Last updated: December 9, 2025
Place
NM State Route 4 Pullouts
NPS/L. Ray
Quick Facts
Amenities
3 listed
Information, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Wheelchair Accessible
There are several pullouts along NM State Route 4 to stop and view wildlife, take photos, and enjoy expansive views of Valle Grande. These pullouts are open 24/7, so they may also be used for stargazing.
Elk can often be seen grazing in Valle Grande, especially around dawn and dusk, but you might not notice them at first. Although they are large animals, the immensity of the Valle Grande dwarfs them. For perspective, look for the “Horse Barn” on the far north side of Valle Grande; it is three miles away. The Entrance Station, next to pint-sized Cerro La Jara, is two miles away, and the Ranger Station in the tree line with the other cabins is almost four miles away. As vast as it appears, Valle Grande only makes up about 15% of Valles Caldera, which, in its entirety, measures approximately 13 miles across. The ridgeline just south of NM 4 (behind you) is the southern rim of the caldera, and the northern rim can occasionally be spotted in the distance far beyond Valle Grande and surrounding lava domes.
Elk can often be seen grazing in Valle Grande, especially around dawn and dusk, but you might not notice them at first. Although they are large animals, the immensity of the Valle Grande dwarfs them. For perspective, look for the “Horse Barn” on the far north side of Valle Grande; it is three miles away. The Entrance Station, next to pint-sized Cerro La Jara, is two miles away, and the Ranger Station in the tree line with the other cabins is almost four miles away. As vast as it appears, Valle Grande only makes up about 15% of Valles Caldera, which, in its entirety, measures approximately 13 miles across. The ridgeline just south of NM 4 (behind you) is the southern rim of the caldera, and the northern rim can occasionally be spotted in the distance far beyond Valle Grande and surrounding lava domes.
Hay varios apartaderos a lo largo de la carretera estatal NM 4 para detenerse y observar la fauna, tomar fotos y disfrutar de las amplias vistas de Valle Grande. Estos apartaderos están abiertos las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, por lo que también se pueden utilizar para observar las estrellas.
A menudo se pueden ver alces pastando en Valle Grande, especialmente al amanecer y al atardecer, pero es posible que no los note al principio. Aunque son animales grandes, la inmensidad de Valle Grande los empequeñece. Para tener una perspectiva, busque el «Horse Barn» en el extremo norte de Valle Grande; está a cinco kilómetros de distancia. La estación de entrada, junto al pequeño Cerro La Jara, está a tres kilómetros, y la estación de guardabosques, en la línea de árboles con las otras cabañas, está a casi seis kilómetros. Por muy extenso que parezca, Valle Grande solo ocupa alrededor del 15 % de Valles Caldera, que, en su totalidad, mide aproximadamente 21 km de ancho. La línea de crestas justo al sur de la NM 4 (detrás de usted) es el borde sur de la caldera, y el borde norte se puede ver ocasionalmente en la distancia, mucho más allá de Valle Grande y los domos de lava circundantes.