Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center is a magical, 135-acre wilderness retreat center nestled 8,880 feet above sea level in the Tusas Mountains, 50 miles west of Taos, New Mexico. Though not hard to find, it is important to plan your travel well given the remote location of our center. (See location on Google Maps.)

Airport Options

• The most common airport to fly into is Albuquerque Sunport, though Durango and Santa Fe are also near by options.

Transportation Options (from the airport or your point of origin)

• Driving with or without Ride Share
• Shuttle Service: Most Vallecitos retreats offer private shuttle service from the Albuquerque airport and the Hotel Santa Fe.  Shuttle service must be reserved and paid for in advance.  Click here for more information.

Vehicle Information & Road Conditions

The last seven miles into the center are on unpaved Forest Road 91B. It takes 30-40 minutes to travel these seven miles. A 4WD/AWD with high clearance is ideal as the road can be deeply rutted, plus muddy and slippery after rain. Low clearance vehicles can travel into the center (i.e. Prius) most of the time but please understand that low clearance vehicles may scrape bottom from rocks or dried ruts. In addition, when deciding how to travel to the center, please know that AAA and tow services do not service our location.

Electric Vehicles

Due to our remote, rugged location, we do not recommend driving EV vehicles to the retreat property especially if you have not previously tested your vehicle in off-road conditions. We cannot charge EV vehicles on site. The dirt-road drive on Forest Road 91B from Hopewell Lake uses more electric battery than expected and charging stations are far afield. If you run out of power or require a tow, please know that AAA and tow services do not service our location.

DIRECTIONS

The directions we provide are the safest, most expedient route to the retreat center. Without them, you risk getting lost in a remote area. We recommend that you follow these directions exactly and do not attempt to take any “shortcuts” as Google maps or GPS are unreliable and inaccurate in this area.

• If you want to use your on-board vehicle or phone GPS: enter “Hopewell Lake, NM” as your destination and from there follow our detailed directions. Do not enter “Vallecitos” as your destination as it will likely take you the wrong way and/or to the town of Vallecitos which is not our location.
• If you are diving from the south, be sure to travel through Tres Piedras, NM which is east of us. Do not take RD 111 through Carson National Forest as it is an unmaintained dirt road and takes longer to drive.

There is no cell phone service in the mountains of this area. If you are lost, please drive back only to the point that you have cell service and call/text us. (Everyone entering the property must have the gate code provided in your Final Instructions email.)

Late arrivals: The arrival window for guests who are driving on opening day of retreat is between 3:00 and 5:00pm. Late arrivals pose safety concerns for you and staff on site. Anyone arriving after 5pm must discuss your plans with us and get explicit approval. Note that you lose cell-phone reception about an hour before you arrive at the retreat center.

From Albuquerque NM: (3-1/2 hours)

From Santa Fe, NM: (2-1/2 hours)

From Taos, NM: (1-1/2 hours)

From Durango, CO: (3-1/2 hours)

From Denver, CO: (6 hours)

