Valles Caldera National Preserve
About 1.2 million years ago, a spectacular volcanic eruption created a 14-mile-wide circular depression in the earth now known as Valles Caldera. The preserve is known for its huge mountain meadows, abundant wildlife, and meandering streams. The area also preserves the homeland of ancestral native peoples and embraces a rich ranching history.
Alerts
- InformationNPS ↗Backcountry route open to vehicles May 15 - November 15
Valles Caldera's backcountry road system opens to vehicles on Friday, May 15, 2026. Forty vehicles passes will be issued per day through November 15, when the route closes for the 2026 season. Passes may be reserved up to 3 months in advance at Recreation.gov. Any remaining daily passes will be available on a first come, first served basis in the Volcano Discovery Center.
- InformationNPS ↗Trail closure for pipeline restoration project
The VC09/South Valle Toledo/Posos Trail from the Valle Toledo parking area to the eastern park boundary is closed for restoration. The NPS is working on a trail reroute and will provide details as soon as possible.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedGolondrino Rx
37 mi from the park's reference point
- WildfireFrijoles
38 mi from the park's reference point · 15,956 acres · 90% contained
Within 50 miles, as of 2026-10-14. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Check the park's alerts and the managing office before you drive.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private VehicleThe entrance fee for a private vehicle covers seven consecutive days of entrance to Valles Caldera National Preserve. | $25 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. | $20 | |
| Per PersonThe per-person entrance fee covers seven consecutive days of entrance to Valles Caldera National Preserve. | $15 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkBeginning January 1, 2025, visitors may purchase an annual park pass for Valles Caldera National Preserve. | $45 | |
Hours
| Valle Grande Main Entrance | Daily · 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Nov 26, 2026Thanksgiving Day | Closed |
| Dec 25, 2026Christmas Day | Closed |
| May 31 to Sep 6, 2027Summer Hours | 8:00AM - 6:00PM |
When to go
September draws the most visits here and February the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Volcano Discovery CenterPassport stamp
An interactive exhibit allows you to experience the caldera-forming eruption. Interpretive signs and viewing scopes allow further exploration. Park store offers clothing, gifts, books, and snacks. Accessible parking and ramp are at the building's rear entrance.
Explore
Things to do
- Horseback Riding in Valles Caldera
With Valles Caldera's rich ranching history, horses have been part of this landscape for over 100 years. Learn about how to participate in this legacy and ride your horse at Valles Caldera National Preserve today.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hunting in Valles Caldera
Valles Caldera National Preserve is one of New Mexico's premier elk hunting locations. Between 2,500 and 3,000 elk occupy the preserve for breeding, calving and foraging.
Opens on the Park Service site - Take a Self-Guided Tour of the Cabin District30-60 Minutes
This self-guided audio tour walks through a day in the life of a seasonal worker at the Baca Ranch in the 20th century.
Opens on the Park Service site - Bike the Valle Grande Loop3-5 Hours
This bike route loops around Valle Grande, providing spectacular views along the entire route.
Opens on the Park Service site - Take a Scenic Drive through Valle Grande30-90 Minutes
The Valles Caldera Entrance Road is a scenic, four-mile-long gravel road through the heart of Valle Grande. This drive offers outstanding wildlife viewing opportunities, volcanic vistas, and several places to get out and explore on foot.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike the Valle Grande Exploration Trail30-60 Minutes
The Valle Grande Exploration Trail (formerly known as the Pond Trail) is a gentle, 0.8-mile round-trip hike to a pond in the heart of Valle Grande. It takes approximately 1 hour to complete. Pets are not permitted.
Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 12Hide
- Hike the South Valle Grande Trail1-2 Hours
The South Valle Grande Trail is a 2-mile round-trip hike that descends to the edge of Valle Grande, offering excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. The hike takes 1-2 hours. Leashed pets are permitted.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike the South Mountain Trail3-4 Hours
The South Mountain Trail is an 8.2-mile round-trip hike that climbs to the summit of South Mountain. The hike takes 4-5 hours to complete. Pets are not permitted.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike the Rabbit Ridge Trail1-2 Hours
The Rabbit Ridge Trail is a 2.4-mile round-trip hike that climbs to the south rim of Valles Caldera. It takes 1-2 hours to complete. Pets are not permitted.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike the Rabbit Mountain Loop1-2 Hours
The Rabbit Mountain Loop (2.9 miles, 4.7 km round-trip), formerly known as the Coyote Call Trail, contours along the southern rim of the caldera, offering great views of Valle Grande and Redondo Peak. The loop takes 1-2 hours.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike the Cabin District Interpretive Trail30-60 Minutes
The Cabin District Interpretive Trail is a gentle, 0.6-mile round-trip route through the historic ranch headquarters for Baca Land & Cattle Company. It takes 30-60 minutes to complete. Leashed pets are welcome.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike the Jemez River Trail2-3 Hours
The Jemez River Trail (formerly Hidden Valley Trail) is a 3.4-mile round-trip hike into a picturesque canyon along the East Fork Jemez River. The hike takes 1-2 hours. Pets are not permitted.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Webcams
Camera images load live from the National Park Service and partner agencies
Events
- The Valles Caldera Eruption Experience10/1409:30 AM · runs through Dec 31 · freeThis experience takes place at the Volcano Discovery Center, located in the Cabin District approximately 4 miles into the park…
- Bio-sonification Plant Meditation10/1502:00 PM · runs through Apr 15 · freeMeet at the Volcano Discovery Center.
- Caldera Reverie: Artistic Visions from a Volcanic Landscape10/1611:00 AM · runs through Oct 29 · freeThe Jemez Fine Art Gallery is located at 17346 NM-4, Jemez Springs, NM 87025.
- Caldera Reverie Opening Reception10/1701:00 PM · freeJemez Fine Art is located at 17346 Highway 4, Jemez Springs, NM 87025.
- Instant Film Photography Program10/1810:00 AM · free · registration requiredThis program begins at the Volcano Discovery Center, located in the Cabin District approximately 4 miles down the park road from…
- Wildlife Photography10/2109:00 AM · freeMeet at the Volcano Discovery Center.
News
- National Park Service’s Pueblo Parks Group Implements Stage II Fire Restrictions ↗2026-06-25
The Pueblo Parks Group will implement Stage II fire restrictions on June 25, 2026, due to heightened wildfire danger across Bandelier, Fort Union, Pecos, and Valles Caldera.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Forest Service trails nearby
These trails are outside the park on National Forest land, within 15 miles of Valles Caldera. Each one opens on Trailhead Atlas.
Distance is measured from the park's reference point to the nearer end of the trail.
Guidebooks for Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico's national parks and the Southwest
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Hiking Trails in Valles Caldera National Preserve, Revised EditionCoco Rae and Tom Ribe, 2022Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthCoyote 9× · American Black Bear 5× · American Badger 2× · Bobcat 2× · Golden Eagle 1× · Great Horned Owl 1× · Gray Fox 1×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 103 birds, 69 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Cooper's Hawk · Flammulated Owl · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Long-eared Owl · Northern Harrier · Northern Pygmy-Owl · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Osprey · Peregrine Falcon · Red-tailed Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Swainson's Hawk · Turkey Vulture · Western Screech Owl · Zone-tailed Hawk
Waterfowl & wadersBlue-winged Teal · Great Blue Heron · Green-winged Teal · Pied-billed Grebe
Shorebirds & seabirdsCommon Snipe · Killdeer · Spotted Sandpiper · Wilson's Snipe
Gamebirds & dovesBand-tailed Pigeon · Blue Grouse · Mourning Dove · Wild Turkey
WoodpeckersDowny Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Lewis's Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Red-naped Sapsucker · Williamson's Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsBroad-tailed Hummingbird · White-throated Swift
