Hiking Bandelier National Monument
Through our multiple visits to Bandelier National Monument, we have hiked a number of the trails that depart from the visitor center. The hiking here is very accessible and is friendly to the time-crunched traveler. I would highly recommend one of the trails that takes you through the ruins. This is a dream spot for kids to hike because they get to climb ladders and go through narrow passageways.
Main Ruin Loop Trail
Distance: 1.4 Miles
Trail Type: Loop
Elevation Gain: 291 feet
Difficulty: Easy
All Trails Map
The Main Ruin Loop Trail begins and ends at the visitor center. The trail is 1.4 miles in length and is broken into two sections. The first section is paved and is handicap accessible. The second portion of the trail has some narrow sections of stairs to climb as you work your way up onto the cliffs sides to be able to access the carved out alcoves that were made in the side of the canyon for homes and storage. Ladders from the trail will allow adventurers to climb up into these alcoves and experience these rooms personally. There is a trail map that is available for a small fee at the visitor center that will explain the sites along the trail. This trail will take most people 45 minutes to one hour as they explore the ruins along the way.
Alcove House Trail
Distance: 2.6 miles
Trail Type: Reverse Lolipop
Elevation Gain: 251 feet
Difficulty: Easy
All Trail Maps
From the turn around point on the Main Ruin Loop Trail, you can continue further up the canyon to Alcove house. This trail is very easy until you get to the very last part where you are required to climb up four wooden ladders to a point 140 feet above the canyon floor. The Alcove House is unique because it has a Kiva at the site that is inside the large rock alcove. This trail is a great time for kids of all ages and the ladders add a little excitement and thrill into the hike. The trail returns back the way you came and eventually ends up at the visitors center.
Frey Trail
Distance: 3.1 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Elevation Gain: 613 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
All Trails Maps
If you are looking for a hike that is a little more of a workout, take the Frey Trail which goes between the campground, upper shuttle stop, and the canyon floor. When you get to the edge of the canyon you will have an amazing birds-eye view of the ruins down below. This aerial view helps you see the layout of the rooms and the design of the village. The trail then switchbacks down the canyon wall through some steep sections and eventually joins the Main Ruin Loop Trail. You can take this trail one direction and then take the shuttle back to your starting point if you are hiking when the shuttle is running. This trail does not offer much shade and can be quite hot to hike during the summer. Be sure that you bring plenty of water, a hat, and sunscreen. We hiked this train from bottom to top and really enjoyed seeing the valley below.
Tsankawi Ruins Trail
Distance: 1.6 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Elevation Gain: 236 feet
Difficulty: Easy
All Trails Maps
This is the number one rated trail in Bandelier National Monument on All Trails. The trailhead for the hike is a parking area on the side of Highway 4. Most individuals visiting the area are going to drive right past it and not give it another thought, but it really is a fun trail to explore. If you follow the loop counter-clockwise, you will first climb up a short section of trail to the top ridge. Traversing the ridge you begin to see some great vistas of the Rio Grande Valley. The trail is on hard pack ash and it is important that you stay on the trail.
As you approach the end of the ridge the trail begins dropping down via some ladders and you begin walking on the edge of the canyon where the native people who called these ruins home would travel. The paths are so well traveled and the cliffs soft enough that their pathways have become narrow trenches that you walk in. There are several places where you get to look and go inside the cave dwellings.
There are also petroglyphs along the trail for you to enjoy
Be sure to take water with you. While is it not an extremely long hike you will be exposed to the sun the whole way and in this dry climate, you want to be sure to stay hydrated. This trail is a unique hiking experience and one that I would highly recommend.
Upper Falls Trail
Distance: 2.9 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Elevation Gain: 485 feet
Difficulty Moderate
All Trails Maps
Seeing a waterfall in such an arid part of the country is a real treat so this hike has a great destination spot. The trail follows the canyon down to a spot where you can see Frijoles creek falls over the rock ledge. Along this trail, you will see some great cross sections of the canyon wall as the creek has eroded the canyon away. You will also see a formation called tent rocks along the path which has a layer of rock which was stronger than the surrounding rocks and created a cone-shaped "tent" formation. This trail used to go beyond the upper falls, all the way to the Rio Grande river below, however, the trail was washed out when flooding occurred in the canyon and the trail is now closed at the upper falls.
