Bandelier National Monument in northern New Mexico preserves the Pueblo people's ancestral homes, which offer a window into an ancient and complex culture that long predates Columbus's arrival in North America. Active campers will find plenty to do in this park, from hiking to horseback riding to cross-country skiing in the winter.
Activities
There is lots to do in Bandelier National Monument. You can hike along the park's 70 miles of trails, which range from short and easy to long and arduous, and you can hook up with one of the paths into the adjoining Santa Fe National Forest. You can bring horses on some trails, but you must get a free permit first. Have a healthy snack in the Cottonwood Picnic Ground while you listen to the creek and watch for wildlife. If you come in winter, ski or snowshoe along the Upper Frijoles Trail.
Weather and Planning
Snow is plentiful in Bandelier in the winter, good for skiers but not necessarily campers. There usually are fewer campsites available in winter, and you need a tent specifically made for the cold weather. Spring and fall are the best times to visit, when warm to mild temperatures are ideal for outdoor activities. Summer is hot, with highs in July averaging 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and it is also the rainiest season.
Frontcountry camping
There are two developed frontcountry campgrounds in the park. Juniper Campground is for small groups of campers and families, while the Ponderosa Campground is for groups larger than 10. The Juniper Campground was closed for the 2010 summer season for renovations but will reopen by 2011. Juniper stays open year-round except for winter storm closures. It has running water and can accommodate some RVs, although no spots are pull-through. Ponderosa is only open from spring through fall.
Backcountry Camping
Backcountry campers have plenty of room in Bandelier, given the many hiking trails. You need a free permit to camp in the backcountry, and you can stay as close as two miles from the visitor center or go deeper into the wilderness. Check with park staff before you head out, however, as trails can be icy even in early spring or late fall, and some older trails might no longer be maintained.
Camping with RVs
If you don't want to camp in Juniper in Bandelier, given the lack of pull-through spots as well as water, sewage and electrical hookups, you'll have to stay outside its borders. There is a cluster of RV parks just east of Los Alamos along Routes 84 and 285. Roadrunner RV Park is one of the closest to Bandelier. West of the monument, in picturesque Jemez Springs, is the Trail's End RV Park, where you can stay in an old-growth ponderosa pine forest.
Member Comments