Valles Caldera National Preserve is a National Preserve in New Mexico. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Valles Caldera
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Valles Caldera. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Volcanoes (1)
Dark Sky Places (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Valles Caldera the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:16 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:16 PM | 244° | 9h 59m |
| February | 6:54 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:48 PM | 255° | 10h 54m |
| March | 7:18 AM | 7:52 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:14 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:40 PM | 283° | 13h 06m |
| May | 6:01 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 294° | 14h 04m |
| June | 5:50 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:25 PM | 300° | 14h 35m |
| July | 6:02 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:24 PM | 298° | 14h 22m |
| August | 6:26 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:57 PM | 288° | 13h 32m |
| September | 6:49 AM | 7:23 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:15 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:13 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:57 PM | 6:32 PM | 260° | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:43 AM | 7:21 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:00 PM | 248° | 10h 17m |
| December | 7:10 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:54 PM | 242° | 9h 44m |
Computed for the park's reference point (35.9168, -106.5196); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Valles Caldera, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:54 AM – 5:24 AM | 0.5 | 15° |
| March | 3:59 AM – 5:49 AM | 1.8 | 22° |
| April | 2:00 AM – 5:00 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| May | 12:06 AM – 4:16 AM | 4.2 | 25° |
| June | 10:15 PM – 3:55 AM | 5.7 | 25° |
| July | 10:09 PM – 2:29 AM | 4.3 | 25° |
| August | 9:32 PM – 12:32 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| September | 8:42 PM – 10:22 PM | 1.7 | 22° |
| October | 7:57 PM – 8:27 PM | 0.5 | 15° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
Each season offers a different experience: lush springs, moderate summers, golden falls, and snowy winters. Average temperatures are 22°F (-6 C) in January and 60°F (16 C) in July. Temperature extremes range from a high of 84°F (29 C) in summer to -30°F (-34C) in winter. Precipitation is heavier during summer monsoon rains (thunderstorms) in July and August and winter snowstorms in December through March. Higher elevation lends to much cooler temperatures than nearby Albuquerque.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 32% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (52%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
From Jemez Springs, NM: Follow NM-4 north. The Preserve is about 22 miles from Jemez Springs. Look for the Main Gate and signs at Mile Marker 39.2. From Los Alamos, NM: Take Trinity Drive to Diamond. Take a left on Diamond, then a right on West Jemez Road to the intersection with NM-4. Take a right [away from Bandelier National Monument], following the highway up and into the Jemez Mountains. The Preserve is 18 miles up NM-4 from Los Alamos. Look for the Main Gate and signs at Mile Marker 39.2.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Road Biking
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Junior Ranger Program
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
Nearby parks
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