New Mexico · Hiking · Near Santo Domingo Pueblo

Birding By Car Stop 4

Birding By Car Stop 4Photo: NPS/Corey Lycopolus
Loop
route
May–Jun, Sep
best months

Is Birding By Car Stop 4 open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Valles Caldera National Preserve.

As of · Source: NPS · Valles Caldera National Preserve. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

At the entrance station, we are surrounded by montane grasslands. Across the road is a small, forested lava dome called Cerro La Jara. If you're looking for a short hike with lots of wildlife watching opportunities, there's a wonderful 1.4-mile loop trail around the lava dome. In the summer, these grasslands explode with wildflowers of all types. In the winter, they get covered up by several feet of snow. Watch for these bird species at this location: • Winter: Mountain bluebird • Spring: Barn swallow • Summer: American kestrel • Fall: American crow En la estación de entrada, nos rodean praderas montañosas. Al otro lado de la carretera hay un pequeño domo de lava boscoso llamado Cerro La Jara. Si busca una caminata corta con muchas oportunidades para observar la vida silvestre, hay un maravilloso sendero circular de 1.4 millas alrededor del domo de lava. En verano, estas praderas se llenan de flores silvestres de todo tipo. En invierno, quedan cubiertas por varios metros de nieve. Busque estas especies de aves en este lugar: • Invierno: Azulejo Claro • Primavera: Golondrina Común • Verano: Cernícalo Americano • Otoño: Cuervo Americano

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Camp May

    Campground

    Campground · 6.0 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Pig + Fig

    Restaurant

    Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Santo Domingo Pueblo

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Birding By Car Stop 4

    Best months: May–June and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      36° / 9°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 12°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      44° / 20°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      52° / 25°

      8 wet

    5. May

      62° / 32°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 39°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 45°

      15 wet

    8. Aug

      71° / 43°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 35°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 26°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      45° / 17°

      6 wet

    12. Dec

      36° / 9°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Los Alamos 13 W, NM, 1.7 mi away at 8,716 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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