Should this be a National Monument? - Exploring the Caja Del Rio

The Caja Del Rio Plateau, also known as the "Cerros Del Rio", is a hilly plateau west of the city of Santa Fe. Volcanic in nature, it is buttressed on almost all sides by high cliffs. To the north - Cañada Ancha and Diablo Canyon, to the northwest - the Rio Grande and White Rock Canyon, to the southwest - La Bajada, to the southeast - the Santa Fe River. The only access is from the east near either the Santa Fe Animal Shelter or the the Santa Fe County dump by the airport. "Caja" means "box", and I have not found any official history behind this name. I always assumed "box" referred to the box canyon formed by the Rio Grande as it flows through White Rock Canyon, hence the additional "Cerros Del Rio" name (to distinguish between the canyon itself and the plateau above it), but I have seen some suggest that "box" refers to the palisade cliffs that outline the plateau, but I view this to be unlikely. While the Pajarito Plateau across the Rio Grande is marked by deep dramatic tuff canyons, rock features and hoodoos, and layered volcanic peaks, the Caja Del Rio is more rolling hills and basaltic columns. Diablo Canyon, partially formed by the plateau's northern rim, is the most famous feature in this area, having been a set piece in many modern films and shows in the Western genre, such as Godless, 3:10 to Yuma, and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

From the Caja Del Rio Coalition website: "just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, within O’ga Pogeh and Cochiti Pueblo territories is a place of cosmic connection and cultural convergence: The Caja del Rio. From dramatic geologic features and diverse wildlife, to millennia-old petroglyphs and Pueblo cultural resources, to traditional Spanish land grant communities, to the original path of the modern day Route 66, the Caja del Rio plateau tells the story of human journey in this part of the world. This sacred plateau, situated between the Rio Grande and Santa Fe Rivers, connects us to the past, the future, each other, and ourselves. It’s a continuum of human journey within and alongside the natural world. It deserves our protection."

Other videos in the area:

   • Hiking Route 66 on La Bajada - A Historic ...  

   • Hidden Mountain Brewing Co. Without a Trac...  

   • Rowley Farmhouse Ales Germophile - Backcou...  

   • Gourmet Backcountry Picnic - Caja Del Rio ...  

Music by me - "Pleiades"