Valles Caldera National Preserve

Valles Caldera National Preserve About 1.2 million years ago, a cataclysmic volcanic eruption caused the earth's surface to collapse, forming the 14-mile-wide Valles Caldera.
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Today, the National Park Service preserves this fascinating New Mexico landscape and shares its story. Page Expectations and Guidelines:

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At Valles Caldera Fall Fiesta, the daily theme on Sunday, September 27, is Cultural Continuity. Join us at Valles Calder...
09/10/2026

At Valles Caldera Fall Fiesta, the daily theme on Sunday, September 27, is Cultural Continuity. Join us at Valles Caldera National Preserve for a splendid lineup of cultural demonstrators, tribal artisans, guest speakers, and fun activities for the entire family!

11:00 am Artisan Village opens - 15+ vendors from local Tribes and Pueblos
11:00 am Cultural Demonstration by Marcus Moquino, Kewa Pueblo
12:00 pm Music in the Valle ft. Carma and Joey Fettucine
1:00 pm Kha’po Oweenge and our Bridge to Valles Caldera, a presentation by Walter Dasheno of Santa Clara Pueblo
1:30 pm Music in the Valle ft. Burn the Disco and Mii Casa
2:00 pm Traditional Pueblo of Jemez Dance by Cloud Eagle
3:00 pm Hoop Dancing Workshop with Ben Shendo, Pueblo of Jemez and Cochiti
3:00 pm Music in the Valle ft. girlwizard and KyletheLord
4:00 pm Artisan Village closes
5:00-8:00 pm Valle Grande After Hours

Learn more about Valles Caldera Fall Fiesta, including the daily event schedule, on our website!

Photo description: A traditional Pueblo dancer in Valle Grande. (NPS/Corey Lycopolus)

Celebrate National Public Lands Day at Valles Caldera Fall Fiesta on Saturday, September 26!9:30 am National Public Land...
09/09/2026

Celebrate National Public Lands Day at Valles Caldera Fall Fiesta on Saturday, September 26!

9:30 am National Public Lands Day Volunteer Activity (Registration Required)

11:00 am Fall Fiesta booths open - Chat with representatives from New Mexico Trout, Santa Fe Stargazers, Los Amigos de Valles Caldera, Los Alamos County, and more!

11:00 am Ranger-Led Mindfulness Yoga 🧘🌋

12:00 pm Music in the Valle ft. Homie Avocado and PreacHer

1:00 pm Valles Caldera's Excellence in Volunteerism Award Ceremony

1:30 pm Music in the Valle ft. CR8 and Bass Queens

2:00 pm Ranger Program: Parkitecture

3:00 pm Music in the Valle ft. DNDY and Fission Project

4:00 pm Fall Fiesta booths close

5:00-8:00 pm Valle Grande After Hours

Learn more about Valles Caldera Fall Fiesta, including the daily schedule of events, by visiting our website!

Image description: A silhouette of a park ranger filled in with symbols representing National Parks across the country. (NPS)

This year, each day of Valles Caldera Fall Fiesta has a unique theme with different ways to connect with this volcanic l...
09/08/2026

This year, each day of Valles Caldera Fall Fiesta has a unique theme with different ways to connect with this volcanic landscape.

From plate tectonics to caldera resurgence and beyond, Valles Caldera has inspired world-renowned scientific discoveries that have progressed the state of human knowledge. Join New Mexico geologists, ecologists, and biologists at Valles Caldera National Preserve on Friday, September 25, for Scientific Discovery Day!

11:00 am Fall Fiesta booths open - Chat with representatives from the National Park Service, NM Museum of Natural History & Culture, NM Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, Santa Fe Stargazers, NM Native Plant Society, and more!

11:00 am Guest Speaker: Dr. Nelia Dunbar: "New Mexico Volcanism"

12:00 pm Guest Speaker: Dr. Kirt Kempter - "The Geology of Valles Caldera, New Mexico"

1:00 pm Ranger Program: "Animals of Valles Caldera's Past"

2:00 pm Guest Speaker: Dr. Craig Allen: "Ecological Changes in the Jemez Mountains Landscape"

3:00 pm Creature Feature: Life History of the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse

4:00 pm Fall Fiesta booths close

5:00-8:00 pm Valle Grande After Hours

Learn more about Valles Caldera Fall Fiesta, including the daily event schedule, by visiting our website!

Photo description: Park visitors chat with representatives from different organizations in a cluster of outreach booths at a special event. (NPS/Raelyn Toya)

When do Valles Caldera's summer hours end?From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend each year, Valles Caldera Nat...
09/04/2026

When do Valles Caldera's summer hours end?

