One of the park's new orientation signs overlooking Valle Grande.
NPS/D. Krueger
The National Park Service will resume the collection of park entrance fees at Valles Caldera National Preserve beginning January 1, 2025. Valles Caldera National Preserve will be able to retain 100 percent of the fees collected in the park for use on projects that directly benefit park visitors, including road, trail, and trailhead improvements. With this change, the NPS will also eliminate separate fees for fishing in the park. During a public comment period held this past summer, over two-thirds of comments supported reinstating the park entrance fee.
The fee covers seven consecutive days of entrance to Valles Caldera National Preserve - $25 per vehicle, $15 per person, and $20 per motorcycle. The park will also offer a $45 annual pass specific to Valles Caldera and America the Beautiful passes.
“We are proud of the steps we have taken so far to expand public access, improve trails, and increase education programming. The resumption of recreation use fees will enable us to more quickly implement our plans to further enhance visitor access and recreational opportunities in the park,” said Superintendent Jorge Silva-Bañuelos.
Entrance fees were originally suspended in 2017 because of a lack of services available at that time in the newly established national park unit. Since then, the National Park Service has improved park roads, expanded vehicle access by four miles to the park’s historic cabin district, opened pedestrian access points at seven locations along the park boundary, and implemented a new backcountry vehicle reservation system. Valles Caldera also established a new junior ranger program and is offering more than 100 in-park programs, including winter skiing and snowshoeing programs on 16 miles of groomed trails, fly-fishing clinics, ranger-guided hikes, night sky events, and seasonal special events. Over the next year, the park will begin construction on new parking areas, public EV charging stations, new interpretive trails and signage, and a major new interactive interpretive exhibit.
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