Bike the Alamo Canyon to Valle Seco Lasso
The Alamo Canyon to Valle Seco Lasso is a 13.5-mile bike route through the western portion of Valles Caldera National Preserve.
4-6 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Fee applies
National Preserve · NM
Things to do in Valles Caldera
The National Park Service lists 46 things to do at Valles Caldera National Preserve. 5 have no extra fee, 30 need no reservation, and 17 allow pets. Each listing links to the full NPS page. Data is from the NPS snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.
Updated · NPS Data API
Bike the Redondo Foothills Loop
The Redondo Foothills Loop is a moderately strenuous, 9.5-mile bike route beginning in the Cabin District. This ride features flowy descents, 771 feet of climbing, and great views of Valle Grande.
2-3 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Fee applies
Bike the Valle Grande Loop
This bike route loops around Valle Grande, providing spectacular views along the entire route.
3-5 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall
Cross-Country Skiing in Valles Caldera
Winter is a spectacular time to visit Valles Caldera National Preserve. The park has miles of groomed trails for the adventurous skier.
Winter Fee applies Pets allowed
Fish in Valle San Antonio
San Antonio Creek is famous throughout New Mexico for wild brown trout and beautiful scenery. Reserve your backcountry vehicle pass to fish this stream seasonally from May 15 - November 15.
Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies
Fish San Antonio Creek
San Antonio Creek is famous throughout New Mexico for wild brown trout and beautiful scenery. Reserve your backcountry vehicle pass to fish this stream seasonally from May 15 - November 15.
Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies
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Fish the East Fork Headwaters
Hike or bike the Rincon Trail to the East Fork headwaters, where wild rainbow trout and browns predominate.
Spring, Summer, Fall Fee applies
Fish the East Fork in Hidden Valley
Hike the Jemez River Trail to Hidden Valley, where the Rio Grande chub, Rio Grande sucker, and longnose dace are the dominant fish species.
Spring, Summer, Fall Fee applies
Fish the East Fork Jemez River
A picturesque and meandering stream, wild rainbow trout and browns can be found in the headwaters of the East Fork of the Jemez River. Rio Grande suckers and Rio Grande chubs predominate elsewhere.
Spring, Summer, Fall Fee applies
Fish the Headwaters of San Antonio Creek
San Antonio Creek is famous throughout New Mexico for wild brown trout and beautiful scenery. Reserve your backcountry vehicle pass and drive to Valle Toledo to fish this stream's headwaters!
Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies
Fish the Middle Jaramillo Creek
Jaramillo Creek is the middle of the three fishable streams in Valles Caldera. The middle section of the creek runs from Cerro Pinon upstream to the Cerro Abrigo Trailhead.
Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required
Fish the Upper Jaramillo Creek
The upper stretch of Jaramillo Creek offers a challenge for anglers with the reward of catching some truly large brown trout. The creek meanders through the lush Valle Jaramillo, which creates pools and overhanging banks for trout to hide in.
Year-round
Hike the Cabin District Interpretive Trail
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.
30-60 Minutes Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
Hike the Cerro Abrigo Loop
This 7.2-mile (11.6 km) loop gently ascends a lava dome and then contours around it, offering great views of the eastern half of the caldera. This hike takes 3-4 hours to complete. Pets are not permitted.
3-4 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies
Hike the Cerro Del Medio Loop
This 13.8-mile (22.2 km) loop circles Cerro Del Medio, Valles Caldera's oldest lava dome. The hike takes 7-8 hours. Pets are not permitted.
7-8 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies
Hike the Cerro La Jara Loop
The Cerro La Jara Loop is a gentle, 1.4-mile hike around Valles Caldera's smallest and youngest volcanic dome. The hike takes approximately 1 hour. Leashed pets are permitted.
1-2 Hours Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
Hike the Cerro Seco Loop
The Cerro Seco Loop is a strenuous, 11.2-mile round-trip hike that circles a lava dome with fantastic views of the caldera's north rim. It takes 5-6 hours to complete. Pets are not permitted.
5-7 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies
Hike the Garita Trail
The Garita Trail is a 7.6-mile round-trip hike to the northern rim of Valles Caldera. It takes 3-4 hours to complete. Pets are not permitted.
3-5 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies
Hike the Indios Creek Trail
The Indios Creek Trail is a 7.8-mile round-trip hike that follows a creek to the northern boundary of the park. It takes about 4 hours to complete. Pets are not permitted.
2-4 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies
Hike the Jemez River Trail
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.
2-3 Hours Year-round Fee applies
Hike the Northwest Rim Trail
At 18.6 miles round-trip, the Northwest Rim Trail is ideal for trail runners. At an average hiking pace, it takes 9-10 hours to complete. Pets are not permitted.
9-10 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies
Hike the Rabbit Mountain Loop
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. Leashed pets are permitted.
