| Chicoma Mountain | |
|---|---|
 From Los Alamos | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 11,561 ft (3,524 m) NAVD 88[1] |
| Prominence | 4,281 ft (1,305 m)[2] |
| Coordinates | 36°00′26″N106°23′04″W / 36.007336917°N 106.384551269°W /36.007336917; -106.384551269[1] |
| Geography | |
  Chicoma Mountain Location of Chicoma Mountain in New Mexico | |
| Location | Rio Arriba County,New Mexico, U.S. |
| Parent range | Jemez Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Polvadera Peak |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Chicoma Mountain (/tʃɪˈkoʊmə/; also spelled Tschicoma or Tchicoma) is the highest point in theJemez Mountains, a prominent mountain range in theU.S. State ofNew Mexico. Thetree line in this area is exceptionally high, and the mountain is forested almost all the way to its summit which is conspicuous from the towns ofLos Alamos,Santa Fe, andEspañola and other areas in the valley of theRio Grande in northern New Mexico. Like the rest of the Jemez, it is ofvolcanic origin; it lies on the northeast rim of theValles Caldera, one of the best examples of acaldera in the United States.
The mountain is sacred to many of thePuebloan peoples of New Mexico, who traditionally regarded it as the "center of all." Much of it lies within the territory of theSanta Clara Pueblo. Access by hikers, hunters, and others, is correspondingly limited, although the summit can be reached via public lands on the north side. ThePuye Cliff Dwellings in Santa Clara Canyon are an archaeological site of some significance; however, the cliff dwellings are not near Chicoma. Puye Cliff Dwellings are accessible via NM 30 to NM 5, about 30 minutes south of Chicoma Mountain. The site is located on the pueblo's land on the east side of the mountain, and are sometimes open to the public for a fee.
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