Also on the checklistAmerican Crow · American Robin · Belted Kingfisher · Black-billed Magpie · Black-headed Grosbeak · Brewer's Blackbird · Brown Creeper · Brown-headed Cowbird · Cassin's Finch · Chipping Sparrow · Clark's Nutcracker · Common Nighthawk · Common Raven · Cordilleran Flycatcher · Dark-eyed Junco · Dusky Flycatcher · Eastern Meadowlark · European Starling · Evening Grosbeak · Gadwall · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Grace's Warbler · Green-tailed Towhee · Hammond's Flycatcher · Hermit Thrush · Horned Lark · House Wren · Lark Sparrow · Lazuli Bunting · Lesser Goldfinch · MacGillivray's Warbler · Mallard · Mountain Bluebird · Mountain Chickadee · Northern Goshawk · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Orange-crowned Warbler · Pine Grosbeak · Pine Siskin · Pinyon Jay · Plumbeous Vireo · Pygmy Nuthatch · Red Crossbill · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-winged Blackbird · Rock Wren · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Savannah Sparrow · Say's Phoebe · Spotted Towhee · Steller's Jay · Townsend's Solitaire · Tree Swallow · Vesper Sparrow · Violet-green Swallow · Virginia's Warbler · Warbling Vireo · Western Bluebird · Western Flycatcher · Western Meadowlark · Western Tanager · Western Wood-Pewee · White-breasted Nuthatch · Yellow-headed blackbird · Yellow-rumped Warbler
Small mammalsAbert's squirrel · American beaver · American porcupine · Black-tailed jackrabbit · Botta's pocket gopher · Brush mouse · Bushy-tailed woodrat · Colorado chipmunk · Deer mouse · Dwarf shrew · Goat Mountain pika · Golden-mantled ground squirrel · Gunnison's prairie dog · Heather vole · Least chipmunk · Long-tailed vole · Masked shrew · Merriam's shrew · Mexican woodrat · Montane harvest mouse · Montane shrew · Montane vole · Muskrat · New Mexico meadow jumping mouse · Nuttall's cottontail rabbit · Pinyon mouse · Preble's shrew · Red squirrel · Red-backed vole · Rock mouse · Rock squirrel · Valley pocket gopher · Water shrew · Western jumping mouse · White-throated woodrat · Yellow-bellied marmot
PredatorsAmerican badger · American black bear · Bobcat · Coyote · Ermine · Gray fox · Long-tailed weasel · Mountain lion · Pine marten · Raccoon · Red fox · Ringtail · Spotted skunk · Striped skunk
Hoofed mammalsMule deer · elk
BatsAllen's big-eared bat · Big brown bat · Big free-tailed bat · Brasilian free-tailed bat · California myotis · Fringed myotis · Hoary bat · Little brown myotis · Long-eared myotis · Long-legged myotis · Silver-haired bat · Small-footed myotis · Southwestern myotis · Spotted bat · Townsend's big-eared bat · Western pipistrelle · Yuma myotis
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Fishing in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Horseback riding in the national parks · Skiing in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
Each season offers a different experience: lush springs, moderate summers, golden falls, and snowy winters. Average temperatures are 22°F (-6 C) in January and 60°F (16 C) in July. Temperature extremes range from a high of 84°F (29 C) in summer to -30°F (-34C) in winter. Precipitation is heavier during summer monsoon rains (thunderstorms) in July and August and winter snowstorms in December through March. Higher elevation lends to much cooler temperatures than nearby Albuquerque.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Valles Caldera?
Entrance is $25 per private vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bike. The entrance fee for a private vehicle covers seven consecutive days of entrance to Valles Caldera National Preserve.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Valles Caldera?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Valles Caldera-only annual pass is $45.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Valles Caldera takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Valles Caldera free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Valles Caldera?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Valles Caldera. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Valles Caldera?
Standard hours are 9:00AM - 5:00PM, every day. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at Valles Caldera right now?
2 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Backcountry route open to vehicles May 15 - November 15; Trail closure for pipeline restoration project.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Valles Caldera?
84,952 recreation visits in 2025, number 232 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is Valles Caldera good for stargazing?
Yes. Valles Caldera is a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: Dark sky parks
What is the weather like at Valles Caldera?
Each season offers a different experience: lush springs, moderate summers, golden falls, and snowy winters. Average temperatures are 22°F (-6 C) in January and 60°F (16 C) in July.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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