Recent weather has been very spring-like. Winter weather is still possible but unlikely. At 1.2 miles round-trip, the Main Loop Trail is the most visited park trail. Many people also add Alcove House with its 140 foot ascent on 4 wooden ladders and many stone stairs. The trail beyond Alcove House to Upper Crossing was closed after a late summer flashflood but reopened on April 13th. Juniper Family Campground is an excellent choice for staying overnight in the park.
Bandelier has a long human history and links to the modern Pueblos. Traditions which began in the distant past are still practiced today. At Bandelier, evidence of the Ancestral Pueblo people can be found in the dwellings, artifacts, and continuing culture of the modern pueblos. Early Spanish settlers, the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC), and the National Park Service also left their mark on the local landscape. more...
Education is a primary function of the National Park Service. Bandelier is hard at work developing lesson plans, worksheets, PowerPoint presentations, etc. that can be used on a field trip to the park or in the classroom. With a diversity of natural and cultural resources, the park is an excellent setting for teaching in person or via the web.
New Mexico has a mild, semi-arid climate characterized by abundant sunshine. The summer monsoon season usually brings brief but exciting thundershowers in late afternoon, while winter snowstorms alternate with long stretches of sunny, cloudless days. In the Bandelier area, temperatures range from summer highs in the mid-90s to winter lows in the 0s.
Did You Know?
About 70% of Bandelier National Monument is a designated Wilderness area? Hikers can enjoy viewing remote archeological sites and spotting rare wildlife in this less developed area of the park.