Bandelier National Monument Travel Guide

  View from the mesa top
by toonsarah
  • View from the mesa top
      View from the mesa top
    by toonsarah
  •   Bandelier National Monument
    by toonsarah
  •   Bandelier National Monument
    by toonsarah
  • Petroglyph, Tsankawi
      Petroglyph, Tsankawi
    by toonsarah
  • Near the start of the trail
      Near the start of the trail
    by toonsarah

Pro

goodfish profile photo

 Gorgeous, spiritual, tons to see and do 


Con

MarkJochim profile photo

 Crowded during the summer. 


In a nutshell

basstbn profile photo

 Fascinating look into an ancient culture; beautiful mountain views 

 

Explore Bandelier National Monument

Things to Do  

Where to start: Frijoles Canyon Visitor Center

Where to start: Frijoles Canyon Visitor Center, Bandelier National Monument

 goodfish Says:  4/25/2012: please see my warning and danger tip about temporary shuttle-only access to the main park starting 6/1/2012!Go figure: I didn't get a shot of the Visitor Center! Oh well. This is where you should begin your visit - and I suggest you get here early because parking... 

Tsankawi: Petroglyphs

Tsankawi: Petroglyphs, Bandelier National Monument

 goodfish Says:  The Ancestral people carved images of animals, anthropomorphic figures, spirals and other shapes into the rock at various places on the mesa. This isn't just decoration: they're believed to have had deep significance to the people of that time and may have been a form of... 

Tsankawi: Tsankawi Pueblo Site

Tsankawi: Tsankawi Pueblo Site, Bandelier National Monument

 goodfish Says:  On top of the mesa is the unexcavated village of Tsankawi. It resembled the pueblo at Frijoles Canyon (Tyuonyi) in having had several stories with a central plaza but the layout provided in the guide indicates more than one entrance. It also may have had a reservoir for... 

Alcove House

Alcove House, Bandelier National Monument

 goodfish Says:  A junction partway through Main Loop Trail takes you 1/2 mile through the forest to Alcove House: a large shelf in the canyon wall 140 feet above the ground. Here you'll see storage niches and holes in the cave walls left from wooden beams (vigas) that supported long-gone... 

Stop and smell the flowers

Stop and smell the flowers, Bandelier National Monument

 goodfish Says:  All sorts of wildflowers bloom in the canyon from spring until fall. When we were there in September, most of them were yellow but they also come in blues, lavenders, reds, oranges and pastels. As at any U.S. national or state park, take the daisies home in your camera:... 

Tsankawi: Cavates

Tsankawi: Cavates, Bandelier National Monument

 goodfish Says:  Just as at the Frijoles Canyon section, you'll see cavates at Tsankawi but those you're allowed to explore are all at ground level: no ladders. By all means crawl in and take a look but be gentle and do check for snakes first. Not all sections with cavates visible from the... 

Tsankawi: Stairways

Tsankawi: Stairways, Bandelier National Monument

 goodfish Says:  The Ancestors who lived here carved or simply wore stairways and toe-trails into the rock to reach different levels of the mesa. You'll see many of these along the way but you're asked not to climb them unless they're clearly marked as part of the trail. Today's footwear is... 

On Main Loop Trail: Cavates

On Main Loop Trail: Cavates, Bandelier National Monument

 goodfish Says:  Ancient inhabitants carved out small living, storage and ceremonial alcoves, called cavates, from pockets left in the soft rock layer of volcanic ash (tuff) deposited during a massive eruption a million years ago. Ceilings were smoke-cured to reduce crumbling of the tuff,... 

Transportation  

Getting to Tsankawi

Getting to Tsankawi, Bandelier National Monument

 toonsarah Says:  Photo taken looking back towards the parking area Getting to Tsankawi is impossible without a private vehicle. It lies twelve miles from the main section of Bandelier National Monument and isn’t the easiest place to find. The park’s website gives the following directions:... 

Local Customs  

Preserving the Past

Preserving the Past, Bandelier National Monument

 goodfish Says:  I always hate to bring this up as mentioning the need to tread gently and respectfully to VT members is sort of preaching to the choir. Unfortunately vandalism, theft of artifacts and damage to fragile ecological sites is such a problem for our National Parks that they can... 

