Bandelier National Monument - , New Mexico

Eric P.

Bandelier was a good self guided trip to see some cliff dwellings. Most of the smaller loop is paved with some stairs to get up to the Dwellings and then a ladder to get into them. Good for the whole family. Snack bar food was surprisingly good.

Jordan H.

Great tourist spot for scenic views and a mild hike depending on your level of fitness. I found the hike very easy and full of historical relics that paid homage to the Pueblo people. The drive from Santa Fe provides elevation and mountain views also good vantage points for views into valleys.

Lizzeth N.

A very cool park that seems underrated. The area that it's in has very cool rock formations and nice camping in the area. It was cool to get in the little houses. My daughter who is 10 enjoyed it.

Janna K.

Breathtaking views as we visited the cliff dwellings of ancestral Pueblo people. We stopped at the visitor’s center first to get a helpful guidebook.

Definitely do the main loop trail (an easy 45 minute walk). The good news for many is the first part of trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible.

If you are there in the evening you may be able to catch the “full moon” ranger walk.

Other more difficult trails are 5-12 miles- far more rigorous than the main - but SO worth it. The scenery is incredible.

We climbed the ladders to enter the cliff dwelling- completely fascinating.

Bring sunscreen and a hat with a strap if windy.

B.G. B.

Bandelier National Monument is a must-see—just an hour from Santa Fe. Stunning cliffside dwellings, beautiful trails, and rich Pueblo history make it a perfect day trip. The main trail to the dwellings is paved with benches along the way—great for resting or soaking in the scenery. No dogs on trails out to ancestral dwellings. The visitor center is clean, with helpful rangers and a small museum. Next door, the café and gift shop are great—try the mango smoothie for a protein boost or the samosas if you like spice!

Frenite

I had a great time touring Bandelier National Monument. All the views of the cliffs and rock formations are breathtaking. The Pueblos lived here between 1150 and 1550 and certainly left their mark. I walked the main loop and saw a few small kivas, remnants of walls from Pueblo homes, and giant rock cliffs that went up into the cliff dwellings. There were stairs that went up the side of the cliff with ladders that one could climb into the cave dwellings. These dwellings were so small that one has to constantly duck when walking through them. There were remnants of several stone houses against the cliff, which are referred to as the “long house”. Later on the trail, there were small paintings on the cliff with glass added to protect them. I saw so much on this trail that takes less than an hour to hike. If you want a beautiful and historic brief hike, Bandelier is the place to visit.

Larry W.

I did not know this place existed! What a nice find. My wife and I were looking to do something after visiting the Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Los Alamos and we saw the Bandelier National Monument was only 25 minutes away. Waze took us the fastest way, which just happened to be through the security gate of the Los Alamos National Laboratory! All you have to do is show your ID and they let you through to get to NM Route 4.

It was worth the drive! I especially enjoyed climbing up to the cliff dwellings and seeing them inside. The interpretation in the visitor center was top notch, with a detailed dive into the people who inhabited this place until 1500 CE. The only thing I did not see in the visitor center was an explanation of how the park got its name or the park's history. That would have been nice to know (maybe I missed it?).

This NPS site is worth the drive if you are visiting Santa Fe.

Jason J.

Loved this place! Very peaceful and quiet to visit in December, lots of information available about the two volcanic eruptions that deposited up to 1000 feet of ash that became the sheer'
-faced walls that housed ancient cultures. The Caldera area about 50 minutes away was a great companion site to visit as the location of the volcanos whose eruptions formed the cliffs of Bandelier. Check out the carvings in one of the posted photos!