Everything you and your family needs to know about visiting Bandelier National Monument near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Bandelier National Monument is located near Santa Fe, New Mexico. It protects 33,000 acres of canyon and mesa land and evidence of human presence going back over 11,000 years ago. At Bandelier National Monument, you will be able to see petroglyphs, images created by removing the surface of a rock, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls that show where the Ancestral Pueblo people lived and farmed.
You might also be interested in my other blog posts and tips about visiting New Mexico here.
Tips for Visiting Bandelier National Monument
- Arrive early to beat the crowds. Bandelier National Monument is extremely popular!
- Check the weather forecast frequently and prepare for different types of weather. The day before our visit, the temperatures dropped 10 degrees. Then the night before the temperature dropped again and added in a chance of snow. The snow did make for pretty pictures and the occasional snowball fight!
- During the summer (May 16-Oct 16), visitors are required to take a shuttle bus from the White Rock visitor center to access Bandelier National Monument between the hours of 9:00am and 3:00pm.
- The Main Loop Trail is a 1.2-mile mostly level and paved trail. To get close to the longhouses, you will need to climb uneven stairs and narrow walkways.
- There are two wooden ladders that you can climb to see the inside of the cavates, small human-carved alcoves. The views were pretty cool from them.
- About halfway through the main loop trail, you can decide to continue on to the Alcove House or take the Main Loop Trail back to the visitor center. The Alcove House trail is a 1/2 mile out and 1/2 mile back (1 mile total). The alcove is located 140 feet above the floor of Frijoles Canyon and can be reached by using 4 wooden ladders and several stone stairs.
- Both adults and kids can participate in the Junior Ranger program. My husband did the program with my daughter so that she would not be alone saying the pledge.
- Eat lunch at Pig + Fig in White Rock which is not far outside the gates as you leave. The food was delicious, the staff was wonderful, and the macarons were amazing!!!
Have you visited Bandelier National Monument?
