Valles Caldera National Preserve

Valles Caldera National Preserve About 1.2 million years ago, a cataclysmic volcanic eruption caused the earth's surface to collapse, forming the 14-mile-wide Valles Caldera.
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Today, the National Park Service preserves this fascinating New Mexico landscape and shares its story. Page Expectations and Guidelines:

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26! Nina found 26 wildflower species in bloom today in the Cabin District!Join long-time park volunteer and wildflower e...
06/12/2026

26! Nina found 26 wildflower species in bloom today in the Cabin District!

Join long-time park volunteer and wildflower enthusiast Nina Thayer for her Weekly Wildflower Walk every Friday at 11:00 am through July 24. This gentle walk through the Cabin District will help visitors identify what's in bloom each week through peak wildflower season at Valles Caldera National Preserve.

This program begins on the front porch of the Volcano Discovery Center. Total distance will be approximately half a mile.

Photo description: Nina leads a small group on a wildflower walk in Valle Grande. (NPS/Irene Owsley)

  Okay, but what even IS a caldera?We're glad you asked.A caldera forms when a volcano erupts explosively, emptying its ...
06/12/2026

Okay, but what even IS a caldera?

We're glad you asked.

A caldera forms when a volcano erupts explosively, emptying its magma chamber. The weight of the overlying land causes the ground to collapse inward, creating a large, bowl-shaped depression. This combination of volcanic eruption and subsequent collapse results in the formation of a caldera, which can vary greatly in size and shape.

Valles Caldera is the circular, 14-mile-wide collapse zone from a cataclysmic volcanic eruption that happened about 1.2 million years ago. After the formation of the caldera, smaller eruptions along the caldera floor formed a series of volcanic domes.

Photo description: Valles Caldera from the International Space Station. (Courtesy of the International Space Station)

Mark your calendars for STEM Day at the Caldera on Saturday, July 18!Come explore careers and applications of STEM (Scie...
06/08/2026

Mark your calendars for STEM Day at the Caldera on Saturday, July 18!

Come explore careers and applications of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) in the National Park Service and beyond! Park scientists, researchers, university partners, and other organizations will have interactive education tables set up in the Cabin District throughout the day.

Photo description: A park scientist holds an endangered Jemez Mountains salamander during a monitoring survey in 2023. (NPS)

  Why are the prairie dogs congregating on the road?In the summer months, you might spot lots of determined prairie dogs...
06/05/2026

Why are the prairie dogs congregating on the road?

In the summer months, you might spot lots of determined prairie dogs on the gravel road near Cerro La Jara in Valle Grande. They are drawn to the crushed gravel because it contains minerals like salt that are scarce in their usual plant-based diets.

It's important to remember that wildlife always has the right-of-way on the roads at Valles Caldera National Preserve. The 10-mph speed limit near Cerro La Jara is strictly enforced to ensure the safety of both wildlife and visitors.

Photo description: A Gunnison's prairie dog standing upright with its belly on display. (NPS/Todd Cornwell)

Friday's astrophotography program is full, but we have lots of spots available Saturday. Sign up now!With Valles Caldera...
06/03/2026

Friday's astrophotography program is full, but we have lots of spots available Saturday. Sign up now!

With Valles Caldera National Preserve (an International Dark Sky Park) as an outdoor classroom, guest photographer Don Riddle will guide program participants through the basics of astrophotography. Learn how to adjust and optimize DSLR camera settings, select a shooting location, and, of course, shoot spectacular images of the night sky.

Register now: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=8DB3CC86-CEFC-0E84-4C8D85DFAD4EDDAE.

Photo description: Star trails above the Valle Grande pond. (NPS/Stan Ford)

  They're heeeeeeeeeere...A harbinger of summertime, the Western blue flag iris (Iris missouriensis) is starting to pop ...
06/03/2026

They're heeeeeeeeeere...

A harbinger of summertime, the Western blue flag iris (Iris missouriensis) is starting to pop up all over Valles Caldera National Preserve's high-elevation meadows and grasslands!

Learn more about plant life in the park: https://www.nps.gov/vall/learn/nature/plants.htm.

Photo description: A cluster of Western blue flag irises near a ponderosa pine grove. (NPS/Corey Lycopolus)

06/03/2026

Shhh...I can't right now. I'm watching a live stream.

With miles and miles of meandering headwaters streams, Valles Caldera National Preserve is an incredibly important watershed protection area for the Southwest Jemez Mountains and beyond.

Two primary streams - San Antonio Creek and the East Fork Jemez River - begin within the boundaries of Valles Caldera and generally flow westward, eventually joining courses outside of the Preserve's southwestern boundary. More than 60% of San Antonio Creek and about 42% of the East Fork Jemez River flow within the Preserve. After converging at Battleship Rock in the Santa Fe National Forest, these streams eventually flow to the Rio Grande.

Video description: Two tranquil scenes along the East Fork Jemez River. (NPS)

Plenty of spots are still available for this Friday's astrophotography workshop. Sign up soon!With Valles Caldera Nation...
06/02/2026

Plenty of spots are still available for this Friday's astrophotography workshop. Sign up soon!

With Valles Caldera National Preserve (an International Dark Sky Park) as an outdoor classroom, guest photographer Don Riddle will guide program participants through the basics of astrophotography. Learn how to adjust and optimize DSLR camera settings, select a shooting location, and, of course, shoot spectacular images of the night sky.

Register now: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=62C8669E-A621-0497-C149C418C1DCD22F.

Photo description: A starry night sky over Valle Grande. (NPS/Stan Ford)

  Looks can be deceiving in this collapsed volcanic landscape. When you enter Valles Caldera National Preserve, you are ...
05/31/2026

Looks can be deceiving in this collapsed volcanic landscape. When you enter Valles Caldera National Preserve, you are about 8,700 feet (2,652 m) above sea level.

Visiting locations at higher elevations than you are used to increases the chance of dehydration, severe sunburn, mountain sickness (headaches, nausea, dizziness), and the aggravation of pre-existing medical conditions. Drink several quarts of water per day to ward off dehydration. Wear and reapply sunscreen often. If you begin to feel sick or experience any physical problems, descend to lower elevations.

Other things you should know before you go: https://www.nps.gov/vall/planyourvisit/safety.htm.

Photo description: Looking across a mixed conifer forest toward a distant peak. (NPS/Corey Lycopolus)

  What kind of bears are here?Historically, Valles Caldera was home to both grizzly bears and black bears, but now only ...
05/29/2026

What kind of bears are here?

Historically, Valles Caldera was home to both grizzly bears and black bears, but now only black bears (Ursus americanus) remain. The last grizzly bear in the area was killed in 1947. Despite their name, the black bears in Valles Caldera can range in color from black to brown, and even blonde. Interestingly, meat comprises only about 13% of their diet. You’re more likely to see them munching on insects, flowering plants, berries, and acorns.

To learn more, including where to spot a black bear in the park, check out our American Black Bear webpage: https://www.nps.gov/vall/learn/nature/american-black-bear.htm.

Photo description: A black bear with blonde fur on its back in the Cabin District. (NPS/Corey Lycopolus)

Address

39201 Highway 4
Jemez Springs, NM
87025

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15056701612

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