• Tyuonyi Pueblo and Big Kiva from Frey Trail

    Bandelier

    National Monument New Mexico

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  • Access by Shuttle Bus Only

    Starting May 24, 2013 all access to the most visited part of the park, Frijoles Canyon, will be via a mandatory shuttle bus from the nearby community of White Rock from 9 AM - 3 PM daily. Private cars may drive in before 9 AM or after 3 PM. More »

Alcove House

alcove house smaller

The climb into Alcove House consists of 4 wooden ladders and many stone stairs. This image shows the fence that marks the closed kiva area.

Photo by Sally King

Although the ladders into Alcove House have reopened, the Alcove House kiva remains closed to all visitor access until further notice due to safety concerns. Stabaliztion work was planned for this summer but the work is very expensive and unfortunately funding may not be available for that work in this fiscal year. See photos.

Half way through the Main Loop Trail a choice must be made, turn back toward the visitor center or continue another half mile each way (1 mile round trip) to Alcove House. Formerly known as Ceremonial Cave, this alcove is located 140 feet above the floor of Frijoles Canyon. Once home to approximately 25 Ancestral Pueblo people, the elevated site is now reached by 4 wooden ladders and a number of stone stairs. In Alcove House, there is a reconstructed kiva and the viga holes and niches of former homes. Imagine climbing these ladders, carrying whatever supplies were needed, to this lofty home.

NOTE: Since the fire and flooding of summer 2011 there are no bridges on the route to Alcove House. Recently the park's trail crew put in log crossings where the bridges were missing. These log crossings keep visitor's feet dry but also don't pose a problem if they are washed away in the expected floods this summer. See photo below.

 
new bridge 2
There are simple log crossings across Frijoles Creek on the Alcove House trail.
photo by sally king
 
alcove house cu smaller

Alcove House kiva is currently closed but the ladders remain open.

Photo by Sally King

CLOSURES
Currently (spring 2013) the ladders to Alcove House are open but the kiva area is closed. The kiva is structurally unsound and needs work to make it safe for visitor access. After snow falls, the climb up into Alcove House may be closed. The ladders, the stone stairs, and even the walkways to reach this Ancestral Pueblo site can be very icy and dangerous. In winters with abundant snowfall the ladders can be closed for many weeks. This climb is reopened as soon as it can be done safely. A metal gate and a sign at the base of the stairs will indicate if Alcove House is closed. Check at the visitor center for details
 
alcove kiva
Because the kiva is unsafe, it is very important that all visitors obey the fence closure at Alcove House.  Failure to do so will result in the closure of Alcove House to all visitors.
photo by dale coker
 
abert b
Abert's squirrels are amongst the types of wildlife you may see while hiking to Alcove House.
photo by sally king

Did You Know?

Upper Falls

Frijoles Creek drops approximately 80 feet over the Upper Falls.  The falls occur where the waters of Frijoles Creek hit the more resistant, dense basalt rock from the neck of an ancient volcano.