Vallecitos meadow reminds me of many meadows that I've visited during my travels to California's Sierra Nevada mountains, as its filled with green meadow grass, surrounded by granite boulders and Jeffrey pine trees, and as you sit in the meadow, you can hear the call of birds, and watch squirrels scamper in the trees.  The main road, that goes from the park entrance to the observatory cuts through the middle of the meadow, and secondary roads take the visitor to La Tasajera, Mirador El Altar, or La Botella Azul.  The road to Venado Blanco is now closed to motorized traffic, as its signed for hikers only.  At nearly 8000 feet in elevation, Vallecitos meadow is cool, even during the hot dry summers, and receives ample snow fall during the winter.

Photo:  Looking to the west, down into beautiful Vallecitos meadow.  That's the main road to the observatory that winds through the middle of the meadow.

Photo:  The primitive campground is located at the east end of the meadow.  Does this scenery look like the scenery that you'd expect to see in Baja California?

The major differences that I noted between Vallecitos meadow and a typical Sierra meadow is that Vallecitos doesn't have a stream meandering through it, like many of the Sierra meadows do, and that cattle grazing is allowed.  I asked a ranger why cattle grazing is allowed in a national park, and he told me that the rancher held grazing rights before the park was created, back in 1974, so until he retires, dies or moves, he may graze his cattle. However the use of the land is carefully monitored by the National Park Service of Mexico, and the environmental impact is reevaluated annually.  Primitive camping is allowed near the east end of the meadow.

Photo:  The four wheel drive trail that leads to La Tasajera is marked by a primitive sign.

The "secondary roads" that lead to La Tasajera and the other destinations shouldn't really be considered roads, as they're four wheel drive trails that should only be driven by experienced drivers, in seriously modified four drive rigs, in the company of a buddy or two.  I have been four wheeling many years, and I'm quite aware of some of the pitfalls that can befall a four wheeler, so unless I had a highly-modified rig and a buddy or two with me, I think I'd park my rig before the going got really rough and hike the remainder of the trail to La Tasajera meadow, and its sparkling pools and trout stream.

Photo:  Sorry four wheelers, the train to Venado Blanco is closed, but if you're a back packer, you can hike there.

Photo:  Beautiful Vallecitos meadow during a late afternoon thunderstorm.  This view reminds me of Sample Meadows, in the Sierra Nevada, in Fresno County.

Vallecitos meadow vaguely reminds me of what Monache Meadows, in the southern Sierra Nevada, was like before the sheepherders destroyed the meadow grass, as its not really spectacular, just a pretty place to relax, hike, and four wheel if you're well equipped.  Some day when I get that Jeep Rubicon that I've drooled over for the last several years, I'm going to get a small group together and explore that area the way in the style that I really love!

 

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