1-2 Hours Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
Hike the Rabbit Ridge Trail
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.
1-2 Hours Year-round Fee applies
Hike the San Antonio Mountain Trail
The San Antonio Mountain Trail is a strenuous, 11-mile round-trip hike that climbs to the summit of San Antonio Mountain. It takes 5-6 hours to complete. Pets are not permitted.
5-6 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies
Hike the South Mountain Trail
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.
3-4 Hours Year-round Fee applies
Hike the South Valle Grande Trail
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.
1-2 Hours Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
Hike the Sulphur & Alamo Canyon Loop
The Sulphur & Alamo Canyon Loop is a strenuous, 12.2-mile trail through Valles Caldera's geothermal areas. It takes approximately 6 hours to complete. Pets are not permitted.
6-8 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Fee applies
Hike the Valle Grande Exploration Trail
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.
30-60 Minutes Year-round Fee applies
Hike to History Grove
Located about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) beyond the Volcano Discovery Center, History Grove is one of the last remaining pockets of old-growth forest in Valles Caldera National Preserve.
1-2 Hours Year-round Fee applies
Hike to Sulphur Springs
Sulphur Springs—a site bubbling with geothermal activity—is accessed via a 1-mile (1.6-km) round-trip hike on the Sulphur Creek Trail. This hike takes approximately 30-60 minutes. Pets are not permitted.
30-60 Minutes Spring, Summer, Fall Fee applies
Hiking in Valles Caldera
Hiking routes within Valles Caldera range from flat strolls through montane grasslands to steep climbs on forested lava domes. As this land was a private ranch for over 150 years, the majority of hiking routes follow old logging and ranching roads.
Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
Horseback Riding from the Welcome Station
Enjoy the beauty of Valle Grande as you trek down the entrance road on your own horse.
Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required
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.
Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies
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.
Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies
Hunting
Ski the Cerro La Jara Loop
This 1.5-mile (2.4 km) ski loop circles Cerro La Jara, the smallest volcanic dome in the park, which formed about 500,000 years ago when lava oozed up and onto the caldera floor.
1-2 Hours Winter Pets allowed
Snowshoeing in Valles Caldera
Winter is a spectacular time to visit Valles Caldera National Preserve. The park has miles of groomed and ungroomed trails for the adventurous snowshoer.
Winter Fee applies Pets allowed
Stargaze in Valles Caldera
As an International Dark Sky Park, Valles Caldera National Preserve offers outstanding opportunities for night sky viewing along NM State Route 4 and through regularly scheduled programs.
Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
Take a Scenic Drive through Valle Grande
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.
30-90 Minutes Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
Take a Self-Guided Auto Tour of Valles Caldera
This self-guided driving tour leads visitors through Valles Caldera National Preserve while recommending various stops at photo locations, geologic features, and historic structures.
3-4 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies Pets allowed
Take a Self-Guided Geology Hike Around Cerro La Jara
This self-guided geology tour in the National Park Service smartphone app leads hikers around Cerro La Jara, which is Valles Caldera's youngest and smallest lava dome.
1-2 Hours Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
Take a Self-Guided Geology Tour of Sulphur Springs
This self-guided geology tour in the National Park Service smartphone app leads hikers to Sulphur Springs, a unique geothermal area at Valles Caldera National Preserve.
1-2 Hours Year-round Fee applies
Take a Self-Guided Tour of the Cabin District
This self-guided audio tour walks through a day in the life of a seasonal worker at the Baca Ranch in the 20th century.
30-60 Minutes Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
Take the Self-Guided Hemish Connections Audio Tour
Since the 1100s CE, Valles Caldera has been at the center of Hemish (Pueblo of Jemez) religion, culture, and history. During this self-guided tour, you will hear tribal leaders discuss these special connections to the landscape.
2-3 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies Pets allowed
Valles Caldera Junior Angler Program
Get reeled into fishing with the Junior Ranger Let’s Go Fishing! Booklet.
30-90 Minutes Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
Valles Caldera Junior Ranger Program
Valles Caldera National Preserve currently offers two versions of its Junior Ranger program: an experiential activity booklet designed for in-park completion, and an online program for kids who are unable to visit the park in-person.
30-90 Minutes Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
Wildlife Viewing in the Caldera
Valles Caldera provides excellent habitat for a wide variety of animals, and there are plenty of opportunities for viewing wildlife like elk, bears, prairie dogs, coyotes, and birds.
Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
Before you go
Check current alerts and closures, entrance fees and operating hours for Valles Caldera. Programs and tours can change with the season or be cancelled on short notice — confirm on the NPS page before you plan around one.
Things to do at nearby parks
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Sources
- National Park Service Data API — things to do, snapshot of Oct 28, 2026. Descriptions are short excerpts; photos are NPS photos shown from nps.gov with their credit.
- Valles Caldera National Preserve — things to do on nps.gov