31 Oct Bandelier National Monument: Trails and General Information

Bandelier National Monument contains dozens of dwellings carved into the rock from the Ancestral Pueblo people dating back to the 1100s. The monument is located in Los Alamos, New Mexico within the Frijoles Canyon. While visiting Bandelier National Monument, you can choose to walk along a dozen hiking trails to explore these dwellings as well as to enjoy views of the canyon. I visited Bandelier National Monument while on a road trip from Pennsylvania to California with friends, and we are definitely glad we added it as a stop on our itinerary.

Check out my cross-country road trip packing list as well as essential accessories for a pop up camper if you need some help packing for your next trip.

Contents:

1) Location 

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) The Best Time to Visit

4) Quick Facts 

5) Background of the Monument

6) Creation of the Dwellings

7) Flora and Fauna in the Area

8) Hiking Trails in Bandelier National Monument

9) Recommended Items to Bring

1) Location 

Bandelier National Monument is located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. For reference, it is approximately a two hour drive north from Albuquerque, NM and a one hour drive northwest of Santa Fe, NM.

If you are driving up from the south, you will most likely need to hop on US-84 W. Exit on NM-502/Los Alamos and merge onto the Los Alamos Highway. Then continue for about 10 miles (~16 kilometers) before taking the NM-4 exit to White Rock. Drive for around 12 miles (~19 kilometers) then turn left onto Entrance Road toward the monument.

On the other hand, if you are driving down from the north, you will need to make your way to NM-30. Then exit on NM-502 W to Los Alamos. At this point, you can follow the same instructions as above. Exit to NM-4 then drive 12 more miles (~19 kilometers) until turning left onto the Entrance Road.

While in New Mexico, I recommend you also make time in your itinerary to visit Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument and La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs.

Air pockets within the canyon walls

Parking for Bandelier National Monument Trails

There is a parking lot located shortly after the entrance station, though it can often fill up at peak times. If you plan to visit on a weekend in the late morning or afternoon, you have two options. First, you can test your luck and try to get a spot in the parking lot right past the entrance station. Second, you can park at the White Rock Visitor Center and take a shuttle into Bandelier.

Nearby Lodging

Are you looking for a more adventurous lodging experience? Well, then obtain a backcountry permit if you plan to head out on an overnight or weekend backpacking trip. Another option is to reserve a spot at Juniper Campground, which is right next to the park entrance, or Ponderosa Group Campground, which is just six miles away.

On the other hand, maybe you prefer the luxuries of running water and electricity. Look into lodging options in the small town of Los Alamos or the city of Santa Fe.

Nearby Airports

The closest airport is the Santa Fe Regional Airport, which is a little over an hour drive southeast. However, the closest international airport is a bit further away in the city of Albuquerque. The Albuquerque International Sunport is approximately two hours south. Please be aware there are no public transportation options available from either of these airports to the monument. You will thus need to rent a car at the airport or utilize a ride share service such as Uber.

View from one of the trails in Bandelier National Monument

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

Bandelier is open to visitors from dawn to dusk. Therefore, the hours for the park will vary based on the season. Look up the times for sunrise and sunset for when you plan to visit to know the opening hours of the park for that day/month. If you wish to stay overnight in the park, then you will either need a backcountry permit or a campground reservation.

Entrance Fee

Do be aware there is an entrance fee to visit Bandelier National Monument. It is not a per-person fee but rather a vehicle fee of $25. That being said, the $25 covers an entire vehicle, no matter whether you are the only person in the car or whether you have seven other friends crammed in there with you. As a bonus, the entrance pass is valid for seven days from purchase.

I would say that the $25 was absolutely worth it to visit the monument, and I was lucky to split the cost between four people. Moreover, the majority of the fee goes straight back into protecting the park and its resources.

Please see the NPS site for more information on entrance fees, including annual passes, group passes, etc. Additionally, the National Park Service has a couple of fee free days each year. You can use the link included above to find out which days those are, as they change slightly every year.

One of the houses in the monument grounds

3) The Best Time to Visit

The best season to visit Bandelier is arguably autumn, though spring and summer are also good options. Autumn wins number one here, however, due to the colors of the changing leaves and slightly cooler temperatures.

In relation to the time of day, it is best if you can arrive in the early morning or in the late afternoon. Of course you will be slightly restricted in when you can arrive simply due to the fact that the park is only open from dawn to dusk. The most crowded time in the park is from around 9:00am to 3:00pm. Furthermore, do be aware of the times needed for the individual hiking trails, for you do not want to arrive at Bandelier National Monument too late and not have enough time to finish your trail. 

