We decided to take a different route home from Colorado this trip. We took Hwys 550 to 126 to 502. The route was very scenic and gave us a fresh look at this rugged and beautiful part of the country.
We camped at the Jemez Falls campground. With Los Alamos only 12 miles away, we decided to make a quick run into town. Those 12 miles became longer and longer as we snaked down the mountain. We followed the GPS directions, taking the shortest route by turning from Hwy 4 onto Hwy 501.
Before we knew it, we found ourselves at a government security checkpoint! A bit shaken, I rolled down the window. A rather intimidating guard asked where we were going. I told him that we just wanted a few groceries, and that I had obviously taken the wrong road. Could I just turn around?
Obviously, I was not the first to have made the mistake. The guard was so kind, even trying to hide his smile at my frightened look. He followed regulations, which required seeing our identifications, and informing us that we were on government property. Who knew? He also gave us explicit directions to the grocery store and told us that we were not allowed to take photos while in the compound.
We traveled through several miles of fenced properties with LOTS of security around. Los Alamos itself was almost too crisp and clean, adding to the spooky feeling we had. Needless to say, we took the long way along Hwy 4 back to camp... and learned a valuable lesson... don't take Hwy 501 into Los Alamos!
The good news is that we discovered some breathtaking scenery, a wonderful campground, and the Valles Caldera National Preserve along Hwy 4. The Preserve is grazed by New Mexico's largest elk herd, numbering around 8,000. Although we were too early for the elk migration, it is definitely an area to return to... just not through Los Alamos!
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