National Parks National Parks

New Mexico National Parks
Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument, Colorado Vacation Directory
 
 

Think building a house is tough work? Try doing it without heavy machinery, modern tools and - in some cases - solid ground.

Bandelier National Monument preserves ancient settlements built by ancestral Puebloans between 1150 and 1550 at the base - and up the walls - of Frijoles Canyon. Using blocks of volcanic rock, a mud-based mortar and stone tools they made themselves, the Native Americans managed to build huge settlements and carve rooms several stories high into the canyon walls.

View of hiking trails at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico
The Main Loop Trail Leads All Visitors Throughout Bandelier National Monument
Ruins of a structure with cliff wall in background at Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico
Native American Ruins Reside Within the Walls of Frijoles Canyon in Bandelier, New Mexico

 

Today, visitors to the monument can get up close and personal with the Puebloans' feats of engineering. Trails throughout the monument take visitors to various excavation sites, even allowing visitors to enter the rooms, climb ladders and explore the settlements in some places.

Most visitors start with the Main Loop Trail, a 1.2-mile loop that starts at the visitor's center and travels through excavated archaeological sites, and then branch out from there. The popular Tsankawi section allows visitors to walk along the mesa, catch a glimpse of some ancient petroglyphs and wander through the remains of the village of Tsankawi.

Cliff dwellings and ruins of Bandelier New Mexico
Experience the Ancestral Puebloans Way of Life Through Their Cliff Dwellings, Artifacts and Tools
The Remains of Tsankawi Village in Bandelier New Mexico
The Village of Tsankawi Allows Visitors to Walk Through the Ancient City's Remains

 

To learn even more about the ancestral Puebloans, vacationers can stop by the visitor's center - a historic building itself, as it was a Civilian Conservation Corp project during the Great Depression - to check out three displays showcasing the Native Americans' pottery, tools and artifacts.

Other activities in the monument are more nature-oriented. Lying on the slopes of the Jemez Mountains, Bandelier is surrounded by mesas and canyons formed by volcanic eruptions more than one million years ago. Spend some time looking for wildlife - Bandelier is home to more than 16 different species of bats and lots of squirrels, lizards and mule deer - or adventure through the monument's more than 70 miles of backcountry trails, open for day and overnight trips.

Bandelier National Monument is open year round except for New Year's and Christmas days. Visit the monument's website for hours, which change seasonally - National Parks Service - Bandelier

Downloads:

Download a map of Bandelier National Monument
(Map provided by the U.S. National Park Service)

Directions:

From Santa Fe: travel north on 285 to New Mexico State HWY 502. Continue west on State HWY 502, following the signs to Bandelier and merge onto HWY 4. Look for the Bandelier Monument Entrance 11.5 miles on the left side of HWY 4.

From Taos: travel 47 miles south on NM HWY 68. In Espanola turn right onto East Paseo de Onate (N HWY 285/84) and travel 3/4 mile across the Rio Grande. Turn left onto HWY 30 (Los Alamos Hwy) and travel 8.5 miles. Bear right onto HWY 502 and travel 2 miles west. Merge onto HWY 4 and look for the Bandelier Monument Entrance 11.5 miles on the left side of the highway.

More Activities & Information

Taos, New Mexico

National Parks and Monuments in Colorado


Argo Mill and Tunnel • Aztec Ruins National Monument • Bandelier National Monument • Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site • Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park • Blue Mesa Reservoir/Curecanti National Recreation Area • Browns Canyon National Monument • Canyons of the Ancients National Monument • Chaco Culture National Historical Park • Chimney Rock National Monument • Colorado National Monument • Comanche National Grassland • Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad • Dinosaur National Monument • Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument • Garden of the Gods Recreation Area • Garden Park Fossil Area • Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Click to return to main Colorado National Park Map

• Hanging Lake National Natural Landmark • Hovenweep National Monument • Indian Springs Trace Fossil Site • Lost Creek Scenic Area • Mesa Verde National Park • Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas Natural National Landmark • Pawnee National Grasslands • Pikes Peak National Landmark • Raton Mesa and Pass National Landmark • Red Rocks Park National Historic Landmark • Rocky Mountain National Park • Roxborough State Park National Natural Landmark • Russell Lakes National Natural Landmark • Slumgullion Earthflow • Spanish Peaks National Natural Landmark • Summit Lake National Natural Landmark • The United States Air Force Academy
Download The Colorado Vacation Directory Tourist Information Guide
The Colorado Vacation Directory
Colorado State Map Download, Colorado Vacation Directory
Colorado State Map
horizontal rule
Follow Us
Follow us on Facebook Button Follow us on Pinterest Button Follow us on Instagram Button

Places to Stay, Rentals & Amenities
Cabins & Cottages | Motels & Hotels | Lodging & Lodges | Vacation Homes | Condos, Suites & Townhomes | Bed & Breakfast | Tent Camping | RV Parks & Campgrounds | RV Sales, Service & Rentals | Romance Packages | Family Friendly | Pets Welcome | By Water | Swimming Pools | Guest Horses | Groups, Reunions & Retreats | Weddings & Elopements | Winter Lodging

Fun Things to Do
Calendars of Events | National Parks, Monuments & Historic Sites | Scenic Byways & Drives | Fishing & Fly Fishing | Hot Springs | Horse Riding | ATV/UTVing | Jeeping & 4WD | Whitewater Rafting & Kayaking | Attractions | Golfing | Restaurants & Dining | More Fun Stuff | Hunting & Land Leases | Snowmobiling | Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding | Snowshoeing | Cross-Country Skiing

A-Z Towns & Areas | Colorado Maps | About Us

©Copyright 1997- by The Colorado Directory, Inc. This is a directory only; it is not and does not contain a recommendation, warranty, guaranty, inducement or endorsement of any kind. Representations herein were supplied by the individual businesses. The publisher, The Colorado Directory, Inc., does not assume any responsibility for truth, falsity or completeness of any representation made herein or any errors, changes, services rendered, or changes made in the use of this directory. This information was compiled as accurately as possible. Prices and services are frequently subject to change. Errors called to the publisher's attention will be corrected in the future. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.