JEMEZ SPRINGS — Valles Caldera National Preserve is offering extended hours for winter recreation Saturday, Jan. 14. Normal operational hours, currently 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will be extended until 9:30 p.m. with the entrance gate closing at 10 p.m.

The Valle Grande Entrance Station and a contact station positioned among historic cabins will be open and available for warming. The Valle Grande Bookstore, managed by Los Amigos de Valles Caldera, will be renting snowshoes and poles and selling gifts and books. Visitors of all ages are welcome to snowshoe, ski, hike, as well as, experiment with night photography and tell stories around a fire.

Visitors should come prepared with a light source in case clouds cover the moon. Visitors should also dress in layers, as nighttime temperatures are below freezing and often below zero. Entry into the Valles Caldera National Preserve requires a $20 vehicle admission fee, and all federal lands passes are also accepted.

There is a chance for rain or snow during the event this weekend; visitors are advised to come prepared. Any event cancellations or early closings will be posted through alerts on our website www.nps.gov and on Facebook www.facebook.com/VallesCaldera.

This is the first full moon event this winter. Future moonlight events are scheduled for Feb. 11 and March 11.

About Valles Caldera National Preserve

About 1.25 million years ago, a spectacular volcanic eruption created the approximately 13-mile wide circular depression now known as the Valles Caldera. The preserve is known for its huge mountain meadows, abundant wildlife, and meandering streams. The area also preserves the homeland of ancestral native peoples and embraces a rich ranching history. Visit us at www.nps.gov and on Facebook www.facebook.com/VallesCaldera/.