Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument is a national monument run by the National Park Service in New Mexico.

In the park service’s words

Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of ruggedly beautiful canyon and mesa country. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Hike the Upper Falls Trail: Description of the Falls Trails.
• Hike the Tsankawi Loop Trail (1 to 3 Hours): Learn everything you need to know about hiking the Tsankawi Loop Trail.
• Picnicking at Bandelier (1 to 3 Hours): Bandelier provides multiple options for picnicking and other day-use activities.
• Camping at Bandelier (1 to 7 Days): Camping and campground information for Bandelier National Monument.
• Long Trails (4 to 10 Hours): Description of Bandelier backcountry and links for longer trails
• The Frijolito Loop Trail (2 to 4 Hours): Find out about hiking the Frijolito Loop trail at Bandelier National Monument.
• Tyuonyi Overlook Trail (2 to 3 Hours): Learn about the Tyuonyi Overlook Trail, including roundtrip mileage and where to start the hike.
• Short Trails (1 to 4 Hours): Explore Bandelier's scenery and cultural heritage on its many short hiking trails.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: $25 per vehicle. The America the Beautiful pass covers it.

Hours: Daily, Sunrise to Sunset. Bandelier National Monument is open every day from dawn to dusk unless impacted by severe weather or noted for specific holidays. The hours of dawn and dusk vary throughout the year so please come prepared knowing when you may have to exit the canyon. Visitors holding an overnight backcountry permit are allowed to be in the park after these hours following the guidance of their permit. The Juniper and Ponderosa campgrounds are open 24hrs.

Camping

Getting there

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. Bandelier is in a remote location, with cell service in the canyon limited to Verizon 4G only. Services like Uber and Lyft will bring you here, but there may be no way to contact a ride out. Please plan your pickup before being dropped off at Bandelier.

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

• Bandelier National Monument Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The Bandelier Visitor Center is open year-round from 9:00am - 5:00pm MT unless the park is closed due to severe weather conditions or if noted for specific holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve.

Weather

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.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Great Sand Dunes, about 142 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

• National Park Service Data API: Bandelier National Monument (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.