Location / Directions

Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center is a magical, 135-acre wilderness ranch and retreat center nestled 8,880 feet above sea level in...

Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center is a magical, 135-acre wilderness ranch and 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 ranch are on unpaved Forest Road 91B. A 4WD with high clearance is ideal.  However, in most situations, a 2WD regular clearance vehicle is adequate, unless the weather is very wet. Weather that is wet enough to make the roads very muddy is a rare occurrence: the roads are almost always passable in a normal, 2WD vehicle.  However, if road conditions become unusually muddy or impassable for any reason, we will contact you before the retreat opening. Low clearance vehicles can and often travel into the ranch (i.e. Prius) but please understand that low clearance vehicles like this may scrape bottom from rocks or dried ruts.

DIRECTIONS

Follow these directions exactly and do not attempt to take any “shortcuts”, other routes or rely on Google maps or GPS (both are unreliable and inaccurate in this area). The directions we provide are the safest, most expedient route to the ranch. You must follow these directions exactly as given or risk getting lost in a remote area where we will not know to look for you. 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. Then immediately call 505-469-9017. If no one answers, text this same number as well and we will call you back within 15 minutes on travel days. We have staff on call for opening days who will get right back to you. (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)

 


 

From Albuquerque NM: (3-1/2 hours)
  • Get on I-25 N from Sunport BLVD (if traveling from the airport) – travel for 53 miles
  • Take Exit 276 for NM 599, stay in left lane and take NM 599 N – travel for 13 miles
  • 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
  • Turn left to STAY on US 285 N/US 84W – travel for 8.5 miles
  • Turn right onto US 285 N – travel for 47.4 miles
  • Turn left 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 even)
  • Turn left onto Forest Road 91B at Hopewell Lake – travel for 6.7 miles (dirt road)
  • There are many pull offs and side roads, stay on main road.
  • Turn sharp right onto primitive road at the Vallecitos sign. Do not turn until you see the Vallecitos Ranch sign! – travel for approximately 1 mile
  • You will come to a green gate. The gate code will be provided to you prior to your retreat. Close the gate behind you.
  • Continue down this road. You will see parking on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see staff housing on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see the Middle House teacher’s quarters on the left. Teachers park here.
  • Just a bit further is the lodge. This is where guests unload their luggage then go to park their cars in the first parking lot passed.

 

From Santa Fe, NM: (2-1/2 hours)
  • Get on US 285 N/US 84 W/N St Francis Dr – travel for 23 miles
  • Turn left to STAY on US 285 N/US 84 W – travel for 8.5 miles
  • Turn right onto US 285 N – travel for 47.4 miles
  • Turn left 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)
  • Turn left onto Forest Road 91B at Hopewell Lake – travel for 6.7 miles (dirt road)
  • There are many pull offs and side roads, stay on main road.
  • Turn sharp right onto primitive road at the Vallecitos sign. Do not turn until you see the Vallecitos Ranch sign! – travel for approximately 1 mile
  • You will come to a green gate. The gate code will be provided to you prior to your retreat. Close the gate behind you.
  • Continue down this road. You will see parking on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see staff housing on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see the Middle House teacher’s quarters on the left. Teachers park here.
  • Just a bit further is the lodge. This is where guests unload their luggage then go to park their cars in the first parking lot passed.

 

From Taos, NM: (1-1/2 hours)
  • Take US 64 W approximately 46 miles
  • There is no more cell service after Tres Piedras (Unreliable in Tres Piedras)
  • Turn left onto Forest Road 91B at Hopewell Lake – travel for 6.7 miles (dirt road)
  • There are many pull offs and side roads, stay on main road.
  • Turn sharp right onto primitive road at the Vallecitos sign. Do not turn until you see the Vallecitos Ranch sign! – travel for approximately 1 mile
  • You will come to a green gate. The gate code will be provided to you prior to your retreat. Close the gate behind you.
  • Continue down this road. You will see parking on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see staff housing on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see the Middle House teacher’s quarters on the left. Teachers park here.
  • Just a bit further is the lodge. This is where guests unload their luggage then go to park their cars in the first parking lot passed.

 

From Durango, CO: (3-1/2 hours)
  • Take US 160 E to Pagosa – travel for approx. 60 miles
  • Turn right onto US 84 E through Chama – travel for 60 miles
  • There will be a right turn in Chama to STAY on US 84 E
  • Turn left onto US 64 E – travel for 29 miles
  • There is no more cell service shortly after turning onto 64
  • Turn right onto Forest Road 91B at Hopewell Lake – travel for 6.7 miles (dirt road)
  • There are many pull offs and side roads, stay on main road.
  • Turn sharp right onto primitive road at the Vallecitos sign. Do not turn until you see the Vallecitos Ranch sign! – travel for approximately 1 mile
  • You will come to a green gate. The gate code will be provided to you prior to your retreat. Close the gate behind you.
  • Continue down this road. You will see parking on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see staff housing on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see the Middle House teacher’s quarters on the left. Teachers park here.
  • Just a bit further is the lodge. This is where guests unload their luggage then go to park their cars in the first parking lot passed.

 

From Denver, CO: (6 hours – 2 hours from Alamosa, CO)
  • Take US 285 S from Alamosa – travel for 60 miles
  • 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)
  • Turn left onto Forest Road 91B at Hopewell Lake – travel for 6.7 miles (dirt road)
  • There are many pull offs and side roads, stay on main road.
  • Turn sharp right onto primitive road at the Vallecitos sign. Do not turn until you see the Vallecitos Ranch sign! – travel for approximately 1 mile
  • You will come to a green gate. The gate code will be provided to you prior to your retreat. Close the gate behind you.
  • Continue down this road. You will see parking on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see staff housing on the right. Keep going.
  • You will see the Middle House teacher’s quarters on the left. Teachers park here.
  • Just a bit further is the lodge. This is where guests unload their luggage then go to park their cars in the first parking lot passed.