BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Los Amigos de Valles Caldera
For many longtime residents, the experience of standing at the edge of Valle Grande along Highway 4 and knowing they could not enter is still easy to recall. Before federal acquisition in 2000, and even during the Valles Caldera Trust era, most people encountered locked gates, limited shuttle access, or large stretches of land closed to general recreation. Los Amigos de Valles Caldera has worked in this landscape for over two decades, and that history shapes how we view today’s discussion about public use.
A recent opinion piece (https://losalamosreporter.com/2026/05/22/lte-the-gated-caldera-how-bureaucracy-and-politics-are-locking-americans-out-of-valles-caldera-national-preserve/) suggests that the caldera has become more restricted. That claim doesn’t match the past decade of changes. Since the National Park Service assumed management, public access has expanded substantially. Visitors can now drive four miles into Valle Grande – twice the distance allowed under previous management. The 18-mile backcountry vehicle route, once open only to hunters and anglers, is now available to all visitors. Hiking, biking, and horseback riding opportunities have grown across the landscape, and anglers now enjoy broader access. These improvements have helped visitation rise from around 30,000 people in 2015 to over 86,000 in 2025.
The draft General Management Plan continues this expansion. It proposes extending front-country vehicle access to 10.5 miles, establishing three new vehicle entry points, formalizing roughly 130 miles of trails – including 76 miles of multi-use trails – and adding 6 miles to the backcountry vehicle route creating a loop through Sulphur Canyon. The plan also includes a new visitor center location and a realigned entrance road to create a more intuitive arrival experience within the landscape. These are practical improvements, not new restrictions.
After the GMP is finalized, the NPS plans to begin designing an overnight backcountry camping program for hikers, horseback riders, and bikepackers. Many people raised this idea during public engagement, and it represents a major step in opening more of the caldera to the kinds of experiences residents have asked for over many years.
Hundreds of people participated in a lengthy public process that included meetings, comment periods, and community events. Thirty-seven tribal nations were consulted. While perspectives varied, most input reflected two shared priorities: increasing access and protecting the caldera’s ecological and cultural resources. People want to explore more of the landscape, but they don’t want it to be loved to death.
The recent opinion piece reflects a different view. The author has repeatedly advocated for unrestricted motorized use across more than a thousand miles of legacy logging roads, day and night. That position sits far outside the mainstream of comments received and conflicts with the protection of cultural sites, wildlife habitat, and sensitive watersheds.
The assertion that federal law requires unlimited vehicle access is also incorrect. National parks across the country set reasonable limits on motorized use to protect resources while still supporting public enjoyment. At Valles Caldera, the backcountry vehicle pass system is currently reaching daily capacity only 40% of the time during the summer season.
Los Amigos supports a future where people continue to discover Valles Caldera in ways that are meaningful, sustainable, and authentic. The draft GMP moves toward that future by expanding vehicle and trail routes, improving facilities, and opening the door to overnight backcountry experiences while honoring community values and the long-term health of the landscape.
Readers should look to the plan itself and the full public record. Access has never been greater, and with thoughtful stewardship it can continue to grow without putting this remarkable place at risk. Link to plan: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?ProjectID=112511
…