Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico: Photos, Reviews & Location

Human settlements from around 11,000 years ago lying in rocky canyon & mesa country.

At a glance

Rating breakdown

5 ★86%
4 ★11%
3 ★2%
2 ★0%
1 ★1%

New Mexico

nps.gov

(505) 672-3861

Photos of Bandelier National Monument (56)

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Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico – photo 1

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico – photo 2

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico – photo 3

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico – photo 4

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico – photo 5

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico – photo 6

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico – photo 7

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico – photo 8

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico – photo 9

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico – photo 10

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico – photo 11

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico – photo 12

Quick facts

What is the rating of Bandelier National Monument?: Bandelier National Monument is rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 2,964 reviews.
Where is Bandelier National Monument located?: New Mexico
How can I contact Bandelier National Monument?: Phone: (505) 672-3861 · Website: nps.gov

Reviews (8)

Dan Wunderli 2023 Oct 23

Holy cow this place is amazing. I’ve been to Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and tons of other national parks. This beats them all, per one hike. Granted it was a perfect October day, but the fact that it’s so interactive makes this a must year round. I can’t believe how few people were there.
The hike is a perfect loop where you get everything in, but I definitely recommend taking the short jot out to the Alcove house, because that was my favorite part. The ladders kept going up and up. The fact that there were ladders without safety bars all over made it feel so much more freeing and authentic.

Trung Vo 2023 Oct 08

Very nice monument. The hikes are easy and not too long so my 11 year-old son really enjoyed it. Very interesting pueblo people houses carved into the rock.
We went to this monument when the balloon festival occurred, so it was not crowded at all (since everyone was at Albuquerque for the Balloon Fiesta).

Moira 2023 Oct 08

Loved this monument. Beautiful mountains and woods and great history. There are some steep ladders and heights so be aware of you are nervous of heights. I would not say some parts of this are child friendly, but some areas are. Paved paths for most of it. Great views. The area has petroglyphs and ladders into some of the dwellings.

Buvi Ramanathan 2023 Sep 25

We combined the main loop and alcove house trails Beautiful Hike & lots of Pueblo houses to explore and those steep ladders in the alcove house trail is a unique and fun experience. Definitely read about it at the visitor center before attempting it, especially if you re not comfortable with heights

Adam N-A 2023 Sep 14

Really cool monument. One of the cooler things I saw while going around New Mexico.
Pros:
Old structures, artifacts, great information, and you can GET IN the old structures. Climb ladders, walk on trails, etc. to get up to these old places. One of them was like 150 feet up a cliff face!
Cons:
Not super easy to get around. I had a hard time finding my way to some of the more obscure places, partially because I had no service there. The main loop trail is easy enough to follow, but there are a lot of branching trails and places where I could have missed something cool. It was also very hot and the water fountains were not working.

All that being said, the pros outweigh the cons, super cool

Lisa Wiggin 2023 Aug 01

I loved this place. I got my fill of adventure. I saw amazing pueblos, snakes, bears and I climbed up to some incredible views. If you plan to visit, I would recommend bringing extra water or Gatorade and a few hours to enjoy yourself. I would set aside at the very least 4 to 5 hours. The trail is short, but there are other trails on the loop to explore and I don't recommend missing them.

Kevin Saavedra 2023 Jul 24

So cool. So fun. IDK if I would like it if I were a kid. Be aware where you're walking because there is a lot of biodiversity. I almost walked into a pair of rattle snakes. I had a blast, though. The trails are well laid out.

I really appreciate the gift shop selling so much pueblo pottery.

Lisa 2023 Jun 13

Great historical site of the Pueblo Indians. Before you start, I recommend spending the $2 (cash) and getting the trail guide booklet sold in the gift shop or visitors center. It has great info - especially if you are not taking a tour by a ranger. When you're done, stop in the cafe for a bite. It was really good! Better than I expected. Overall, it was a very memorable experience!