• Get on I-25 N from Sunport BLVD (if traveling from the airport) – travel for 53 miles toward Santa Fe
• Rather than drive through Santa Fe, take Exit 276 for NM 599, stay in left lane and take NM 599 N – travel for 13 miles, this route skirts Santa Fe to the North
• At the end of 599, connect to US 84 N/US 285. Use left lane to take US 84 N/US 285 exit toward Espanola – travel for 0.6 miles
• Turn right onto US 285 N/US 84W/N St Francis Dr – take for 22.2 miles
• When you reach Espanola, turn left to STAY on US 285 N/US 84W – travel for 8.5 miles
• North of Espanola US 84W and US 285 N split: Turn right onto US 285 N – travel for 47.4 miles. You’ll pass Ojo Caliente.
  • Please note: Do NOT take Road 111 through the Carson National Forest; Road 111 is an unmaintained dirt road, with worse conditions, and takes longer to get to the property. Navigation systems may take you this way. Go to Tres Piedras (you can use navigation to get to Tres Piedras), then follow these directions to proceed to the center.
• Continue on 285 N to Tres Piedras: Turn left onto US-64 W at 4-way stop (blinking light) in Tres Piedras – travel for 19.3 miles
  • Stay on US 64 until you see the Hopewell Lake Recreation Area Sign, do not turn off early into Carson National Forest
  • There is no more cell service after Tres Piedras (unreliable in Tres Piedras even)
• After 19.3 miles, turn left at Hopewell Lake Recreation Area onto Forest Road 91B – travel for 6.7 miles (dirt road)
  • Stay on 91B bypassing the entrances on the right to the Lake and separately the Campground shortly after you turn.
  • Once on 91B there are many pull offs and side roads, stay on main road.
  • Do not turn onto 91/91A, which will veer off to the left at some point; stay on 91B
• After 6.7 miles, turn sharp right onto primitive Road 91B3 at the Vallecitos sign. There is another sharp right a little before the one to VMRC. Do not turn right until you see the Vallecitos sign! – travel for approximately 1 mile on 91B3 which is essentially our driveway.
  • Roughly one-third of the way you will come to our property gate. The gate code is sent in our Final Instructions email. Be sure to close the gate behind you.
  • Continue down this road. You will see guest parking on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see staff housing on the right. Keep going.
  • You will pass through an open gate.
  • You will see the Middle House on the left. Keep going.
  • The next building is the lodge where you can park and unload luggage. To alleviate congestion, after unloading we ask that you please drive back up the road and park your car in the first lot beyond staff housing, then return to register.

• Get on US 285 N/US 84 W/N St Francis Dr – travel for 23 miles
• When you reach Espanola, turn left to STAY on US 285 N/US 84W – travel for 8.5 miles
• North of Espanola US 84W and US 285 N split: Turn right onto US 285 N – travel for 47.4 miles. You’ll pass Ojo Caliente.
  • Please note: Do NOT take Road 111 through the Carson National Forest; Road 111 is an unmaintained dirt road, with worse conditions, and takes longer to get to the property. Navigation systems may take you this way. Go to Tres Piedras (you can use navigation to get to Tres Piedras), then follow these directions to proceed to the center.
• Continue on 285 N to Tres Piedras: Turn left onto US-64 W at 4-way stop (blinking light) in Tres Piedras – travel for 19.3 miles
  • Stay on US 64 until you see the Hopewell Lake Recreation Area Sign, do not turn off early into Carson National Forest
  • There is no more cell service after Tres Piedras (unreliable in Tres Piedras even)
• After 19.3 miles, turn left at Hopewell Lake Recreation Area onto Forest Road 91B – travel for 6.7 miles (dirt road)
  • Stay on 91B bypassing the entrances on the right to the Lake and separately the Campground shortly after you turn.
  • Once on 91B there are many pull offs and side roads, stay on main road.
  • Do not turn onto 91/91A, which will veer off to the left at some point; stay on 91B
• After 6.7 miles, turn sharp right onto primitive Road 91B3 at the Vallecitos sign. There is another sharp right a little before the one to VMRC. Do not turn right until you see the Vallecitos sign! – travel for approximately 1 mile on 91B3 which is essentially our driveway.
  • Roughly one-third of the way you will come to our property gate. The gate code is sent in our Final Instructions email. Be sure to close the gate behind you.
  • Continue down this road. You will see guest parking on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see staff housing on the right. Keep going.
  • You will pass through an open gate.
  • You will see the Middle House on the left. Keep going.
  • The next building is the lodge where you can park and unload luggage. To alleviate congestion, after unloading we ask that you please drive back up the road and park your car in the first lot beyond staff housing, then return to register.