Main Ruin Loop Trail
Distance: 1.4 Miles
Trail Type: Loop
Elevation Gain: 291 feet
Difficulty: Easy
All Trails Map
The Main Ruin Loop Trail begins and ends at the visitor center. The trail is 1.4 miles in length and is broken into two sections. The first section is paved and is handicap accessible. The second portion of the trail has some narrow sections of stairs to climb as you work your way up onto the cliffs sides to be able to access the carved out alcoves that were made in the side of the canyon for homes and storage. Ladders from the trail will allow adventurers to climb up into these alcoves and experience these rooms personally. There is a trail map that is available for a small fee at the visitor center that will explain the sites along the trail. This trail will take most people 45 minutes to one hour as they explore the ruins along the way.
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| Walk up to the cliff side from the visitors center. |
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| Along the cliffs, you will see the walls of the pueblo and the holes that were carved in the rock behind them. |
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| Exploring the alcoves is fun. |
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| The trail narrows and has stairs cut into the rocks at some spots further along the trail. |
Distance: 2.6 miles
Trail Type: Reverse Lolipop
Elevation Gain: 251 feet
Difficulty: Easy
All Trail Maps
From the turn around point on the Main Ruin Loop Trail, you can continue further up the canyon to Alcove house. This trail is very easy until you get to the very last part where you are required to climb up four wooden ladders to a point 140 feet above the canyon floor. The Alcove House is unique because it has a Kiva at the site that is inside the large rock alcove. This trail is a great time for kids of all ages and the ladders add a little excitement and thrill into the hike. The trail returns back the way you came and eventually ends up at the visitors center.
Frey Trail
Distance: 3.1 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Elevation Gain: 613 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
All Trails Maps
If you are looking for a hike that is a little more of a workout, take the Frey Trail which goes between the campground, upper shuttle stop, and the canyon floor. When you get to the edge of the canyon you will have an amazing birds-eye view of the ruins down below. This aerial view helps you see the layout of the rooms and the design of the village. The trail then switchbacks down the canyon wall through some steep sections and eventually joins the Main Ruin Loop Trail. You can take this trail one direction and then take the shuttle back to your starting point if you are hiking when the shuttle is running. This trail does not offer much shade and can be quite hot to hike during the summer. Be sure that you bring plenty of water, a hat, and sunscreen. We hiked this train from bottom to top and really enjoyed seeing the valley below.
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| The Frey Trail is less developed than other trails in the park and climbs steeply up the canyon walls. |
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| There are great viewpoints of the canyon floor and the ruins from above, it really shows the size of the pueblo. |
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| You can see the trail switchbacks down below working their way up the canyon walls. |
Tsankawi Ruins Trail
Distance: 1.6 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Elevation Gain: 236 feet
Difficulty: Easy
All Trails Maps
This is the number one rated trail in Bandelier National Monument on All Trails. The trailhead for the hike is a parking area on the side of Highway 4. Most individuals visiting the area are going to drive right past it and not give it another thought, but it really is a fun trail to explore. If you follow the loop counter-clockwise, you will first climb up a short section of trail to the top ridge. Traversing the ridge you begin to see some great vistas of the Rio Grande Valley. The trail is on hard pack ash and it is important that you stay on the trail.
As you approach the end of the ridge the trail begins dropping down via some ladders and you begin walking on the edge of the canyon where the native people who called these ruins home would travel. The paths are so well traveled and the cliffs soft enough that their pathways have become narrow trenches that you walk in. There are several places where you get to look and go inside the cave dwellings.
There are also petroglyphs along the trail for you to enjoy
Be sure to take water with you. While is it not an extremely long hike you will be exposed to the sun the whole way and in this dry climate, you want to be sure to stay hydrated. This trail is a unique hiking experience and one that I would highly recommend.
Upper Falls Trail
Distance: 2.9 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Elevation Gain: 485 feet
Difficulty Moderate
All Trails Maps
Seeing a waterfall in such an arid part of the country is a real treat so this hike has a great destination spot. The trail follows the canyon down to a spot where you can see Frijoles creek falls over the rock ledge. Along this trail, you will see some great cross sections of the canyon wall as the creek has eroded the canyon away. You will also see a formation called tent rocks along the path which has a layer of rock which was stronger than the surrounding rocks and created a cone-shaped "tent" formation. This trail used to go beyond the upper falls, all the way to the Rio Grande river below, however, the trail was washed out when flooding occurred in the canyon and the trail is now closed at the upper falls.
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