New Mexico · Hiking

Valle Trail

Valle TrailPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.2 mi
round trip
14 ft
climb
8,627 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Sep
best months

Is Valle Trail open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Valles Caldera National Preserve.

As of · Source: NPS · Valles Caldera National Preserve. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Valle Trail is a short, easy hike in Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico, managed by the National Park Service. The trail is an out-and-back route of about 0.44 miles, with a total elevation gain of about 14 feet, so it's a gentle walk that can be done in a few minutes. The trail starts and ends at nearly the same elevation, with the high point at about 8,627 feet and the low point at about 8,604 feet. It's a simple way to step onto the preserve's land, and the National Park Service charges a fee for the visit. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Los Alamos show July highs around 74°F with lows near 45°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s. Other trails close by include Birding By Car Stop 1 and the Valle Grande Trail, both about 2.2 miles away, and the Pajarito Nordic Trail at about 2.5 miles. Climbers can find the Cañon de Valle Boulders about 4.1 miles away.

  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Valle Trail

    Best months: May–June and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      36° / 9°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 12°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      44° / 20°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      52° / 25°

      8 wet

    5. May

      62° / 32°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 39°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 45°

      15 wet

    8. Aug

      71° / 43°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 35°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 26°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      45° / 17°

      6 wet

    12. Dec

      36° / 9°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Los Alamos 13 W, NM, 5.5 mi away at 8,716 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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~4 min drive

Moderate 9-mile forest loop on the Pajarito Plateau with steady elevation gain.

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Birding By Car Stop 4

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Pond TrailPhoto: cogdogblog, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors