Current Conditions

Government Shutdown Operations Status

Facilities & Services

• Main entrance is open 9 am – 5 pm.
• Volcano Discovery Center is open 9 am – 4:30 pm. Services include:
  • Backcountry vehicle passes
  • Basic park information
  • Ranger on-duty
  • Trailhead parking and restrooms
• Welcome Station and parking lot are closed for construction.
• All ranger programs and special events are cancelled until further notice.
• Webcam is offline until further notice.
• We will not be responding to emails, phone calls, or social media messages. Please call 911 or Glen Canyon Dispatch for park emergencies: 928-608-6301.

Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees are not being collected during the government shutdown.

Reservations are not required to enter Valles Caldera National Preserve. However, vehicle passes are required to drive the backcountry route. Passes are available at Recreation.gov or the Volcano Discovery Center.

Fire

Due to very dry conditions and high winds, fire danger is high. If you spot a fire in or near the park, please report it to park dispatch at 928-608-6301.

Human Health

Road Conditions

During the winter season, road conditions in the Jemez Mountains can be treacherous. New Mexico State Route 4 can be snow-packed and icy for days or even weeks at a time, making it difficult to get 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 our park website and social media pages.

For drivers accessing Valles Caldera from the east (Santa Fe/Los Alamos), please exercise caution at "The Chute," which is the stretch of NM State Route 4 from the Valle Grande Trailhead to the park entrance gate. This stretch of highway is notorious for blowing snow, ice sheets, and snowdrifts. For drivers accessing Valles Caldera from the west (Albuquerque/Jemez Springs), be especially careful from Dark Canyon to the park entrance gate.