Explore Ancestral Pueblo Dwellings and More at Bandelier National Monument

The Southwest is a mecca of ancient Native American settlements, including such notables as Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, Canyon de Chelly and Bandelier National Monument. The latter is an easy day trip for visitors staying in Santa Fe, as it’s less than an hour away. 

This New Mexico gem boasts over 33,000 acres of dramatic landscape, containing steep narrow canyons, rugged peaks and plenty of unspoiled backcountry. There are cliff dwellings and other stone structures to explore, as well as petroglyphs and pictographs, providing evidence of people having lived there for more than 11,000 years. And with 70 miles of trails, hikers will be in heaven.

President Woodrow Wilson signed the legislation to create the monument in 1916. It’s named after anthropologist and archaeologist Adolph F.A. Bandelier, who was one of the first to study indigenous cultures of the Southwest.

Bandelier’s human history follows nomadic hunter-gatherers in their pursuit of wildlife, as they migrated within this region. The Ancestral Pueblo people took up permanent residence in the area around 1150 CE and remained until 1550 CE. They built homes along the base of the canyon wall, using a type of malleable rock made from volcanic ash, and carved out rooms within the cliffs.

The people relied on agriculture for their livelihood. They used mesa tops as farm fields and techniques such as terracing and grid gardens helped to preserve water.

Eventually, however, challenges with the land, along with a severe drought, forced the people to move from the canyon to pueblos along the Rio Grande.

When exploring Bandelier, visitors typically start at the museum inside the visitor center, which features exhibits about the area’s inhabitants. On display are pieces of Ancestral Pueblo pottery, tools and other artifacts, and dioramas illustrating Pueblo life in the past and today.

After your introduction to the area, take the Main (Pueblo) Loop Trail to discover the various archeological sites within Frijoles Canyon. There’s a trail guide to help you identify 21 points of interest along the way.

Big Kiva, for example, once had a roof and served as a communal gathering place. Tyuonyi was a two-storied structure with over 400 rooms, many used for storage. And at Long House, there are numerous petroglyphs and pictographs of animals, human figures and directional signs.

Rudimentary ladders provide access into the dwellings. In several, you’ll have to crouch once you’re inside, as the ancestral residents were short in stature. Still visible are smoke holes, fireplaces and storage shelves. Outside, you can see the holes in the cliff that once held poles covered with awnings for sun protection.

At the halfway point of the trail, you can either return to the visitor center or continue another half mile to Alcove House. The detour is well worth the effort, as this site, which is located 140 feet above the canyon floor, was once home to approximately two dozen residents.

If heights don’t bother you, climb the four wooden ladders and stone stairs to reach this lofty refuge. There you’ll find a reconstructed kiva and niches of former dwellings. Imagine scaling this distance, while carrying supplies, just to reach your house!

Most visitors never go beyond the Main Loop, but if you’re game for more hiking, check out some of the other trails at Bandelier like Falls Trail or the Tyuonyi Overlook Trail.

Twelve miles from the main area of the park is the Tsankawi section, containing a large unexcavated Ancestral Pueblo village. There are additional dwellings, petroglyphs and a mesa top walk offering views over the Rio Grande.

When You Go

Learn more at nps.gov/band.

Plan your stay in Santa Fe at santafe.org.