Winter is a magical time to visit the Valles Caldera National Preserve. The preserve has miles of trails for the adventurous skier and snowshoer.
"Valles Caldera (or Jemez Caldera) is a 13.7-mile (22.0 km) wide extinct volcanic caldera in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico.Hot springs, streams, fumaroles, natural gas seeps and volcanic domes dot the caldera floor landscape.The highest point in the caldera is Redondo Peak, an 11,253-foot (3,430 m) resurgent lava dome located entirely within the caldera. Also within the caldera are several grass valleys, or valles, the largest of which is Valle Grande (locally /ˈvaɪ.eɪ ˈɡrɑːndeɪ/ VY-ay GRAHN-day), the only one accessible by a paved road. Much of the caldera is within the Valles Caldera National Preserve, a unit of the National Park System. In 1975, Valles Caldera was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service."
Valles Caldera is west of Casa de Tres Lunas in the Jemez Mountains on HWY 4 near Los Alamos National Laboratories. Drive time is one hour (50 miles).
