Photo of a group of mountain bike riders getting ready for a ride.

Special Events Overview

The Valles Caldera National Preserve hosts a wide array of special events, from special guided tours for your group or family to mountain bike events. We offer programs designed to get you out onto the Preserve for a day of exploration and discovery.

Schedule your event

Some events may be reserved on line by following the links above. Others may need to be scheduled by staff. If you have a large group or special needs please contact us at (505)661-3333 for more information regarding your Special Event.

Artist's Events

These are opportunities for artists to practice their craft in the Caldera. Each of these events will take a limited number of artists to specific locations on the Preserve. Locations and times will vary, so be sure and read the details of what you are signing up for. In general we will shuttle you to the event location, point out the features, and let the Preserve inspire you.

Artist's Events Details
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Youth Fly Fishing Clinics

Volunteers from New Mexico Trout conduct fly fishing clinics for youths, allowing up to 20 participants the opportunity to fish the headwaters of the East Fork of the Jemez River on the Preserve. Participants spend a half day learning about equipment, tackle, knots, stream insect sampling and identification. They will have time to practice their casting in the morning and then head for the fishing hole in the afternoon. Bring a lunch to enjoy along the stream and be prepared for weather. This activity is extremely popular, so sign up early. This clinic is designed for youths, ages 8 – 16 years. Parents are asked to drop youths off and come back at the end of the day.

$15/person
Youth fly fishing clinic dates and details.
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Adult Fly Fishing Clinics

Volunteers from New Mexico Trout conduct fly fishing clinics for adults, allowing up to 20 participants the opportunity to fish the headwaters of the East Fork of the Jemez River on the Preserve. Participants spend a half day learning about equipment, tackle, knots, stream insect sampling and identification. They will have time to practice their casting in the morning and then head for the fishing hole in the afternoon. Bring a lunch to enjoy along the stream and be prepared for weather. This activity is extremely popular, so sign up early. This clinic is designed for adults, 16 years and older.

Adults $75/ person
Adult fly fishing clinic dates and details.
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Fly Tying Clinics

This clinic will be an introduction to the types of flies needed to catch trout on the Valles Caldera National Preserve. The clinic is sponsor by New Mexico Trout and will be conducted by Rudy Rios and other New Mexico Trout volunteers. Tools, materials, hooks and what is needed to tie these flies will be supplied, but if you own a kit your welcomed to bring it. This introduction will show the entomology of the Preserve’s streams and specifically the East Fork of the Jemez River. Insects will be shown in their natural state and each clinic will be different due to the insects hatching at that time. This hands on experience will be for beginners as well as those with fly tying skill. The flies tied in this class are going to be very specific to the Preserve and during the afternoon we will be able to try them out on the Upper East Fork. This is a real treat for those who want to "match the hatch". Bring a lunch to enjoy along the stream and be prepared for weather. This clinic is designed for adults, 16 years and older.

Adults $75/ person
Fly Tying Clinic dates and details.
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Mountain Bike Tours

Come explore the Caldera on your mountain bike! These events will provide opportunities for all ages and ability levels. At the check in station, you will be given a map and the freedom to choose your own route from what is available. We will be staging out of two parking lots. One for the "cruisers" and one for the "climbers". Cruisers are those folks wanting a relatively easy ride for the whole family. Climbers are those folks looking for some elevation change and longer distances. All of the roads for this event will be open to both cruisers and climbers. The intent is to put each group closer to the type of trails they are looking for.

$20/ Adult Rider,
$10/ Youth Rider (6 - 16),
Free/ Kids (under 6)

Mountain Bike Tour Details
Event Maps
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Mountain Biking Trails

Imagine a day on your bike on one of New Mexico's most scenic and historic ranches. Riders will enjoy the forests and meadows of the Preserve's less traveled areas. Riders will not be sharing trails with hikers, horses or other visitors, so distractions will be at a minimum. The number of bikes on the trails will be low to ensure you have a solitary ride if that is what you seek. Old logging roads allow riders to easily ride in pairs and traverse varying terrains that include some ascents and descents as well as great views.

The Preserve accommodates riders seeking different experiences. There are four loops available for rides ranging in length from 2.5-12 miles. All trails are through forested terrain and across or around large meadows on established logging roads. Expect to see a wide array of birds, elk and perhaps a bear or coyote along the way. Elevation of the Preserve is 8700-feet and higher.

$10/ Rider,
Free/ Kids (under 6)

Mountain Biking Trail Details
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Star Gazing on the Caldera

Who has not looked upward to a star-filled sky with wonder? As children, we are excited at the prospect of looking through a telescope for the first time, and we ask, “What is that? How did that come to be? What would it be like to visit that star?” As we grow older, we tend to not ask those questions as often; but nevertheless, our curiosity remains.

As an astronomical tour guide, James Maxwell’s objective is to bring the wonder of the universe to both adults and children. During this two hour tour, you will be able to see for yourself many different wonders, including nearby planets, beautiful star clusters, the Milky Way, and spectacular distant spiral galaxies. You will explore worlds outside our solar system, see exploding stars and colliding galaxies, and view objects far across the known universe. You will be able to observe these objects through a large 24” telescope and learn about our place in the Universe. Each tour of the night sky will be somewhat different, depending on the experience level of the audience and the date/time of the year.

One common thread is that we’ll begin with the basics, so that everyone knows what to expect, how to observe through a telescope, and how to visualize the scale and nature of what they are seeing. Dr. Maxwell has been an avid amateur and professional astronomer for over 28 years and he has been able to teach this subject in ways that allow everyone to understand the universe around them and gain interest in the subject. So come with your questions and be ready for an evening of fun under the stars--in one of the most unusual and exciting places to see them: the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

$20-25 / Adult
$16-20 / Senior (62+)
$10-12.5 / Youth (6-15 years old)
Free / Kids (under 6)

Star Gazing on the Caldera Details
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Stone Tool Technology

Come out to the Valles Caldera National Preserve and spend a day with skilled flintknappers demonstrating how tools are made from obsidian.
The Jemez Mountains are renowned for abundant high-quality natural volcanic glass, prized in prehistory for making stone tools in a variety of forms such as arrowheads and spear points.

Visitors will have a chance to learn about the role that lithic technology played in the prehistory of the caldera, and about the volcanic processes that formed the caldera and this high-quality toolstone material. We also will have demonstrations of other primitive technologies and how to throw “atlatl” darts.

Bring a lunch and enjoy the day at Cerro la Jara in the Valle Grande.

Free event, no registration needed
Stone Tool Technology Flyer
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Caldera 3-D Archery Shootout

Come prepared to have fun! The Valles Caldera National Preserve and the Walatowa Bow Hunters Club invite you to come test your archery skills. This 2 day 3D archery shootout will feature a course of life-sized three dimensional targets using various animal figures. Our course will utilize varying distances and natural terrain features of the Preserve to simulate actual hunting situations and challenges. 40 targets will be placed throughout Redondo Canyon for your enjoyment. There will be 3 rounds of shooting 20 targets. Space is limited! Make your reservations!

Caldera 3-D Archery Shootout Registration
Caldera 3-D Archery Shootout Flyer
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Group Tours

Various groups request special tours and these will be conducted on a first come, first serve basis when VCT staff and resources are available. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are our least busy days on the preserve so keep that in mind when requesting your event. The tours offered may include van tours, catered lunch or dinner at the Lodge, wagon rides, or demonstrations and speakers. Charges are based on costs incurred. Please contact us via email with your request including dates, numbers of participants, and expectations.
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