Bandelier National Monument
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.
Alerts
- ClosureTsankawi Unit of Bandelier Closed Temporarily
The Tsankawi Unit of Bandelier will be closed starting October 13, through October 21st for parking lot maintenance and for staging and moving of materials for a trails and visitor improvement project. Materials for this project will be staged in the parking area. A helicopter will be onsite to move the material from the parking lot to the mesa.
- CautionNPS ↗The Use of GPS is NOT Recommended
Numerous visitors have been routed to remote trailheads and out-of-the-way roads trying to use GPS to reach the main park area or shuttle stop.
- InformationUber, Lyft, and Other "Taxi" Services
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.
Fire nearby
- WildfireFrijoles
29 mi from the park's reference point · 15,956 acres · 90% contained
- PrescribedGolondrino Rx
50 mi from the park's reference point
Within 50 miles, as of 2026-10-14. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Check the park's alerts and the managing office before you drive.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private VehiclePass covers all persons traveling in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle (car, truck, camper, or van up to 15 passengers). Auto passes are non-transferable and not replaced if lost or stolen. Entrance passes do not cover camping fees. | $25 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. | $20 | |
| Per PersonPass covers per person entrance fee for those 16 years of age and older traveling on foot or by bicycle, or for individuals traveling together in a 16 passenger or greater vehicle as a non-commercial, organized group. Individual passes are non-transferable and not replaced if lost or stolen. | $15 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkValid for one year from month of purchase. Admits passholder and passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle, or the pass holder plus up to 3 other people when entry is by other means (foot, bicycle). Non-transferable, non-refundable, not replaceable if lost or stolen. | $45 | |
All entrance passes are all valid for seven days and include access to all areas of the park, including Tsankawi. Children 15 years and younger are free. All digital Site Passes must be printed prior to arriving at Bandelier.
Hours
| Bandelier National Monument | Daily · Sunrise to Sunset |
| Tsankawi Unit | Daily · Sunrise to Sunset |
Bandelier National Monument: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Dec 25, 2026Bandelier National Monument Closed on Christmas Day | Hours not published |
Tsankawi Unit: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hours | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Oct 1, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027NowTsankawi Unit Winter Hours | 6:00AM - 7:00PM |
| May 1 to Sep 30, 2027Tsankawi Unit Summer Hours | 6:00AM - 8:00PM |
When to go
April draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Campgrounds
| Juniper Family Campground | 56 sites | |
| $20 a night · Self serve campground open 24 hours for individuals and small groups. No reservations. First come, first serve. | ||
| Ponderosa Group Campground | 2 sites | |
| $50 a night · By reservation only · 2 reservable | ||
Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works
Visitor centers
- Bandelier National Monument Visitor Center ↗
The Bandelier National Monument Visitor Center is located in Frijoles Canyon.
Explore
Trails and hikes
These are the walks the Park Service lists for Bandelier. Each one opens on the Park Service site.
- Hike the Upper Falls Trail
Description of the Falls Trails.
- Hike the Tsankawi Loop Trail1-3 Hours
Learn everything you need to know about hiking the Tsankawi Loop Trail.
- Picnicking at Bandelier1-3 Hours
Bandelier provides multiple options for picnicking and other day-use activities.
- Camping at Bandelier1-7 Days
Camping and campground information for Bandelier National Monument.
- Long Trails4-10 Hours
Description of Bandelier backcountry and links for longer trails
- The Frijolito Loop Trail2-4 Hours
Find out about hiking the Frijolito Loop trail at Bandelier National Monument.
Show all 12Hide
- Tyuonyi Overlook Trail2-3 Hours
Learn about the Tyuonyi Overlook Trail, including roundtrip mileage and where to start the hike.
- Short Trails1-4 Hours
Explore Bandelier's scenery and cultural heritage on its many short hiking trails.
- Explore the Yapashi Pueblo8-10 Hours
Description of the Yapashi Pueblo and details about the hike.
- Hike the Main Pueblo Loop Trail30-90 Minutes
Summary, things to see, and maps of the famous Pueblo Loop Trail in Bandelier National Monument.
