Improvements to Valle Grande District
“We’re excited to make Valles Caldera more accessible and welcoming to all. These proposed infrastructure improvements are an important step in that direction,” said park superintendent, Jorge Silva-Bañuelos.
Two areas of the park currently receive the majority of visitation: 1) the Entrance Station area situated in the middle of the Valle Grande near Cerro La Jara along the main park entrance road; and 2) the Cabin District located on the north side of the Valle Grande comprising the various former ranch buildings constructed during the period of private ownership. The park is interested in making meaningful infrastructure improvements in these locations that would support improving visitor enjoyment while managing visitors to protect park resources.
The park is proposing to make the Cabin District more accessible to people with disabilities and facilitate visitors accessing this area without the need for a backcountry vehicle permit as is currently the case. The park is considering the creation of
- two new parking areas near the cabin district,
- improvements to buildings to make them accessible to people with disabilities,
- the addition of new trails for public and administrative use in and around the Cabin District,
- an automatic gate that does not require visitors to get out of their vehicle to open and close, subsurface utility installation to existing historic and non-historic buildings, and
- trailhead kiosks at existing trails which would provide better information to visitors.
- modify the VC01 entrance road to reroute one-way traffic into the Entrance Station parking area,
- redesign the existing parking lot to provide a lane that will direct inbound traffic through a new entrance booth,
- remove the existing livestock corrals,
- add two new electric vehicle charging stations in the parking area, and
- make accessibility improvements to the Entrance Station building and to entry and exit gates in this area.
View project information and submit written comments using the Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) system and searching for “Valles Caldera Interim Infrastructure Improvements Project (106210).” Comments may also be submitted by mail (Valles Caldera National Preserve, Attn: Environmental Protection Specialist, P.O. Box 359, Jemez Springs, NM 87025) or fax (575-829-4141).