Valles Caldera National Preserve
Hours
Open daily · 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Entrance Fee
$25.00
Entrance - Private Vehicle
Trailie
Build your Valles Caldera itinerary
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Valles Caldera at a glance
- Best time
- March–May, October–November
- Trip length
- 3–5 days
- Don't miss
- Hike the Valle Grande Exploration Trail
- Nearby city
- Jemez Springs, NM
Explore this park
Alerts(2)
Backcountry route open to vehicles May 15 - November 15
NPS detailsValles 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.
Trail closure for pipeline restoration project
NPS detailsThe 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.
Common questions
Planning Valles Caldera National Preserve
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts and Permits for live updates.
Valles Caldera uses timed entry for Valles Caldera National Preserve Backcountry Vehicle Timed Entry. TrailVerse lists 1 reservation type on the Permits tab, including Valles Caldera National Preserve Backcountry Vehicle Timed Entry. Recreation.gov listings can change seasonally — confirm current rules before you set dates.