Estimated Visit Time

The amount of time you need to plan for a visit to Bandelier National Monument truly depends on how many attractions and hiking trails you have on your itinerary. However, I would say the minimum visit time is one hour, the average visit time is three hours, and the longest visit time is a full day.

More air pockets within the canyon walls

4) Quick Facts 

1. Woodrow Wilson established the Bandelier National Monument in 1916 and named it after the archaeologist Adolph Bandelier.

2. Wildflower season in the region is from mid-April to mid-autumn.

3. The dwellings are made out of a rock called tuff, which is a volcanic rock consisting of air pockets.

4. The tallest point of the national monument is over 10,000 feet (~3,048 meters) tall.

5. The Main (Pueblo) Loop Trail and the Alcove House Trail are the most popular trails within the Bandelier National Monument.

Ladder leading to one of the rooms in the rock wall

5) Background of the Monument 

The Frijoles canyon region includes Bandelier National Monument. It has an interesting history that dates back to around 10,000 years ago when the first humans migrated here.

Human History of the Region

The beginning of human history in Bandelier started thousands of years ago. It is believed that nomadic hunter-gatherers reached this area by following wildlife. The next chapter of history is when the Ancestral Pueblo people began to build their homes and lives in the area around 1150. They stayed here until only a couple of hundred years ago in the mid 1500s. At that time they moved into other neighboring towns, including Cochiti, which is where the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument can be found. Some of the possible reasons for the move are the need to be closer to a major water source, war, and expansion of the population.

Spanish settlers later made their homes in the Frijoles Canyon region in the 1700s after a period of the region being unoccupied.

Skip forward to the late 1800s when Jose Montoya of Pueblo De Cochiti brought Adolph Bandelier to the area. He wanted to show Adolph the homelands of his ancestors. Adolph Bandelier was a Swiss-born archaeologist, and he thus began to study the Frijoles canyon region and the dwellings left there from the Ancestral Pueblo people.

View of the monument from inside one of the rooms in the rock wall

Naming of the Monument

Now, you have probably already come to the conclusion that Bandelier National Monument is named after Adolph Bandelier. No trick here, for you are correct in that assumption. Adolph was the first person (that we know of) to study as well as to write research on the historical dwellings within the canyon. He devoted much of his life to this research as well as to preservation efforts.

President Woodrow Wilson declared the creation of Bandelier National Monument in 1916, and he named the monument after Adolph Bandelier.

Size of the Monument 

Bandelier National Monument encompasses over 30,000 acres of land and approximately 70 miles (~113 kilometers) of hiking trails.

Furthermore, the national monument ranges from just over 5,000 feet (~1,524 meters) tall at its lowest point to over 10,000 feet (~3,048 meters) tall at its highest point.

Circular rock formation within the monument

6) Information on the Dwellings 

Your first question might be…how did they create the dwellings in the first place? It seems quite difficult to carve directly into rocks to create housing. Well, the type of rock here is particularly suitable for carving.

Geology of the Dwellings

First, let us start with the Frijoles Canyon, for the dwellings could not have been created if it were not for the unique characteristics of the canyon. The canyon’s walls are made of rock deposits called tuff. Tuff is essentially a rock consisting of a bunch of small volcanic debris fused together. Additionally, it is a softer rock that contains air pockets. These air pockets can be fairly small or over a dozen feet in diameter.

The Ancestral Pueblo people took advantage of these air pockets. They would find large air pockets and then utilize them to carve out even larger holes in the rock to create the dwellings.

Supporting the Dwellings

While the tuff made for the perfect rock to carve the dwellings from, the people also needed to find a few other resources with which they could support these newly created dwellings. The main resource they utilized was Ponderosa pine trees. They would cut down the trees and then use the trunks as support beams within the dwellings. You can think of this in the same way that modern houses today have load-bearing beams and walls to support the roof.

More rock formations within the monument

7) Flora and Fauna in the Area

Bandelier National Monument is home to a variety of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. You will most likely not see any amphibians during your visit, although, for the most common ones in the area are small frogs and salamanders. If you are a bird watcher, be sure to bring your binoculars and look to the skies. Some birds remain in the area year-round while others migrate in the winter months. For example, Steller Jays are present all year while Turkey Vultures can only be seen in the summer.