Tailgating the Bandelier Way

Tailgating the Bandelier Way, Bandelier National Monument

 Toughluck Says:  On a warm sunny weekend afternoon, the lines of cars waiting to get into the park can extend more than 2 miles from the gate. Because the parking lot in the canyon is so small, it will not hold many vehicles and will fill up quickly. If you don't have much time or don't want... 

Warnings and Dangers  

IMPORTANT: Fire damage report

IMPORTANT: Fire damage report, Bandelier National Monument

 goodfish Says:  UPDATE AS OF JAN 10, 2013The 2011 Las Conchas forest fire damaged 60% of the park area in Frijoles Canyon and left other parts vulnerable to flash flooding due to lack of vegetation. IMPORTANT - FROM THE NPS WEBSITE:"Currently (through November 17, 2012) all access to... 

Critters!

Critters!, Bandelier National Monument

 goodfish Says:  Seeing wildlife is a highlight for many visitors to Bandelier but it's better to connect with them with your camera than with your bumper or some tender part of your person! Keep an eye out for deer on your drive in, and snakes above/under/around anywhere you place a... 

Weather

Weather, Bandelier National Monument

 goodfish Says:  Different seasons at Bandelier can bring weather-related challenges. Summers are sunny, hot and dry and some trails, such as Main Loop, have little shade so bringing lots of water, hats and sunscreen is a must. Sudden afternoon thunderstorms with heavy downpours and... 

Tourist Traps  

Deer blocking the path
ATXtraveler profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

ATXtraveler 2051 reviews

Sometimes when you are walking on the paths in Bandelier National Monument, you will run into a few deer that are begging for backsheesh, food, or other tokens of appreciation from you as a tourist. Remember, it is best not to give in to their demands, and instead just ignore them. If you feed one, you will just have many more flocking to you. In this particular case, this deer was acting coy, like he didn't really want the sweet sweet corn I had in my hand, but we knew better.

No corn for you today, Mr. Deer. No corn for you.

Fun Alternatives: The alternative is to feed the animals, and then have them follow you through the forest like you were Snow White.

Written Apr 24, 2009

Related to:
 Budget Travel
 Hiking and Walking
 National/State Park

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What to Pack  

The necessities
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3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

goodfish 1093 reviews
Kiva, Alcove House, Bandelier

Luggage and bags: Small backpack - you'll want your hands free for climbing ladders.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Sturdy shoes with a good tread, hat, rain gear for sudden thundershowers (a garbage bag will do)

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Bandaids, moleskin, insect repellent, antiseptic, sunscreen, wet wipes

Photo Equipment: Extra memory chip and charged battery

Miscellaneous: Sunglasses, water bottles, munchies for the trail and a small bag for packing up any garbage. Beverages and food are available at the park's snack shop but it's usually much cheaper to bring your own.

Written Jul 29, 2009

Website: www.nps.gov/band

Related to:
 Hiking and Walking
 National/State Park
 Archeology

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Off The Beaten Path  

Jemez Mountains

Jemez Mountains, Bandelier National Monument

 Toughluck Says:  Tired of the hot dry low country of New Mexicoa and Los Alamos? If so, take a ride up into the Jemez Mountains. The Jemez Mountain Trail loops around the south side of this extinct volcanoe. Located at the top of the mountain is a huge caldera of mountain meadows. Warm... 

Backcountry for the Day

Backcountry for the Day, Bandelier National Monument

 Toughluck Says:  Bandelier includes over 35,000 acres of wilderness. While we think of wilderness in terms of wild animals and a landscape unaffected by human impacts, Bandeliers is different. Nearly every acres of the park is an archeological treasure. It is all protected under the Federal... 

Favorites  

Baby Backpack

Baby Backpack, Bandelier National Monument

 ATXtraveler Says:  One of the best things we invested in for this trip was a baby backpack, which enabled Anna to enjoy her time at Bandelier without having to walk, trip and fall all the way through the trails. This particular backpack here was perfect for me, as it strapped on easily, was... 

See the living Culture of Pueblo Life

See the living Culture of Pueblo Life, Bandelier National Monument

 Toughluck Says:  Bandelier is the ancestral home of the San Ildefonso Pueblo (Tsankawi) and the Chochiti Pueblo (Yapashi). It is also has a sacred site - Stone Lions - that several different Pueblos honor. So stop and see one of the many pueblos in the valley. Respect the local signs... 

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Map of Bandelier National Monument