• Take US 64 W approximately 46 miles, driving through Tres Piedras, heading to Hopewell Lake
  • There is no more cell service after Tres Piedras (unreliable in Tres Piedras)
  • Stay on US 64 until you see Hopewell Lake turn-off, do not turn early into Carson National Forest
• After 19.3 miles from 4-way stop in Tres Piedras, turn left at Hopewell Lake Recreation Area onto Forest Road 91B – travel for 6.7 miles (dirt road)
  • Stay on 91B bypassing the entrances on the right to the Lake and separately the Campground shortly after you turn.
  • Once on 91B there are many pull offs and side roads, stay on main road.
  • Do not turn onto 91/91A, which will veer off to the left at some point; stay on 91B
• After 6.7 miles, turn sharp right onto primitive Road 91B3 at the Vallecitos sign. There is another sharp right a little before the one to VMRC. Do not turn right until you see the Vallecitos sign! – travel for approximately 1 mile on 91B3 which is essentially our driveway.
  • Roughly one-third of the way you will come to our property gate. The gate code is sent in our Final Instructions email. Be sure to close the gate behind you.
  • Continue down this road. You will see guest parking on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see staff housing on the right. Keep going.
  • You will pass through an open gate.
  • You will see the Middle House on the left. Keep going.
  • The next building is the lodge where you can park and unload luggage. To alleviate congestion, after unloading we ask that you please drive back up the road and park your car in the first lot beyond staff housing, then return to register.

• Take US 160 E to Pagosa Springs – travel for approx. 60 miles
• Turn right onto US 84 E and drive through Chama – travel for 60 miles
  • There will be a right turn in Chama to STAY on US 84 E
• Right after Tierra Amarilla, turn left onto US 64 E – travel for 29 miles
  • There is no more cell service shortly after turning onto 64
• After 29.8 miles from Tierra Amarilla, turn right at Hopewell Lake Recreation Area onto Forest Road 91B – travel for 6.7 miles (dirt road)
  • Stay on 91B bypassing the entrances on the right to the Lake and separately the Campground shortly after you turn.
  • Once on 91B, there are many pull offs and side roads, stay on main road
  • Do not turn onto 91/91A, which will veer off to the left at some point; stay on 91B
• After 6.7 miles, turn sharp right onto primitive Road 91B3 at the Vallecitos sign. There is another sharp right a little before the one to VMRC. Do not turn right until you see the Vallecitos sign! – travel for approximately 1 mile on 91B3 which is essentially our driveway.
  • Roughly one-third of the way you will come to our property gate. The gate code is sent in our Final Instructions email. Be sure to close the gate behind you.
  • Continue down this road. You will see guest parking on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see staff housing on the right. Keep going.
  • You will pass through an open gate.
  • You will see the Middle House on the left. Keep going.
  • The next building is the lodge where you can park and unload luggage. To alleviate congestion, after unloading we ask that you please drive back up the road and park your car in the first lot beyond staff housing, then return to register.

• Take US 285 S – continue on 285 till Tres Piedras, which is 60 miles south of Alamosa
• Turn right onto US 64 W at 4-way stop (blinking light) in Tres Piedras – travel for 19.3 miles
  • There is no more cell service after Tres Piedras (unreliable in Tres Piedras)
  • Stay on US 64 until you see Hopewell Lake turn-off, do not turn early into Carson National Forest
• After 19.3 miles from 4-way stop in Tres Piedras, turn left at Hopewell Lake Recreation Areat onto Forest Road 91B – travel for 6.7 miles (dirt road)
  • Stay on 91B bypassing the entrances on the right to the Lake and separately the Campground shortly after you turn.
  • Once on 91B, there are many pull offs and side roads, stay on main road
  • Do not turn onto 91/91A, which will veer off to the left at some point; stay on 91B
• After 6.7 miles, turn sharp right onto primitive Road 91B3 at the Vallecitos sign. There is another sharp right a little before the one to VMRC. Do not turn right until you see the Vallecitos sign! – travel for approximately 1 mile on 91B3 which is essentially our driveway.
  • Roughly one-third of the way you will come to our property gate. The gate code is sent in our Final Instructions email. Be sure to close the gate behind you.
  • Continue down this road. You will see guest parking on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see staff housing on the right. Keep going.
  • You will pass through an open gate.
  • You will see the Middle House on the left. Keep going.
  • The next building is the lodge where you can park and unload luggage. To alleviate congestion, after unloading we ask that you please drive back up the road and park your car in the first lot beyond staff housing, then return to register.

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