Concerning reptiles, you are most likely to spot a lizard or a rattlesnake. If you either hear or see a rattlesnake, back away slowly and make no sudden movements. While they do not generally like people and tend to stay away, you still want to remain alert at all times. Lastly, there are a variety of mammals living in the region, for example badgers, bighorn sheep, black bears, elk, mule deer, and coyotes.

Grizzly bears and wolves previously lived in the area but no longer do. They have been driven out by human presence and activities.

Plants

If I asked you what kind of plants are present in the area, one of your first guesses might be succulents. You would be correct! A wide variety of cacti and succulents grow in the Frijoles Canyon and Bandelier National Monument. They are able to survive the harsh summers and unexpected droughts.

However, what you might not expect is that wildflowers also grow in the area. If you want to spot them, be sure to visit sometime between mid-April and the first frost, which often occurs in mid-autumn.

Walking along one of the trails in Bandelier National Monument

8) Hiking Trails in Bandelier National Monument 

There are a variety of hiking trails located in the Bandelier National Monument, and I will list them all out briefly below. If you live close by, then you can plan a bunch of day trips to conquer every trail. However, if you are visiting from out of town or out of state, then prioritize the Main Loop Trail as well as the Alcove House Trail.

For additional easy hiking trails in nearby states, check out the Perkins Central Garden Trail in Garden of the Gods in Colorado and the Skyline Arch Trail in Arches National Park in Utah.

For more challenging hiking trails in nearby states, check out Angels Landing in Zion National Park as well as the Frary Peak Trail in Antelope Island State Park in Utah.

Main (Pueblo) Loop Trail

The Main Loop Trail is the most popular trail within the Bandelier National Monument. It is a 1.4 mile (~2.3 kilometer) loop trail with approximately 220 feet (~67 meters) of elevation gain. Furthermore, an average hiker can complete the loop in 40 minutes or so. However, you are going to want to pad that time by 15 to 30 minutes as you will want to stop along the route to take pictures and explore. For example, there are multiple places where you can climb a ladder and into the dwellings along the canyon.

Falls Trail – Bandelier National Monument Trails

The Falls Trail is a 2.9 mile (~4.7 kilometer) out and back trail with approximately 500 feet (~152 meters) in elevation gain. An average hiker can complete the hike in about an hour and a half. The trailhead is located right by the visitor center. Additionally, please note you will first descend hundreds of feet in elevation to the Frijoles Creek waterfall. On the return trip you will then need to ascend, so thus prepare yourself for a harder return trip.

Walking up a ladder into a small room in the rock wall

Cerro Grande Trail 

The Cerro Grande Trail is a 4.2 mile (~6.8 kilometer) out and back trail with approximately 1,250 feet (~381 meters) in elevation gain, making it a moderate route. An average hiker can complete the trail in two and a half hours. At the end of the hike you will reach Cerro Grand Peak, which is the highest point in the park at over 10,000 feet (~3,048 meters). You will thus be rewarded with beautiful panoramic views.

Tsankawi Trail – Bandelier National Monument Trails

The Tsankawi Trail is a 1.6 mile (~2.6 kilometer) loop trail with approximately 240 feet (~73 meters) of elevation gain. An average hiker can complete the loop in 45 minutes or so. Furthermore, be aware that this trail is more exposed than others. There are a few narrow sections as well as ladders you must climb. Along the trail, you can see remains of the Ancestral Pueblo village as well as petroglyphs. For more petroglyphs in the area, check out La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs.

Alcove House Trail – Bandelier National Monument Trails

The Alcove House Trail is a 2.6 mile (~4.2 kilometer) trail with approximately 250 feet (~76 meters) of elevation gain. An average hiker can complete this trial in an hour and 15 minutes. However, you can easily add this trail along to the Main Loop Trail detailed above. This trailhead is located halfway along the Main Loop Trail, from which you need to hike another 0.5 miles (~0.8 kilometers) out and back to the Alcove House. Once you return to the loop, you can then choose to go back from the way you came or to finish out the loop. As a bonus, the Alcove House and the Main Loop Trails are the two most popular trails within the Bandelier National Monument. Therefore, adding them together to make a longer hike is the best way to experience the park. 

Looking outside from one of the rooms in the rock wall

Frey Trail – Bandelier National Monument Trails

The Frey Trail is a 3.1 mile (~five kilometer) out and back trail with approximately 600 feet (~183 meters) of elevation gain. An average hiker can complete it in an hour and a half. The trail maneuvers up and down through the canyon, thus providing scenic views of the Tyuonyi ruins.

