people think this areas should be avoided due to radiation exposure. I measure less background radiation here than in Albuquerque by about half. Apparently the only place still somewhat radioactive is ground zero and behind a fenced area.

Back in the day many in this area got sick from the fallout, but now it is somewhat all dormant. Just like Hiroshima and Nagasaki where ground zero has been paved over, it poses little direct threat now that the radiation has dispersed to everyone in the world.