Stop 5: Jaramillo Creek

Valle Jaramillo and Cerro Abrigo

NPS/Victoria Prieto Ruarte

Quick Facts

Amenities

2 listed

Parking - Auto, Scenic View/Photo Spot

Jaramillo Creek was first seen on the map in 1892 as “Arroyo Jaramillo.” Arroyo is Spanish for "dry stream”—a stream that is dry at times, and flowing at others. 

There are two likely sources for this name. Jaramillo was a very common name among Spanish settlers. During the second Spanish conquest of Northern New Mexico, led by Don Diego Vargas in the 18th century, we find our first records of Spanish families with the last name Jaramillo settling in present-day Bernalillo County. 

You might be wondering why this last name is prevalent in the Caldera, and while we don’t have any specific records tying one of these Spanish families to this landscape, the origin of the surname Jaramillo gives us a bigger clue as to why we have a Valle Jaramillo and Jaramillo Creek at Valles Caldera. 

Jaramillo is a toponymic name. Toponymic means that it is derived from a geographical feature or place. In this case, Jaramillo means “of the Jaramago Tree” in Spanish. Jaramago is the common name for a type of wild mustard or hedge mustard plant. At Valles Caldera, we have the Western Tansy Mustard plant, which can be found in this valley. While we cannot assume the name was derived from the plant, we can speculate that the valley you are looking at was called the “Valley of Wild Mustard” by some of the first private owners or Spanish settlers. Now let’s see if you can spot one of these bright yellow flowers in the meadow!  

Similarly, the lava dome to your left is called Cerro Piñon, translating to “Piñon Pine Hill” in Spanish.