Valles Caldera National Preserve is home to volcanic features, diverse high-elevation ecosystems, an abundance of wildlife, and a rich cultural history extending back more than 10,000 years and continuing today. All of this and more can be experienced within the front-country of the park.
Here are just some of the activities you can experience when visiting the front-country:
Discover the tectonic processes that caused the volcanic eruptions that sculpted the landscape
Explore the Cerro La Jara lava dome
Observe a diverse array of wildlife, such as elk, coyotes, kestrels, prairie dogs, and bluebirds
Walk through an expansive, high-elevation prairie
Walk through an old-growth ponderosa pine forest
Learn about the deep human history that goes back more than 10,000 years
Connect with family and friends in an awe-inspiring location
Watch monsoon storms roll across Valle Grande
Look for evidence of past human activity, from the carving obsidian tools to sheepherding and cattle-ranching
Listen to nature or tune into the quiet
Observe the majesty of the night sky
Explore the park through the camera lens, painting canvas, or poetic words
Witness the impacts of human on the ecosystem
Support the park by volunteering, donating, or shopping in the park store
Join a ranger program to learn more about this natural and cultural gem
This self-guided driving tour leads visitors through Valles Caldera National Preserve's front-country and backcountry road system. As you go, your smartphone will recommend various stops at photo locations, geologic features, and historic structures, all while sharing interesting information about each stop.
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 about the special connections between the Hemish people and the Valles Caldera landscape from Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Christopher Toya, traditional religious leader Brophy Toledo, and cultural resources leaders Byron Andrew and Mark Magdalena.
This self-guided tour in the National Park Service smartphone app leads hikers around Cerro La Jara, which is Valles Caldera's youngest and smallest lava dome. As you hike, geologist Dr. Linda Pickett will share snippets of fascinating information about the landscape around you and answer the most common questions about the park's geology.
The Cabin District stands as a reminder of the ranching legacy at Valles Caldera. This self-guided audio tour walks through a day in the life of a ranch worker, stopping by each historic structure and explaining its significance to the ranching operation that persisted here for nearly 100 years.
This self-guided tour in the National Park Service smartphone app leads hikers to Sulphur Springs, a unique geothermal area at Valles Caldera National Preserve. As you hike, refer to your smartphone for recommended stops at mudpots, fumaroles, and hot springs that you may otherwise miss.
The Cabin District Trail is a short and gentle route traversing the historic ranch headquarters for Baca Land & Cattle Company. Interpretive signs along the trail describe each building and its purpose in the ranching operation that persisted here for nearly a century.
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.
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.
