• overview of Long House

    Bandelier

    National Monument New Mexico

  • Access to Frijoles Canyon Will Be Limited

    Starting June 1, 2012 all access to the most visited part of the park, Frijoles Canyon, will be via a shuttle bus from the nearby community of White Rock. This is to alleviate a parking shortage created by the Las Conchas Fire. More details to follow.

Wildflowers

butterfly weed/ marine blue butterfly

NPS Photo by Sally King

Butterflyweed blooms in profusion along wet slopes and attracts a variety of insect life.

Bandelier's wildflower season usually lasts from mid-April until the first heavy frost (usually mid to late October). The volume and diversity of flowers in any given season is heavily dependent on precipitation. A winter with heavy snows often heralds a spring of abundant blooms as does a late summer with repetitive local afternoon showers. Some flowers bloom all season long, often becoming less abundant during the hottest part of summer only to resurge with the start of the rainy season. Other wildflowers can only be found during limited seasons and in specific areas of the park. 
 
antelope's horn
Antelope's Horn is one of several types of milkweed that grows in the park.
NPS Photo by Sally King

Did You Know?

Tyuonyi Pueblo

It is estimated that Tyuonyi Pueblo had 400 rooms but only 100 people lived there.  Many of the rooms were used mostly for storage of food and pens for turkeys.