hiking overview
Backcountry Hiking
Spend a day hiking the backcountry on your own or with an interpreter. Some treks like Cerros del Abrigo, Cerro Seco and La Garita provide spectacular vistas of the Preserve. Other guided hikes like Alamo Canyon, South Mountain, Rincon de los Soldados, La Jara Speaks, and Hidden Valley provide an intimate look at unique cultural and natural resources not found anywhere else. To find your ideal hike and to reserve your spot click here for available hikes.
Free Hiking
There are two trailheads along Highway 4 that provide free hiking opportunities. The Coyote Call trail (see map) is a 3-mile roundtrip trek and the Valle Grande trail (see map) is a 2-mile roundtrip hike. No reservations are required for these trails, but we do ask that you sign in and out at the trailhead register. Hiking is allowed 7 days a week from dawn to sunset. Please note that only service animals are allowed on the trails; no pets.
Rabbit Mountain Open
The Valles Caldera Trust has expanded public access and use to the Rabbit Mountain area of the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Free hiking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing will now be available on all existing logging roads and trails including Coyote Call trail. Rabbit Mountain is bordered by New Mexico Highway 4, Bandelier National Monument, and the Santa Fe National Forest. Access to the expanded area is possible from Forest Roads 289, 268 and 36.
Overnight camping, the use of motorized vehicles, or any other outdoor recreation activity except hiking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing is prohibited. Recreation access and parking regulations within the bordering public lands will be monitored and strictly enforced.