Things To Do

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 Cerro Del Medio Loop is 13.8 miles (22.2 km) round-trip and combines 4 different trails within Valles Caldera: Obsidian Valley Trail, Posos Trail, Rincon Trail, and East Valle Grande Trail. Although the trail is long, it is very nearly flat and may be hiked in either direction. Excellent opportunities for elk sightings.

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.

A 0.8-mile (1.3 km) out-and-back hike into the heart of Valle Grande and a pond on La Jara Creek.

This strenuous, 12.2-mile (19.6 km) trail follows Sulphur Creek, passing through an old sulphur mining area, before turning eastward to skirt beautiful Valle Seco. It slowly climbs the ridge at the edge of Valle Seco before dropping back down Alamo Canyon, passing three geothermal ponds along the way. Best hiked clockwise. GPS required, especially for Alamo Canyon.