The Valles Caldera, a twenty kilometer wide circular depression, is a geological gem created by a volcanic eruption that took place around 1.25 million years ago.
Today it is a protected area that covers over 39,000 hectares and attracts around 120,000 annual visitors who wish to hike, horseback ride, mountain bike, camp or fish for trout, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter.
Located just 22 kilometers west of downtown Los Alamos, the Valles Caldera National Preserve is also a popular hunting destination, as it claims the second largest elk population in the state, and more 400 wild turkeys live in the reserve from April to December.
Other wildlife, such as prairie dogs, black bears, and golden eagles, also call this wilderness home.