Auto Tours

There are only three miles of public paved roads in the 32,000-acre monument. This road goes from the entrance gate on Route 4 to the Visitor Center in Frijoles Canyon. Other non-paved roads are closed in the winter.

Hiking & Trails

There are 70 miles of hiking and backpacking trails in Bandelier National Monument. The shorter and most popular trails lead to Anasazi ruins of the cliff houses and other structures throughout the Monument.

Tsankawi Trail

1.5-mile loop on primitive trail leads past unexcavated ruins, cave dwellings and petroglyphs. A small guidebook is available. This trail is in a separate section of the monument, 11 miles north on Route 4.

Falls Trail

3-mile, roundtrip trail leads to upper and lower waterfalls in Frijoles Canyon.A booklet describing the geology and native plants along the trail is available for sale.

Main Loop Trail

The Frijoles Canyon cliff dwellings (talus houses) are within a short, easy walk of the Visitor Center along this 1.5-mile paved trail. It leads though the Tyuonyi pueblo ruins, which are within 400 yards of the Visitor Center. A guide book describing each of the stops along the trail is available. This trail is wheel-chair accessible to the picnic area. Here are the stops:

1. View of the Cliffs

2. Geology

3. Farming Area

4. Big Kiva

5. Unexcavated Ruins

6. Entrance to Tyuonyi

7. Plaza in Tyuonyi

8. Small Kiva

9. Unexcavated Portion of Tyuonyi

10. Natural Cave

11. Cave Rooms

12. Reconstructed Talus House

13. Snake Kiva

14. Canyon Panorama

15. Cave Kiva

16. Frey Trail

17. Trail Fork

18. The Orchard

19. Long House

20. Petroglyphs

21. Pictograph