“11,000 years of human presence”
Bandelier National Monument is a 33,677-acre United States National Monument in New Mexico preserving the homes and territory of the Ancestral Pueblo People. Most of the pueblo structures date to two eras, in total from 1150 to 1600 CE. Bandelier was designated by President Woodrow Wilson as a National Monument on February 11, 1916, and named for Adolph Bandelier, a Swiss anthropologist who researched the cultures of the area and supported preservation of the sites. The National Park Service co-operates with surrounding pueblos, other federal agencies, and state agencies to manage the park. The monument received 193,914 visitors in 2011. Human presence in the area has been dated to over 10,000 years before present. Permanent settlements by ancestors of the Puebloan peoples have been dated to 1150 CE; these settlers had moved closer to the Rio Grande by 1550. The distribution of basalt and obsidian artifacts from the area, along with other traded goods, rock markings, and construction techniques, indicate that its inhabitants were part of a regional trade network that included what is now Mexico. Spanish colonial settlers arrived in the 18th century. The Pueblo Jose Montoya brought Adolph Bandelier to visit the area in 1880. Looking over the cliff dwellings, Bandelier said, "It is the grandest thing I ever saw."
We went here last year and it was very fun. You can climb into the caves and loads of neat stuff for kids. The walk was easy but you should pick a cool day to go on this trip.
Another excellent National Park!! I love that you can climb into the cliff dwellings. Make sure you go all the way to the Alcove House - there is a series of ladders that takes you several hundred feet up out of the canyon for a really cool experience. They have been devastated a few times in recent years by flooding so the trail system is not what it used to be. Still worth it!
Loved it! Great hike for all ages, the Alcove house is fun for kids 10+ and a very different type of experience with all those ladders. Really enjoyed hiking the canyon. Will be back
Well worth the visit. Such a beautiful place with many walking trails. Some of the trail heads are hard to find and signing could definitely be better. Dogs are not allowed. But really enjoyed the visit.
Very nice park. So neat to be able to climb in the dwellings. Super nice rangers too.
The main Alcove House is nothing if you've been to mesa verde already but the other cliff dwellings are cool as you can climb up inside them and they are in a volcanic rock formation.
Soo much fun and interesting to see !!
Spectacular location and so cool to be able to climb into caves that were once living spaces for natives...cool glimpse into the past
A really great trip to make if you’re in the Santa Fe area. You have to take a shuttle up there. There’s parking at the visitor center for cars as well as RV/trailers. The visitor center is going to be on the right side main road in town. Shuttle is there every half hour. $25 per vehicle which you pay when you get to the park.
Access to the visitor's center will be a challenge if hauling a camper.
Be the first to add a review to the Bandelier National Monument.
/-106.268612,35.776655,14/300x172@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1Ijoicm9hZHRyaXBwZXJzIiwiYSI6ImJ3eVhLem8ifQ.yQYCwE4pIQahc6sjWNrrIQ)
Bandelier National Monument
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Problem with this listing? Let us know.
Good for educational opportunities, hiking, and 3 more activities.
-
Parking
-
Pets Allowed
-
Restrooms
-
Wifi
-
Wheelchair Accessible
-
Credit Cards Accepted
Parking
Nearby Hotels
Related Trip Guides
- Trip Guide
Route 66 Leg 4: Amarillo to Albuquerque
- 74 Places
- 25:57
- 1,271 mi
- Trip Guide
Pay Tribute and Reflect at These US Monuments and Memorials
- 14 Places
- Trip Guide
The top things to do on an I-40 road trip
- 35 Places
- 49:44
- 2,851 mi
- Trip Guide
The top things to do on an I-10 road trip
- 55 Places
- 56:13
- 3,026 mi