• 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 To Close

    Alcove House, with its 140 ft climb on stairs and ladders, will be closed to all visitor access from June 10 to August 22, 2013 while important stabalization work is done on the Alcove House kiva. More »

Visiting Bandelier in Winter

cloudy sunset moon

Don't let the short days catch you unaware.  Be sure to leave the park before dark.

photo by sally king

Winter Visitor Center Hours 9 AM - 4:30 PM
Park open from dawn to dusk
Closed Christmas and New Years Days

NO SHUTTLE
For part of the year, much of Bandelier is accessible only by a shuttle bus from White Rock. This isn't true in the winter and spring. From mid-November until May visitors can once again access Frijoles Canyon, the park visitor center, and the main archeological sites using their personal vehicle. Visitors can visit Frijoles Canyon from sunrise to sunset. Just be sure to leave before it's dark.

 
snowy frijoles canyon 2

Snow is important to keeping Bandelier beautiful.

photo by Sally King

SNOW DAYS
Frijoles Canyon gets an average of 25" of snow per season. The mesas get twice that and the highest elevations in the park can get even more snow. If you arrive in Bandelier just after a snow event the Main Loop Trail will be closed to visitors until staff can clear it of snow. Walking on the snow creates ice that continues to be a safety hazard for months. If it has just snowed you may want to sleep in and arrive a bit later to Bandelier. If you come early (after 9 AM but before the snow is cleared) we will let you wait near the fireplace in the visitor center. If it snows enough, the park may even be closed. Call (505)672-3861 X 517 before you leave home to make sure the park is open. Hurray for snowy days. They provide more than half the annual precipitation for most areas of the park. This moisutre is neccessary for Bandelier to stay the beautiful and unique place that it is.

 
frijoles canyon in winter b

Snow can actually accentuate the forms of the archeological sites.

photo by sally king

A SPECIAL BEAUTY
Snow can make Bandelier even more special. A dusting, or even a dump, of snow acts to highlight the dwellings. The sun can sparkle like minature diamonds off the ice crystals in the trees. Hairy-earred Abert's squirrels are more active and far more likely to be seen. Be careful walking under trees soon after a snowfall. Snow may dump on you. If you come dressed for the weather conditions you can have an amazing visit to Bandelier in the winter.

 
visitor snow shoer 4
Winter is not just beautiful.  There are some activities that can only occur in winter.
photo by sally king

Did You Know?

Tarantula Hawk

Tarantula hawk hatchlings feed on the still living body of a tarantula captured by their mother. The mother tarantula hawk must fight the tarantula and then drag it to a burrow where she deposits an egg.