Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier protects cliff dwellings carved into the soft volcanic rock of Frijoles Canyon in northern New Mexico, where ancestral Pueblo people lived for centuries. An easy loop climbs ladders into the cliffside rooms, and behind the canyon lies a large backcountry of mesas and canyons with overnight routes.
Fast facts
- Established: 1916
- Size: about 33,700 acres (136 km²), mostly designated wilderness
- Signature features: the Tyuonyi pueblo, cliff dwellings and Alcove House, 140 feet (43 m) up the canyon wall
- Detached unit: Tsankawi, near White Rock
- Gateways: Los Alamos, White Rock and Santa Fe
- Managed by: the National Park Service
The landscape
Bandelier lies on the Pajarito Plateau, built from thick layers of volcanic ash (tuff) that erupted from the Valles Caldera. Streams have cut canyons into the soft tuff, and the cliffs are pocked with natural holes that people enlarged into rooms. Ponderosa pine grows in the canyons, with pinyon and juniper on the mesas. The Las Conchas Fire burned much of the backcountry in 2011, and flooding in Frijoles Canyon has been more severe since.
Best time to go
Spring and fall are most pleasant. Summer is warm and dry until July, when afternoon thunderstorms with lightning and heavy rain are common. Winter brings snow, about 25 inches (64 cm) a year, and ice that can close trails.
Getting there and around
The main entrance is on NM 4, about 12 miles (19 km) from White Rock and 45 miles (72 km) from Santa Fe. The visitor center and main trails are in Frijoles Canyon at the end of the entrance road. Tsankawi is a separate site on NM 4 near White Rock. Cell service in the canyon is limited, so arrange any ride out in advance.
Things to do
The Pueblo Loop Trail, about 1.2 miles (1.9 km), passes the Tyuonyi pueblo and cliff dwellings with ladders into several rooms; an extension climbs four ladders to Alcove House, 140 feet (43 m) above the canyon floor. At Tsankawi, a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) loop follows ancient footpaths worn deep into the rock, with ladders and petroglyphs.
The Falls Trail and Frijolito Loop are longer day hikes. The backcountry has more than 70 miles (110 km) of trail across mesas and canyons, including the 13-mile (21 km) round trip to the Stone Lions shrine at Yapashi Pueblo and multi-day loops through Capulin and Alamo canyons.
Staying safe
Ladders to cliff dwellings are steep and not for anyone uneasy with heights. Summer thunderstorms bring lightning to the mesas and flash floods to the canyons, especially below burned slopes, so check the forecast. Backcountry water is scarce and unreliable, so carry what you need. Canyon descents are steep and rocky.
Know before you go
An entrance fee applies (America the Beautiful pass accepted). Overnight backcountry trips need a free permit, obtained in person at the visitor center. Pets are not allowed on most trails. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm access and shuttle arrangements with the National Park Service before you go.
- Coordinates
- 35.7846, -106.3296
- Magnetic declination
- 7.8° E (2026)
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass
A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.
Getting there 2
Park entrance
Visitor centre
On the trail 10
Trailhead
Route
Campgrounds
Hut or shelter
Picnic sites
Sights 25
Viewpoints
Waterfalls
Heritage sites
Peaks
Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).
Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →
- Best seasons
- Spring, Fall
- Difficulty
- Easy to strenuous
- Access / trailheads
- NM 4, 12 miles (19 km) from White Rock; the visitor center is in Frijoles Canyon. Tsankawi is on NM 4 near White Rock.
- Water
- At the visitor center and Juniper Campground. Backcountry sources are unreliable; treat all water.
- Cell / satellite coverage
- Very limited in Frijoles Canyon; little to none in the backcountry.
- Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
- Emergencies: 911. Visitor center: 505-672-3861.
- Permits & regulations
- Entrance fee (America the Beautiful pass accepted). Free backcountry permit for overnight trips, in person at the visitor center.
- Leave No Trace
- Stay on trails, do not climb on walls or enter closed rooms, leave artifacts in place, and pack out all waste.
January
- Below-freezing nights
February
- Below-freezing nights
March
- Below-freezing nights
April
May
June
July
August
September
October This month
November
- Below-freezing nights
December
- Below-freezing nights
What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.
Plan a trip here →Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Los Alamos station, 5 miles (8 km)8 km (5 miles) away at 7,424 feet (2,263 m)2,263 m (7,424 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.
Nearby parks
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Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Cone-shaped tent rocks and a narrow slot canyon between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, with a steep climb to a mesa-top view.
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Petroglyph National Monument
More than 20,000 petroglyphs on Albuquerque’s West Mesa, with short canyon trails and quiet walks among the volcanoes.
-
Río Grande del Norte National Monument
The Rio Grande’s basalt gorge near Taos, with rim walks, steep trails to the river and the Taos Box whitewater run.
-
El Malpais National Monument
Lava flows, cinder cones and lava tube caves south of Grants, New Mexico, crossed by the ancient Zuni-Acoma Trail.
Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.
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