- Hiking in Bandelier1-8 Hours
Hiking in Bandelier? Find trail recommendations, download maps, and explore the sites in Bandelier National Monument.
- Alamo Boundary Trail2-3 Hours
Learn more about the Alamo Boundary Trail, including roundtrip mileage and where to start the hike.
These are named Forest Service trails on National Forest land within 15 miles of Bandelier. Each one opens on Trailhead Atlas.
Distance is measured to the nearer end of the trail. Every named Forest Service trail on Trailhead Atlas.
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- Ranger Guided Hike - Pueblo Loop Trail10/1410:00 AM · runs through Oct 16 · freeBandelier Visitor Center is located at 15 Entrance Road, Los Alamos, NM 87544. The program begins on the back porch.
- Ranger Guided Hike to Alcove House10/1809:30 AM · runs through Oct 25 · free · registration requiredBandelier Visitor Center is located at 15 Entrance Road. The program begins on the back porch.
News
- Pueblo Parks Group Implements Stage II Fire Restrictions ↗2026-06-25
Due to increase fire risk, Bandelier National Monument, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Pecos National Historical Park, and Fort Union National Monument are entering Stage II Fire Restrictions.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for New Mexico's national parks and the Southwest
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Local history books for Bandelier National Monument
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthCoyote 8× · American Black Bear 6× · American Badger 2× · Bobcat 2× · Golden Eagle 1× · Gray Fox 1×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 175 birds, 69 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Cooper's Hawk · Flammulated Owl · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Merlin · Northern Harrier · Northern Pygmy-Owl · Osprey · Peregrine Falcon · Prairie Falcon · Red-tailed Hawk · Rough-legged Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Turkey Vulture · Wester Screech-Owl · Zone-tailed Hawk
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Coot · American Wigeon · Black-crowned Night-Heron · Blue Goose · Blue-winged Teal · Bufflehead · Canada Goose · Cinnamon Teal · Common Goldeneye · Common Merganser · Double-crested Cormorant · Great Blue Heron · Green Heron · Green-winged Teal · Hooded Merganser · Lesser Scaup · Northern Pintail · Ring-necked Duck · Sandhill Crane · Snowy Egret · Wood Duck
Shorebirds & seabirdsKilldeer · Ring-billed Gull
Gamebirds & dovesBand-tailed Pigeon · Blue Grouse · Mourning Dove · Wild Turkey
WoodpeckersAcorn Woodpecker · American Three-toed Woodpecker · Downy Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Ladder-backed Woodpecker · Lewis's Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Red-naped Sapsucker · Williamson's Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsBlack-chinned Hummingbird · Broad-tailed Hummingbird · Calliope Hummingbird · Rufous Hummingbird · White-throated Swift
Also on the checklistAmerican Cliff Swallow · American Crow · American Dipper · American Goldfinch · American Redstart · American Robin · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Bank Swallow · Barn Swallow · Belted Kingfisher · Bewick's Wren · Black Phoebe · Black-capped Chickadee · Black-chinned Sparrow · Black-headed Grosbeak · Black-throated Gray Warbler · Black-throated Sparrow · Blue-gray Gnatcatcher · Brewer's Sparrow · Brown Creeper · Brown Towhee · Brown-headed Cowbird · Bullock's Oriole · Bushtit · Canyon Wren · Cassin's Finch · Cassin's Kingbird · Cedar Waxwing · Chestnut-sided Warbler · Chipping Sparrow · Clark's Nutcracker · Common Grackle · Common Nighthawk · Common Poorwill · Common Raven · Common Yellowthroat · Cordilleran Flycatcher · Dark-eyed Junco · Dusky Flycatcher · European Starling · Evening Grosbeak · Fox Sparrow · Gadwall · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Grace's Warbler · Gray Flycatcher · Gray Jay · Greater Roadrunner · Green-tailed Towhee · Hammond's Flycatcher · Hepatic Tanager · Hermit Thrush · Horned Lark · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Indigo Bunting · Juniper Titmouse · Lark Bunting · Lark Sparrow · Lazuli Bunting · Lesser Goldfinch · Lincoln's Sparrow · Loggerhead Shrike · MacGillivray's Warbler · Mallard · Mountain Bluebird · Mountain Chickadee · Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler · Northern Goshawk · Northern Mockingbird · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Northern Shoveler · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Orange-crowned Warbler · Pine Grosbeak · Pine Siskin · Pinyon Jay · Plumbeous Vireo · Pygmy Nuthatch · Red Crossbill · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-winged Blackbird · Rock Wren · Rose-breasted Grosbeak · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Rufous-crowned Sparrow · Savannah Sparrow · Say's Phoebe · Song Sparrow · Spotted Towhee · Steller's Jay · Summer Tanager · Swainson's Thrush · Townsend's Solitaire · Townsend's Warbler · Tree Swallow · Vesper Sparrow · Violet-green Swallow · Virginia's Warbler · Warbling Vireo · Western Bluebird · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Scrub-Jay · Western Tanager · Western Wood-Pewee · Whip-poor-will · White-breated Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · Willow Flycatcher · Wilson's Warbler · Winter Wren · Yellow Warbler · Yellow-breasted Chat · Yellow-headed Blackbird
Small mammalsAbert's Squirrel · American Beaver · American Pika · American Water Shrew · Audubon's Cottontail · Black-tailed Jack Rabbit · Botta's Pocket Gopher · Brush Deermouse · Bushy-tailed Woodrat · Cinereus Shrew · Common Muskrat · Coronation Island vole · Deer Mouse · Dusky Shrew · Dwarf Shrew · Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel · Meadow Jumping Mouse · Merriam's Shrew · Mexican Woodrat · Montane Vole · Mountain Cottontail · Northern Pocket Gopher · Northern Rock Deermouse · Piñon Deermouse · Red Squirrel · Rock Pocket Mouse · Rock Squirrel · Silky Pocket Mouse · Southern Red-backed Vole · Western Harvest Mouse · White-footed Deermouse · White-throated Woodrat · common porcupine · malheur shrew
PredatorsAmerican Badger · American Black Bear · Bobcat · Common Gray Fox · Coyote · Cross Fox · Ermine · Hog-nosed Skunk · Long-tailed Weasel · Ringtail · Striped Skunk · Western Spotted Skunk · common raccoon
Hoofed mammalsBighorn Sheep · Domestic Horse · Mule Deer · elk
BatsBig Brown Bat · Big Free-tailed Bat · Black Bat · Brazilian Free-tailed Bat · California Myotis · Fringed Myotis · Hoary Bat · Long-eared Myotis · Long-legged Myotis · Pallid Bat · Pinto Bat · Small-footed Myotis · Western Pipistrelle · Western Red Bat · Yuma Myotis · mule-eared bat
Also on the checklistCatamount · domesticated cattle
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Camping in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Skiing in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
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.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Bandelier?
Entrance is $25 per private vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bike. Pass covers all persons traveling in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle (car, truck, camper, or van up to 15 passengers).
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Bandelier?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Bandelier-only annual pass is $45.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Bandelier takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Bandelier free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Bandelier?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Bandelier. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Bandelier?
Standard hours are Sunrise to Sunset, every day. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
Can I camp in Bandelier?
Yes. The Park Service lists 2 campgrounds in Bandelier: Juniper Family and Ponderosa Group. 2 take reservations through Recreation.gov.
Which Bandelier campgrounds have showers, hookups, or a dump station?
Dump station: Juniper Family.
Source: Campgrounds
Do camping fees at Bandelier include the entrance fee?
No. Camping is charged per night on top of the entrance fee or a pass; Juniper Family is $20 a night.
Source: Campgrounds
Is anything closed at Bandelier right now?
3 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Tsankawi Unit of Bandelier Closed Temporarily; Uber, Lyft, and Other "Taxi" Services; and more.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Bandelier?
247,642 recreation visits in 2025, number 161 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Bandelier?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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