Bandelier National Monument is a 33,677-acre United States National Monument near Los Alamos in Sandoval and Los Alamos counties, New Mexico. The monument preserves the homes and territory of the Ancestral Puebloans of a later era in the Southwest. Most of the pueblo structures date to two eras, dating between 1150 and 1600 AD.
History of Bandelier
Bandelier was designated by President Woodrow Wilson as a national monument on February 11, 1916, and named for Adolph Bandelier, a Swiss-American anthropologist, who researched the cultures of the area and supported preservation of the sites. The park infrastructure was developed in the 1930s by crews of the Civilian Conservation Corps and is a National Historic Landmark for its well-preserved architecture. The National Park Service cooperates with surrounding Pueblos, other federal agencies, and state agencies to manage the park.
Vital Details
From NM285 US84 in Pojaque NM. West on NM502, West on NM4 to White rock. Then 12 miles to the monument entrance on the south side of the road.
Spring daytime temperatures in the 70’s can be followed by a snow storm with wet heavy snow and daytime temperatures in the 40’s. Summers are dry with June usually being the hottest month of the year. Days in July, August and September often end with thunderstorms that can drop heavy localized rain and are often accompanied by lightning. Autumn weather is usually sunny with blue skies and warm (but not hot) days and cool nights. Winter average snowfall 25″. Snow and ice can close trails and roads.
No public WiFi is available at Bandelier. Cellular service in Frijoles Canyon is via Verizon LTE only. Other carriers may work in other areas of the monument, but no service is guarenteed.
Things To Do At Bandelier National Monument
Hiking
Bandelier offers over 70 miles of trails winding through slopes of the Jemez volcanic field. In the warmer season these trails a a joy to hike. In the winter cross-country skiers love exploring the area.
There are a variety of trails with shorter and long options available. See the NPS provided maps below as well as a list of trails and reviews from other hikers in in the AllTrails map.
Bandelier National Monument Trail Maps
Camping
There are three campgrounds in Bandelier.
This is a family campground and is perfect for small groups of 10 or less. There are two campsites in the Juniper Campground.
The Ponderosa Camp is a group campground for large groups of more than 10.
Backcountry camping is available if you get a permit. Apply for free at the visitors center. Be aware that the closest hike in the backcountry camping zone is about 2 miles from the visitors center.
For more camping options in and out of the park check out the listings available on Campendium.
Videos Of Bandelier National Monument
Get a feel for the park with a few youtube videos.
