Visiting in Fall

Fall color along the Ski Trail.

NPS / Sally King

 

Preparation

Fall is a beautiful time of year to visit Bandelier National Monument! But be sure to plan ahead before leaving the house.

• Check out the park's Basic Information page first.
• Plan your park activities ahead of time. Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back; there is no cell service.
• Check the weather forecast. It can be rainy in the early part of the season, and snow can occur as early as November.
• Check the park's Alerts & Conditions page for updates. Inclement weather sometimes causes the park to close for safety reasons.
• Bring food, water, and snacks. The restaurant closes late in the season, and water bottle fill stations can freeze. The park store has bottles of water and a few snack items available to purchase.
• Bring layers of clothing. It can be colder in the morning and warm up throughout the day.

 

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Current Forecast

The closest weather station to Bandelier National Monument is at the Los Alamos Airport at 7,171 feet (2,186 m). While in the park, you will be traveling between 5,000 feet (1,500 m) and 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in elevation. Please expect varying weather conditions.

Hazardous Weather Conditions

Lat: 35.7791125212611 Long: -106.27088578018203

Last updated:

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Bandelier National Monument 2025 Summer Shuttle Service

Bandelier's optional shuttle service will begin running on May 19, 2025.

 

The shuttle stop at the Frey Trail parking lot.

NPS / Zachary Whitlow

Shuttles

Bandelier National Monument's shuttle is seasonally operated, typically running from mid-May to mid-October. The shuttle runs daily starting at 10 am and picks up at the Frey Trail parking lot and brings you to the park visitor center. The shuttle buses run every 30 minutes. These shuttles are operated in partnership with Atomic City Transit in Los Alamos County.

Unlike previous years, the shuttle is not mandatory unless the parking lots in the canyon are filled up. Also, there will be no shuttle service to the White Rock Visitor Center. Shuttle services will only operate between parking areas within Bandelier. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the White Rock Visitor Center for information on regional attractions and unique exhibits. Visitors may use the free shuttle to access trail heads on the mesa top and will provide easy access between the Bandelier National Monument Visitor Center and Juniper Campground.

There is no charge for riding the shuttle but all normal entry fees still apply for entering the park. Fees are based on the vehicle visitors arrive to the shuttle in, which is not a per person basis usually. All visitors are required to check in at the Bandelier Visitor Center when they arrive in the park.

Why does the shuttle run to mid-October?

It is one of our busiest times of the year. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a 9-day event that starts the first Saturday in October and brings visitors from all over the world. Many of them come to visit Bandelier National Monument during this time.

Why is there a shuttle?

Bandelier National Monument began utilizing a mandatory shuttle in Summer 2012 to help alleviate parking congestion and to prevent the need to turn cars around when the parking lots were full. The shuttle allows the park to accomodate more visitors.

Does the shuttle take me directly to Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites?

No. The shuttle only provides transportation between the Frey Trail parking lot and the Bandelier National Monument Visitor Center during the busy season (typically mid-May to mid-October).

Can I drive anywhere else in the park?

Yes. You can still drive into a number of areas of the park any time of the day including Juniper Campground, Tsankawi, and to the many trails outside of Frijoles Canyon located along NM Highway 4. Remember the park closes at sunset, so plan to leave before that time.

 

Bandelier's 2025 Shuttle Schedule.

NPS