As of Thursday 30 June 12:00 noon Hwy 126 was closed to the public. This baricade is located about one mile west of Hwy 4. No traffic will be allowed past that point other than for official business and local residents.

All areas of the Santa Fe National Forest will be closed to the public.

No exceptions.

No camping, no fishing, no hiking, no picniking, no hot springing, no cliff jumping, no recreating anywhere within the Santa Fe National Forest.

This report is unconfirmed.

It has been confirmed that Fenton Lake State Park will close to the public tomorrow morning (30 June) at 8:00 AM.

The Fourth of July weekend is normally one our busiest of the year. This is the time of year that we (Amanda’s) make our money for the lean times of the winter season.

However….

 I am encouraging  visitors to stay away. Even though the Las Conchas fire has had very little direct effect on our part of the Jemez, the forest is just so dry and dangerous right now that your recreational opportunities are very limited.

The onlycamping opportunities are at the San Antonio Campground and Fenton Lake State Park. Unless you have a stove in an enclosed RV or trailer you will not be able to cook your food. There are very limited hiking, fishing, or hot spring opportunities.

If you do decide to come up, be sure you have a place to camp. Stop in to Amanda’s, buy some supplies, head to the lake, rent a boat and enjoy the day.

Bottom line is….there will better times this summer to enjoy the Jemez. We need some rain and we will get it. There is nothing finer than our afternoon showers that show up like clockwork and cool the temperature, dampen the earth, turn the forest green, nourish the wildflowers, freshen the air and lift the spirit.

You are important to us. You are our lifeblood. You are our friends. Come and see us when you can really enjoy this wonderful part of the world.

Las Conchas Wild Fire by Jennifer Sturgeon

Approximately 2:00PM this afternoon (Sun., Jun 26th) a wild fire erupted near the Las Conchas fishing access, Hwy. 4, milepost 36. Highway 4 from mile marker 35 to mile marker 42 is closed. The fire is moving east and growing rapidly.

Cochiti Mesa community is being evacuted. Type 1 fire crews are being deployed. Cause of fire from information gathered by JemezCentral.com appears to be from a downed power line.

Stay tuned for updated information as it becomes available.

Web Cam from Pajarito Mountain

Update 4:28pm:  The fire is at 100+ acres and jumping a half mile ahead.  The fire is on both sides of the road and headed southeast. Hwy 4 has been closed at mile marker 27.

Fenton Lake State Park will remain open for camping, picnicking, boating and fishing….for the time being.

Fenton Lake will continue to provide recreational opportunities for Jemez visitors. Those opportunities have otherwise been severely limited because of the Stage III fire restrictions within the National Forest.

The lake has been stocked with over 4,000 fish over the last couple of weeks, so fishing should be good. Be sure and check out Amanda’s boat rentals at the Fenton Lake boat ramp.

Stage III fire restrictions will go into effect  at 8:00 am Friday June 24, 2011.

Under Stage III fire restrictions, all areas of the Forest are restricted/off limits to all use and access unless specifically listed as open. Open areas will remain under Stage II fire restrictions.

There are still many recreational opportunities in the Jemez in spite of the Stage III closure. Exceptions to the restrictions are as follows:

Camping Opportunities….San Antionio Campground is open, as is Jemez Falls,Vista Linda and Fenton Lake State Park. No campfires, charcoal grills, propane or gas grills are allowed unless housed in an enclosed camper or trailer.

Picnicking Opportunities….Las Conchas, Jemez Falls, La Cueva and Spanish Queen Picnic areas are open. However…no campfires, charcoal grills, propane or gas grills or stoves are allowed.

Hiking opportunities….Jemez Falls Trail is open to hiking as is the trail to Spence Hot Springs. Both are short trails and your hike can not deviate from those specific trails.

Hot Spring Opportunities….the trail to Spence Hot springs and the hot spring  itself  is open. Access to any other Hot Spring in the Jemez is closed.

Cliff Jumping Opportunities….East Fork Trail 137 and the trail along river to access the cliff jumps is CLOSED. THERE ARE NO CLIFF JUMPING OPPORTUNITIES UNTIL THE FOREST LIFTS THE STAGE III RESTRICTIONS AND FOREST CLOSURE.

Fishing Opportunities….the San Antonio River from La Cueva Picnic south to Battleship Rock Picnic Area is open to fishing. The Jemez River from Battleship Rock south to La Junta Fishing Access is open to fishing. Fishing access is limited to 75ft either side of the river. The following fishing access parking areas are open: Dark Canyon, Rincon, The Bluffs, River’s Bend, San Diego, Las Casitas and La Junta. Fenton Lake and the Rio Cebolla within the Fenton Lake State Park are open to fishing.

Stage III Fire Restrictions

06/20/11 Fenton Lake…..2060 Rainbows
06/20/11 Jemez River…..1000 Rainbows
06/20/11 Kid’s Pond……..600 Rainbows

06/21/11 Rio Cebolla…….1220 Rainbows