DATE: February 19, 2020
CONTACT: Daniel Kish, daniel_kish@nps.gov, 505-206-4971
Jemez Springs, NM —The main entrance road into Valles Caldera National Preserve will be
closed to vehicle traffic beginning Thursday, February 20, 2020 until further notice. Warm
afternoon temperatures have led to steady snowmelt and heavy saturation of the dirt road,
resulting in unsafe driving conditions for visitors and high potential for resource damage to the
road itself. Over the past few days alone, there have been reports of vehicles getting stuck or
struggling to navigate the deep mud along the preserve’s main entrance road, while causing
damage to the road and in some cases to the vehicle itself.
However, the preserve remains open to foot traffic from dawn until dusk for visitors who wish to
access winter recreational opportunities from NM-4 including along the Valle Grande and
Coyote Call trails. Park rangers also will be stationed near the main entrance gate from 9:00AM–
5:00PM daily to answer questions and provide orientation information to the public.
“While this temporary road closure is necessary for visitor safety and to prevent additional road
damage, we encourage visitors to utilize the access points along NM-4 to get into the preserve to
enjoy recreating in the snow-covered expanse of the Valle Grande,” said Valles Caldera
Superintendent Jorge Silva-Bañuelos. “We hope to get the road reopened as soon as conditions
allow,” he continued.
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About Valles Caldera National Preserve
About 1.25 million years ago, a spectacular volcanic eruption created the 13-mile wide circular
depression now known as Valles Caldera. The preserve is known for its huge mountain meadows,
abundant wildlife, and meandering streams. The area also preserves the homeland of ancestral native
peoples and embraces a rich ranching history. Visit us at www.nps.gov/vall and on Facebook
www.facebook.com/VallesCaldera/.
About the National Park Service.
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with
communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational
opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter
www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
Valles Caldera National Preserve
PO Box 359
Jemez Springs, NM 87025
575-829-4100 phone
www.nps.gov/vall
One would think that a National Preserve that has been open as long as this one would have an “all weather” road for it’s main entrance? Extremely poor quality management personnel has always been and continues to be a major problem and concern for this “gem”.