Trip Idea

Half Day at Valles Caldera

Multiple Parks

A woman kneels in front of a historic log cabin with two leashed dogs.
Duration Half Day
Topic(s) Fish, Ranches, Foothills, Plains and Valleys, Forests and Woodlands, Coniferous Forests, Geology, Grasslands, Meadows, Prairies, Groundwater, Aquifers, Freshwater Springs, Mountains, Natural Sounds, River and Riparian, Rock Landscapes and Features, Scenic Views, Volcanoes, Watersheds, Headwaters, Wetlands, Ancient Seas, Animals, Birds, Elk, Archeology, Climate Change, Fire, Native American Heritage, Trails, Canyons and Canyonlands, Marshes, Cats (wild), Deciduous Forests, Night Sky, Astronomy, Dams, Farming and Agriculture, Mineral Deposits, Geothermal, Hot Springs, Mining, Logging and Timber Cutting, Roads, Routes and Highways, Schools and Education more »
Activities Fly Fishing, Front-Country Hiking, Scenic Driving, Junior Ranger Program, Wildlife Watching
Type Kid Friendly, Relaxed, Solitary/Remote, Educational, Inspirational
Parks Valles Caldera National Preserve
Don't have all day? That's okay. We know there's a lot to see nearby. Here's a no-nonsense itinerary for your half-day (or less) visit to Valles Caldera.
Scenic Driving
  • Valles Caldera National Preserve

    Take a Scenic Drive through Valle Grande
    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Scenic Driving
    • Pets: Yes
    • Location: Main Entrance
    • Duration: 30–90 Minutes
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    A sweeping montane grassland with forested hills in the background.

    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.

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Pick Two Trails
  • Valles Caldera National Preserve

    Hike the Jemez River Trail
    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Jemez River Trail
    • Duration: 2–3 Hours
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    A snow-covered landscape with a small stream meandering through rock spires and evergreen trees.

    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.

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  • Valles Caldera National Preserve

    Hike to Sulphur Springs
    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Sulphur Creek Trailhead
    • Duration: 30–60 Minutes
    • Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    A hilly, geothermal landscape of bleached rock and soil largely devoid of vegetation.

    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.

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  • Valles Caldera National Preserve

    Hike the Cerro La Jara Loop
    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: Yes
    • Location: Cerro La Jara Loop
    • Duration: 1–2 Hours
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    Two leashed dogs walk side-by-side in front of us on a narrow trail in a large grassland valley

    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.

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  • Valles Caldera National Preserve

    Hike the Valle Grande Exploration Trail
    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Valle Grande Exploration Trail
    • Duration: 30–60 Minutes
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    A large pond in the middle of a montane grassland with forested mountains in the background.

    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.

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  • Valles Caldera National Preserve

    Hike the Rabbit Mountain Loop
    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: Yes
    • Location: Rabbit Mountain Loop
    • Duration: 1–2 Hours
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    A view from a mountain into a large, grassy valley near sunset.

    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.

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  • Valles Caldera National Preserve

    Hike the South Valle Grande Trail
    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: Yes
    • Location: South Valle Grande Trail
    • Duration: 1–2 Hours
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    A large boulder in a vast, grassy valley surrounded by forested hills.

    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.

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Fun Additions
  • Valles Caldera National Preserve

    Wildlife Viewing in the Caldera
    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Wildlife Watching
    • Pets: Yes with Restrictions
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day, Dawn, Dusk
    A male mule deer with large antlers looking through a thick forest.

    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.

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  • Valles Caldera National Preserve

    Valles Caldera Junior Ranger Program
    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Junior Ranger Program
    • Pets: Yes with Restrictions
    • Location: Entrance Station
    • Duration: 30–90 Minutes
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    A boy wearing a Junior Ranger hat and vest filled with badges stands at Valles Caldera\'s sign.

    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.

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  • Valles Caldera National Preserve

    Fish the East Fork Jemez River
    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Fly Fishing
    • Pets: No
    • Location: East Fork Jemez River
    • Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    An angler fishes a narrow stream in a foggy montane grassland.

    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.

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Last updated: February 14, 2025