News Release

Bandelier Announces Wilderness Cleanup Weekend

A view of the Rio Grande from the Burro Trail

NPS

News Release Date: August 21, 2021

Contact: Joanie Budzileni, 505-672-3861 x 1501

Los Alamos, NM – Bandelier will be hosting Wilderness Cleanup Weekend, September 25th and 26th to celebrate National Public Lands Day (NPLD) and to recognize September as National Wilderness Month. Park staff and volunteers will be leading several cleanup tasks in the park’s backcountry. Acting Superintendent and event organizer Dennis Milligan says, "These projects are aimed to help preserve the wilderness character and keep Bandelier's wilderness wild." 

Volunteers will work with park staff to remove or prepare for removal, old research equipment or debris, from backcountry, wilderness areas. Opportunities to help include providing logistical support and making day trips to carry out equipment with possible overnight stays for bigger projects. The work taken on will depend on participant interest.  

Due to the nature of the cleanup projects, volunteers should be in a good physical condition, 
able to hike up to 10 miles a day at various elevations with a heavy pack. Participants will 
need to supply their own hiking/camping gear. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Wilderness Ranger, Mark Peterson at [phone] x1442 or [e-mail]. Entrance fees will be waived for volunteers on the days they 
work.  

NPLD is the nation's largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. Established in 1994, it’s held annually on the fourth Saturday in September. This celebration brings out thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands around the country. NPLD is also a fee free day when entrance fees will be waived at national parks and other public lands.

Park entrance fees are $25 per private vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, or $15 per bicycle/individual. All entrance passes are valid for 7 days. Camping fees are not included in entrance fees. America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes are accepted for entrance fees. The full suiteof America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes as well as BandelierAnnual passes are available for purchase at the visitor center. For more information about types of passesand prices, visit: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm.

Bandelier National Monument is open every day from sunrise to sunset. The visitor center is open 8:30 am-4:30 pm daily; the park store operated by Western National Parks Association is open 9:00 am-5:00 pm daily and the café is open 9:00 am-4:30 pm daily.