This small National Monument is well worth visiting. Even if you do only one trail, the “Main Loop,” it will brighten your day.

Like Zion National Park, there is a free bus that will take you into the park. This free bus is required from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM from mid-May, May 14th, through the third week of October, Oct.18th.

The White Rock Visitors Center is an excellent place to park and buy your National Park ticket. You can also buy your ticket at the Visitors Center in Bandelier.

The Center at White Rock is practically brand new and the bathrooms very clean. The Tram goes every 30 minutes. In the spring when you can drive to Bandelier, it is highly recommended that you arrive before 11 AM to get yourself a parking space.

At the Bandelier Visitors Center you are greeted right off the bus by a Park Ranger that will give you important information.

 

Our Ranger recommended seeing the 14 minute film in a comfortable theater. A small informative museum is in this complex too.

We had time to do one trail and the one that is highly recommended is “Main Loop” which is one mile. It is wise to take some water with you as it does get hot.

This trail takes you right into a canyon, Frijoles Canyon. Not far is a large Kiva and remnants of a Pueblo “Tyuonyi” village.

There is actual work going on when we visited to restore several of the walls.

You have an option to go up to the caves. My wife, who has claustrophobia, had no problem climbing up and even up a ladder to view a small cave. The trail is well marked and secured with railings. I am quite proud that she did the loop up to the caves.

 

There are a number of petroglyphs along this trail that date back to 1400. Archeologically, people in this valley have been estimated to being here 11,000 years ago.

There is an option to take the trail up to Alcove House which is higher with longer ladders. There is even a trail to a falls.

The trail bends around to a nice forest. We spotted deer resting in the shade. There are a number of displays and the trail is well marked.

 

Our visit of three hours was memorable one that we will never forget.

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