"Bandelier National Monument " a Bandelier National Monument Travel Page by lareina

While in New Mexico, I was based in Santa Fe and I wish that I would have visited Bandelier sooner because this amazing site was only a short drive away.

Bandelier is an excellent archeological site of the dwellings of the ancient Puebloan people. It was established in 1916 and named after Adolph F.A. Bandelier, a pioneer in the research and archeology of the area and ancient Puebloans. The park covers 32,737 acres and there are 70 miles of trails and over 1200 sites.

I enjoyed the park so much because I could actually climb the ladders into the cave rooms and the ceremonial cave. When the sun came out, it was apparent why the Puebloans inhabited the south-facing canyon wall instead of the shady, cool wall by the stream.