Burnt Mesa Trail

The Burnt Mesa Trail is a 5.3 mile (~8.5 kilometer) out and back trail with approximately 450 feet (~137 meters) of elevation gain. An average hiker can complete it in two hours. At the end, you are rewarded with views of Frijoles Canyon.

Frijolito Loop Trail – Bandelier National Monument Trails

The Frijolito Loop Trail is a 2.6 mile (~4.2 kilometer) loop trail with approximately 530 feet (~162 feet) of elevation gain. An average hiker can complete it in one hour and 20 minutes. While hiking along, you can enjoy views down into the Frijoles Canyon.

Tyuonyi Overlook Trail 

The Tyuonyi Overlook Trail is a 2.1 mile (~3.4 kilometer) out and back trail with approximately 200 feet (~61 meters) of elevation gain. An average hiker can complete it in 50 minutes. After passing by a few historical sites, you will then come to a viewing platform of the Frijoles Canyon.

Ladder leading up into another room in the rock wall (there are a lot of rooms!)

Frijoles Rim Trail – Bandelier National Monument Trails

The Frijoles Rim Trail is a 14.6 mile (~23.5 kilometer) loop trail with approximately 2,730 feet (~832 meters) of elevation gain. An average hiker can complete the hike in seven hours. You will cross a creek along the trail and have views of the Frijoles Canyon. Additionally, this is the most difficult trail within the park. 

Ponderosa to Frijoles Canyon Trail

The Frijoles Canyon Trail is a 4.3 mile (~6.9 kilometer) out and back trail with approximately 810 feet (~247 meters) of elevation gain. An average hiker can complete it in two hours. The trail meanders through the canyon, which means you are rewarded with some beautiful views.

Yapashi Pueblo Trail – Bandelier National Monument Trails

The Yapashi Pueblo Trail is a 11.9 mile (~19.2 kilometer) out and back trail with approximately 2,580 feet (~786 meters) of elevation gain. An average hiker can complete it in a little over six hours. Along the trail you will see a fair amount of pueblo remains and ruins. Additionally, be aware this is one of the most difficult trails within Bandelier National Monument. 

Painted Caves Trail – Bandelier National Monument Trails

The Painted Caves Trail is a 12.3 mile (~19.8 kilometer) loop trail with approximately 2,420 feet (~738 meters) of elevation gain. An average hiker can complete it in just over six hours. You can see a fair amount of petroglyphs along the trail. Interested in more petroglyphs, like thousands more? Check out La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs nearby. Additionally, be aware this is one of the most difficult trails within Bandelier National Monument. 

Further away view of Bandelier National Monument

9) Recommended Items to Bring

1. Water bottle: Please please please be sure to bring water with you while visiting Bandelier. I do not mean bring water and leave it in your car. Nope. Carry your water around with you as you hike along the trails and explore the dwellings in the canyon wall. Water is even more important if you are visiting in the summer, for the heat can make you become dehydrated real quick. I always carry around my Yeti water bottle.

Hygiene

2. Sunscreen: While this might not be as important on a cloudy day, it will be on a day full of beautiful clear skies. Walking around even for just 30 minutes can lead to sunburn if you have fair skin.

3. Bug spray: Let’s be honest – mosquitos, gnats, and any other little type of fly can ruin an experience. You cannot truly enjoy an attraction if you are swatting away bugs from your face the whole time. Therefore, be prepared with bug spray or a mosquito repellent bracelet.

Hiking Items for Bandelier National Monument Trails

4. Hiking shoes: A pair of hiking shoes will be incredibly helpful if you plan on hiking along any of the trails within the national monument. And hiking a trail is just about mandatory to see the attractions in the area, even if it is just the Main Loop Trail.

5. Hiking poles: While hiking poles might not be a necessity for one of the shorter trails, they will definitely come in handy on one of the more strenuous trails listed above. A little extra support can go a long way.

6. Optional – crampons: These are only necessary in the winter months if there is snow or ice along the hiking trails. Crampons are spikes that attach to the bottom of shoes.

Bandelier National Monument house

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When in Texas, be sure to check out the second largest canyon in the US: Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

Also stop by one of the state’s most unique attractions: Cadillac Ranch: History of a Unique Place to Visit in Texas.