Hike the Tsankawi Loop Trail

The views go on for miles at Tsankawi.

NPS

Take a virtual tour of Tsankawi before you go.

The Tsankawi section of Bandelier National Monument is located on State Highway 4 twelve miles from the main section of the park. At Tsankawi you take a 1.5 mile walk along a mesa, viewing cavates, petroglyphs and the Ancestral Pueblo village of Tsankawi. Ladders are a required part of this trail. The trail is very exposed to the elements and should not be taken during localized thunderstorms. Cold, snowy weather can make the trail slippery so extra care should be taken when visiting in winter.

Unfortunately, Tsankawi is not the easiest place to find.

• Coming from Santa Fe you'll turn from State Highway 502 to State Highway 4. Less than 1/4 of a mile past this turn Tsankawi will be located on the left hand side of the road. There are no signs for Tsankawi on Highway 4. If you get to the stoplight, you've gone too far. A large gravel parking area adjacent to the highway and a sign on the fence will indicate you've found the place.
• Coming from Bandelier, Tsankawi is much easier to find. Just past the 3rd stoplight, the gravel parking lot for Tsankawi will be on your right-hand side.

Printable Los Alamos/White Rock Map with Tsankawi location indicated. (3.2 mb PDF)

Details

Duration

1-3 Hours

Activity

Front-Country Hiking

Pets Allowed

No

Activity Fee

Yes

Entrance fee applies. An automatic fee collection machine is available at the trailhead. Visitors are required to display their entry pass on the dashboards of their vehicles. 

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

The trail is open all year, however, can be icy in the the winter months. 

Time of Day

Day, Dawn, Dusk

Accessibility Information

The Tsankawi trail contains a series of ladders, narrow passages, drop-offs, and elevation gain/loss. Because of these obstacles, the trail may not be accessible to service animals and people with physical impairments.