The National Park Service at Valles Caldera announced that they will start charging entrance fees beginning New Year’s Day. The fees are like those charged at Bandelier National Monument for noncommercial visitors. They are $25 per vehicle, $15 per person for a week of entries.
The Caldera staff released a statement that said in part: “Entrance fees were originally suspended in 2017 because of a lack of services available at that time in the newly established national park unit. Since then, the National Park Service has improved park roads, expanded vehicle access by four miles to the park’s historic cabin district, opened pedestrian access points at seven locations along the park boundary, and implemented a new backcountry vehicle reservation system. Valles Caldera also established a new junior ranger program and is offering more than 100 in-park programs, including winter skiing and snowshoeing programs on 16 miles of groomed trails, fly-fishing clinics, ranger-guided hikes, night sky events, and seasonal special events. Over the next year, the park will begin construction on new parking areas, public EV charging stations, new interpretive trails and signage, and a major new interactive interpretive exhibit.”
The good news is that the fees will remain in the park for various uses. Your senior and other passes will get you in as well.
