Visitors to Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico can now reserve a pass to drive through the park's backcountry/Patrick Cone file
The National Park Service is providing vehicle access to the backcountry of Valles Caldera National Monument in New Mexico via reservation.
Vehicle passes for May 15 through May 31 of the 2024 summer season are now available on Recreation.gov. The backcountry vehicle route is open May 15 through November 15; weather-permitting.
“We are excited for people to start planning their Valles Caldera backcountry experience. The reservation system successfully issued 5,701 passes last year and we’re looking to build upon that success. We’ve added a new option this year after reviewing visitor comments and data,“ said Superintendent Jorge Silva-Bañuelos.
The new option is an additional five first-come, first-served passes that will be available day-of. Visitors can stop by one of the park’s visitor facilities for one of these passes.
Future batches will be released on the first of each month. For a detailed list of release dates, visit the park’s Backcountry Experience web page. Any passes that have not been reserved will still be available for day-of use.
The backcountry is open to all visitors traveling on foot, bike, or horse without a backcountry vehicle pass. Horseback riders do require a separate, free equestrian permit that can also be obtained at the park’s visitor facilities.
Exceptional Valles Caldera National Preserve experiences do not require a backcountry vehicle pass. Visit Valles Caldera’s Front-country Experience web page to learn more about the wonderful hikes, historic settings, volcanic and scenic vistas, old-growth ponderosa pine forests, and ranger programs available.
