Valles Caldera National Preserve

Valles Caldera National Preserve Review

A high-forest drive brings you to the awe-inspiring Valles Grande, which at 14 mi in diameter is one of the world's largest calderas and which became Valles (say vah-yes) Caldera National Preserve in 2000. The caldera resulted from the eruption and collapse of a 14,000-foot peak over 1 million years ago; the flow out the bottom created the Pajarito Plateau and the ash from the eruption spread as far east as Kansas. You can't imagine the volcanic crater's immensity until you spot what look like specks of dust on the lush meadow floor and realize they're elk. The Valles Caldera Trust manages this 89,000-acre multiuse preserve with the aim to "protect and preserve the scientific, scenic, geologic, watershed, fish, wildlife, historic, cultural, and recreational values of the Preserve, and to provide for multiple use and sustained yield of renewable resources within the Preserve."

The preserve is open to visitors for hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, horse-drawn carriage rides, van wildlife photography tours, mountain-bike tours, bird-watching, and fly-fishing. Some of the activities require reservations and a fee, although there are two free, relatively short hikes signposted from the parking area along NM 4, and no reservations are needed for these. Drive into the Caldera to the check-in station to gain access to other short hikes, guided tours, and information about events. Their Web site is the best source to plan a visit to this breathtaking area. Fishing and hunting (elk and turkeys) permits are given out based on a lottery system; lottery "tickets" are sold for a nominal fee.