Due to the continued high risk of wildfire in the region, Valles Caldera National Preserve will implement public closures to all backcountry areas of the preserve on Friday, June 1, 2018, at 12:01 AM, pursuant to Stage III fire restrictions. However, main public areas of the preserve unit will remain open. These restrictions are being put in place to help the National Park Service provide for public safety and reduce fire risk.
Valles Caldera will close access to its backcountry and suspend all fishing, equestrian, hiking, and biking activities. The Valle Grande entrance station and bookstore will remain open to the public, and ranger-led tours and hikes will be offered in the park’s cabin district.
Several criteria are used to determine when to implement fire restrictions, including fire activity levels, current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, and the availability of firefighting resources. Fire restriction criteria are routinely evaluated and restrictions could be upgraded or downgraded at any time. Therefore, visitors should check the park’s website for alerts prior to their visit.
Know before you go. Fire restrictions in New Mexico can be found at www.firerestrictions.us/nm and fire updates are posted on the New Mexico Fire Information website at www.nmfireinfo.com.
Tags: valles caldera national preserve valles caldera fire restrictions backcountry closures
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
