Visiting Bandelier

Although September has started out warm and dry, a typical late-summer monsoon pattern (with sunny beautiful mornings, building thunderheads by early afternoon and a good chance of isolated downpours by mid to late afternoon) is likely to return to the area. Plan your day with the expectation that afternoons thunderstorms could produce dangerous lightning, hail, and heavy rain in some areas especially the higher elevations.  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. Frijoles Canyon has experienced several flooding events this year. Check at the visitor center about trail conditions if you are hiking beyond the Main Loop Trail and Alcove House. Juniper Family Campground is an excellent choice for staying overnight in the park.

Seasonal Information         

The People of Bandelier

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...

Click here to see the park's extensive museum collections.

Especially For Teachers

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.

Resources for teachers...

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