The Valles Caldera Preserve is located in the Jemez Mountains of Northern New Mexico, approximately 20 miles west of Los Alamos. It is a volcanic caldera, which was formed more than a million years ago by a massive volcanic eruption- similar to Yellow Stone National park. Today, the preserve is managed by the Valles Caldera Trust, which was established in 2000 to protect the land and its resources.

I had the opportunity to visit this unique and beautiful preserve in the Summer of 2022 for the first time. To say it was a memorable experience is an understatement. More details and images below….

The preserve offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, fly-fishing, photography, wildlife watching, The hiking trails range from easy to challenging, and offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains, meadows, and forests.

Some Valles Caldera Fly Fishing Tips:

I was visiting specifically to explore and fly-fish the small but fertile streams or creeks that meander through the vast valley floor. Hidden in the high meadow grass, there was a few times on my drive into the back country I did not realize a creek was actually present out yonder until I drove over a culvert. The fishing here is particularly challenging because of how spooky the trout are in these skinny open meadow waters (see images below) but it can be a lot fun and the open landscape views are epic. In addition, I had learned that some surprising large Brown trout can be found in these waters which adds to the excitement. However, they are extremely wary , so stealthy approaches and casting are necessary.

Fishing in shorts off the banks of the creek, and never stepping in the water, I was using a 5wt rod with fairly long leader (10 feet) with my 2 flys separated by 6x flourocarbon tippet to help try to fool these skittish trout. After spooking multiple fish being to close to the creek, I found I had to stand back quite a bit and cast and just listen or feel for a take as it was very tough to see my top fly with the grass lined creek masking the water. Using a dry dropper rig with a size 10 Stimulator on top and a small pheasant tail nymph below (size 18) I did manage to catch and release a few small Browns with biggest just over 10 inches.

As I explored different sections of the creek I found myself getting distracted by massive summer monsoon storm clouds building in the distance very early in the day. In fact after exploring another section of San Antonio creek for about 30 minutes I quit fishing about 1:30 pm as the rumble and lightning flashes of a fast moving thunderstorm was getting way to close for comfort. There is little or no cover in many parts of this vast and high elevation meadow system so it can be unnerving when t-storms are fast approaching. Not to mention because of a few prior experiences that I am scared shit-less of getting struck by lightning out in the field.

A Mighty Lightning Strike!

On my drive back to the park entrance I stopped at the location of the famous Longmire cabin that’s used in the Longmire Western TV series. It’s a pretty spot with a few other old west ranch buildings on the edge of the forest. With dramatic views beckoning, I decided to start setting up my camera to shoot some video footage next to a small pond overlooking the meadow system below. And then it happened. Boom! Not less than 30 yards from where I was setting up a rogue lighting bolt struck a Ponderosa Pine tree. The instantaneous and deafening explosion shook the ground and lit the tree on fire! See images below. It was quite a shock as the skies were mostly clear in this section of the preserve and there was no sound of thunder rumbling in the vicinity.

There were a few Park service employees nearby who heard and felt the shockwave of the explosion and they called in some resources to put the fire out. We gathered for a while to chat and marvel at the lone burning Pine tree. We all agreed that we had never seen a lightning strike as crazy and dramatic as this one. Anyway, it made for quite an exciting finish to my first visit to the Valles Caldera! Just recently I noticed they even have an image on the preserves website of this tree on fire with Park service vehicles nearby. Video: You can watch a short video of the tree going up in flames here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuS2lgMrQ7E

As far as wildlife, I did not see any big game on my short visit but The Valles Caldera Preserve is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including elk, deer, black bear, coyotes, and many species of birds. I did see a lot of Prairie dogs darting around. The best time to see wildlife is in the early morning or late afternoon, when the animals are most active.

Regarding photography tips, this landscape is custom made for a wide-angle lens. Most of the images you see below were captured on a Sigma 18-35 Art lens. I had my tripod set up with a remote to get some “angle in action” shots as I was fishing solo that day.

Visiting Information: The Valles Caldera Preserve is open year-round, with different activities available depending on the season. The preserve is only open daily from 9am to 4pm so its advised you try to get to the gate early and wait for a Park employee to open it. You will then need to check in and pay at the ranger station a mile or so down the road. In addition, to limit pressure. the preserve only issues a certain number of back country permits every day for fly-fishing and exploring so keep that in mind. Which to me is a great idea. I only saw 2 other anglers fishing that day

The entrance fee is $25 per vehicle, and there are discounts available for seniors, military personnel, and other groups. Visitors should be prepared for changing weather conditions and bring appropriate clothing, food, and water.

Additional Information: To plan your visit to the Valles Caldera Preserve, you can visit the preserve's website or contact the Valles Caldera Trust for more information. The website provides detailed information on hiking trails and other activities, as well as information on the preserve's history and natural resources. I don’t believe they allow camping in the preserve.

Below are some images I have captured on my 1 day visit to the Preserve. Please click on the images to see full size high resolution versions that are available for sale. Please contact me if you have any questions or want to purchase an image that is not linked. All images are copyrighted