Things To Do

long house
You can view the Ancestral Pueblo "Long House" dwelling by hiking up the Long Trail in Frijoles Canyon.

Photo by Sally King

Most visitors begin their exploration of Bandelier with a walk on the Main (Pueblo) Loop Trail. This short 1.4 mile loop trail starts from the Visitor Center and leads through excavated archeological sites on the floor of Frijoles Canyon. A portion of this trail is handicapped accessible.

Other trails in this area include the 3 mile round-trip Falls Trail to the beautiful Upper Falls and various trails of different lengths and difficulty leading up to the mesa tops.

 
The Tsankawi section of Bandelier National Monument is 12 miles from the main section of the park. At Tsankawi you take a 1.5 mile walk along a mesa, viewing cavates, petroglyphs and the Ancestral Pueblo village of Tsankawi. Climbing ladders is a required activity at this site.
 
For visitors looking for longer hikes, the Bandelier Backcountry offers countless opportunities for all day journeys and multiple-day overnight backpacking trips. Most of the 70 miles of trails are in the officially designated wilderness areas. Permits are required for overnight stays.
 
Abert's squirrel
Abert's Squirrels may be encountered while you walk the Main (Pueblo) Loop Trail.

Please do not feed any wildlife

 
Be sure to join us for a Ranger Guided walk or talk to get the most out of your visit to Bandelier. Guided tours of the Main (Pueblo) Loop Trail are offered almost everyday in summer. Evening campfire programs and night sky programs are offered in the summer.
 

Last updated: July 24, 2020

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Bandelier National Monument
15 Entrance RD

Los Alamos, NM 87544

Phone:

505 672-3861 x0

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