Current Conditions

 

Alerts

 

Valle Grande from the Cabin District

A view into Valle Grande from the Ranger Station.

Description of static webcam view: Tall Ponderosa pine trees are scattered in the foreground. Behind them, the landscape opens into an expansive valley with wooded hills in the background.

View Webcam

 

Loading weather forecast...

Weather

See current weather data from climate stations throughout the park: Valles Caldera National Preserve Climate Stations (dri.edu).

Hazardous Weather Conditions

Lat: 35.8643895222049 Long: -106.51895703852756

Last updated:

Current Conditions

Humidity
Wind Speed
Barometer
Dewpoint
Visibility
Wind Chill

More Weather Information on Weather.gov

Extended Graphical Forecast for This Location

Extended Text Forecast for This Location

 

Human Health

 

What to Know

COVID-19

The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In areas CDC identifies as HIGH COVID-19 community level, masks are required in NPS buildings regardless of vaccination status. In LOW and MEDIUM COVID-19 community level areas, masks are optional. Signs at park buildings share the current status.

When recreating, please follow state health orders and recreate responsibly by physical distancing, wearing a face covering when physical distance cannot be maintained, avoiding high risk activities, and staying home if you feel sick.

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Hantavirus

This is a rare but serious disease that humans can contract through contact with infected rodents or their urine, saliva, blood, or droppings. Reduce exposure by staying out of structures not open to the public.

Learn more at the CDC's web page on hantavirus.

Plague

Fleas, which transmit bubonic plague, are present throughout the Gunnison's prairie dog colonies at Valles Caldera National Preserve. Reduce exposure by keeping your distance from prairie dogs.

Learn more at the CDC's web pages on plague.

 

Fire

Visitors to Valles Caldera National Preserve and the surrounding Jemez Valley will likely encounter smoky conditions through the weekend (June 1-2, 2024) due to the Indios Fire, located about 7 miles north of Coyote in Rio Arriba County. This wildfire is approximately 7,000 acres in size and is 25% contained. At this time, there is no threat to Valles Caldera National Preserve other than poor air quality. Visitors with respiratory complications or sensitivity to smoke should take necessary precautions before visiting the area.

More information about the Indios Fire is available at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmsnf-indios-wildfire.

 

A yellow snowplow blows snow off of the Valles Caldera entrance road, January 2024.

Courtesy of Stan Ford

Road Conditions

During the winter season, road conditions in the Jemez Mountains can be treacherous. From December through March, NM State Route 4 is often snow-packed and icy, restricting access to Valles Caldera National Preserve.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation offers an online resource that displays real-time road conditions and closures along state highways: NM Roads. Drivers are encouraged to consult this resource before driving to Valles Caldera in the winter months. Park-specific closures, delays, and alerts are posted on the homepage of our park website and our social media pages.

For drivers accessing Valles Caldera from the east (Santa Fe/Los Alamos), the most dangerous part of the drive is usually what locals call "The Chute," which is the stretch of NM State Route 4 from the Valle Grande Trailhead to the park entrance gate. For drivers accessing Valles Caldera from the west (Albuquerque/Jemez Springs), the most dangerous part of the drive is usually from the community of La Cueva to the park entrance gate.