From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend each year, Valles Caldera National Preserve observes summer hours. During this time, the main entrance is open to vehicular traffic from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. Beginning Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Valles Caldera will return to its regular hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

As a reminder, the park is open to pedestrian and bicycle/e-bike traffic from dawn to dusk every day of the year. For this purpose, there are pedestrian gates available at Sulphur Creek Trailhead, Redondo Creek Trailhead, Banco Bonito Trailhead, the main entrance, Rincon Trailhead, Rabbit Mountain Trailhead, and South Valle Grande Trailhead. We invite you to experience the absolute magic of Valles Caldera before or after hours. Once you've tried it, you may never want to visit from 9-5 ever again.

Photo description: The pedestrian access at Valles Caldera's main entrance, overlooking Valle Grande. (NPS)

Celebrate National Public Lands Day at Valles Caldera!Join us on Saturday, September 26, from 9:30-12 for a National Pub...
09/03/2026

Celebrate National Public Lands Day at Valles Caldera!

Join us on Saturday, September 26, from 9:30-12 for a National Public Lands Day Volunteer Activity supporting Valles Caldera National Preserve's roads and trails. Registration is required. Sign up at Volunteer.gov.

Los Amigos de Valles Caldera will provide lunch for all participants. Please register by September 15 so we can plan for the correct number of meals.

After volunteering, stick around for Valles Caldera Fall Fiesta, a three-day special event featuring guest speakers, cultural demonstrators, ranger programs, live music, and vendor booths. Learn more: https://www.nps.gov/vall/planyourvisit/fall-fiesta.htm.

Photo description: Volunteers having a great day at Valles Caldera. (NPS/Raelyn Toya)

Have you heard the buzz? Valles Caldera Fall Fiesta is just over 3 weeks away, and the daily schedule is PACKED with spe...
09/02/2026

Have you heard the buzz? Valles Caldera Fall Fiesta is just over 3 weeks away, and the daily schedule is PACKED with special programs and activities. Check it out here: https://www.nps.gov/vall/planyourvisit/fall-fiesta.htm.

Each day will have a different theme to offer new ways for you to connect with this volcanic landscape. Activities will include:

- Live music
- Artisan village and educational booths
- Cultural demonstrations
- Guest speakers
- Eruption simulations every hour in the Volcano Discovery Center
- Ranger programs
- Self-guided after-hours access of Valle Grande

Please join us!

Photo description: Cloud Eagle, a traditional dance group from the Pueblo of Jemez, dances in the Cabin District. (NPS/Corey Lycopolus)

Valles Caldera National Preserve is one of New Mexico's premier elk hunting locations. Between 2,500 and 3,000 elk occup...
09/01/2026

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.

Park visitors are advised to wear bright colors for safety and visibility in the Preserve's backcountry during elk hunting season (Sept. 1 - Dec. 9). Visit our Hunting webpage for more information.

To those who are hunting in Valles Caldera (Unit 6B) this season, best of luck!

Photo description: A hunter glassing from a shrubby hillside. (NPS/Monte White)

08/29/2026

Every national park has stories happening behind the scenes, and people who help care for these places and connect us to them.

From rangers leading programs and answering questions to crews maintaining trails, scientists studying ecosystems, and staff caring for historic places and welcoming visitors, park employees do a lot of work that often happens out of sight.

Today, we’re taking a moment to recognize the people who help care for your national parks and make so many park experiences possible.

To the park employees, past and present, who have dedicated their time, skills, and passion to these places: thank you.


NPS Photo

Happy 110th birthday to the National Park Service! To celebrate this momentous occasion, today is a fee-free day at all ...
08/25/2026

Happy 110th birthday to the National Park Service! To celebrate this momentous occasion, today is a fee-free day at all National Parks, including Valles Caldera National Preserve.

New Mexico is a wonderland of rich and diverse national park experiences. We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite.

Learn more about free entrance days across the NPS: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm.

Photo description: The East Fork Jemez River meandering through Valle Grande. (NPS/Stan Ford)

Tomorrow (Monday) at 9:00 am, join us for a Ranger Guided Nature Hike to celebrate National Park Week! Meet at the Volca...
08/23/2026

Tomorrow (Monday) at 9:00 am, join us for a Ranger Guided Nature Hike to celebrate National Park Week! Meet at the Volcano Discovery Center at 9:00 am. Please wear appropriate hiking attire and bring water, snacks, and other supplies for a 4- to 5-mile hike.

For more information about National Park Week programs at Valles Caldera, check out our Calendar of Events!



Photo description: A park ranger hiking through Valles Caldera. (NPS/Monte White)

Address

39201 Highway 4
Jemez Springs, NM
87025

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15056701612

Website

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