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Bandelier Main Loop Trail - 5 members in 13 triplogs have rated this an average 4.2 ( 1 to 5 best )
13 triplogs
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Jun 01 2025
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 72
 Photos 14,456
 Triplogs 627

62 female
 Joined Aug 19 2011
 Scottsdale, AZ
Pueblo Loop Trail w/Alcove, NM 
Pueblo Loop Trail w/Alcove, NM
 
Hiking avatar Jun 01 2025
outdoor_lover • Triplogs 627
Hiking2.50 Miles 330 AEG
Hiking2.50 Miles
330 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Bandelier Main Loop Trail
Partners none no partners
Day 3 at Bandolier. I would do one hike in the monument on this day and then I was headed elsewhere to check things out and I would be gone from the monument overnight.

Got up before the sun and drove to the Visitor's Center. At that time in the morning, I was the first vehicle in the lot and for 90% of the hike, I would only see 3 other people. Started getting much busier as I finished up.

Did the main loop including the Tyuonyi Pueblo, Talus House and Long House. To say how incredibly remarkable these ruins are is an understatement. They still let you climb up into a couple of them, but because people just don't get it, the Cave Kiva was closed to going in.

After the main event, took the trail to the Alcove House. Nice walk up the bottom of the canyon in the trees. You cross Frijoles Creek a couple of times and even through the trees along the trail, you could see more ruins in the Tuff walls.

Arrived at the Alcove House and from the bottom, you could barely see the alcove itself, much less anything in there. Climbed the ladders and you really didn't get a sense of what was there until you actually were there. Pretty cool spot to live with sweet views. Dinked around for a bit and descended back down. Interestingly, I was on the Park Website a couple of weeks ago and found that they had closed the Alcove House since I was there in June. Not to vandalism though. They discovered that the ladder conditions were in worse shape than they thought. :sweat:

Hiked the nature trail back to the Visitor's Center and left the monument for other destinations. Sweet Hike and I liked that I got in early and didn't have to fight the crowds.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Southwestern Fence Lizard  Western Tanager
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Bridge
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water less than maxwater less than max Rito de los Frijoles Light flow Light flow
_____________________
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow What a Ride!"
  1 archive
Mar 01 2024
avatar

 Routes 386
 Photos 49
 Triplogs 792

43 female
 Joined Jun 23 2015
 Phoenix, AZ
Bandelier Main Loop TrailNorth Central, NM
Bandelier Main Loop Trail
North Central, NM
Hiking avatar Mar 01 2024
emilystardust • Triplogs 792
Hiking3.25 Miles 555 AEG
Hiking3.25 Miles   1 Hour   22 Mns   2.44 mph
555 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 
no photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
_____________________
 
Jun 30 2023
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 263
 Photos 876
 Triplogs 267

51 male
 Joined Mar 24 2021
 Tucson, AZ
Bandelier Main Loop TrailNorth Central, NM
Bandelier Main Loop Trail
North Central, NM
Hiking avatar Jun 30 2023
Jackluminous • Triplogs 267
Hiking3.10 Miles 542 AEG
Hiking3.10 Miles   2 Hrs   46 Mns   1.51 mph
542 ft AEG      43 Mns Break
 
no photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
We hiked the main loop with a copy of the interpretive guide and stopped at each waypoint. The history and culture of the ancient puebloans is quite fascinating. This was our third trip to Bandelier but our last one was when the kids were toddlers so nobody remembered things well, except that it’s a very special place.

We did the out & back to the Alcove House, which included a thrilling climb up 140’ of narrow steps and steep ladders.

On the return we saw a young buck come out of the underbrush, see us, then slink back into the greenery. Handsome fella.
 
Jun 16 2023
avatar

 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,124

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Bandelier National Monument, NM 
Bandelier National Monument, NM
 
Hiking avatar Jun 16 2023
fricknaley • Triplogs 4,124
Hiking9.00 Miles 835 AEG
Hiking9.00 Miles
835 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Bandelier Main Loop Trail
Frey Trail
Upper and Lower Falls
Partners none no partners
After a day off hiking to go white water rafting on the Rio Grande, we decided to spend our last day in Santa Fe at Bandelier National Monument. It was a great choice

We took the shuttle into the park from White Rock and got dropped off at Juniper campground. Hiked the Frey trail into the main area of the park, which affords outstanding views of the area as you drop down into the main canyon. From the there we hiked the Main Loop and took the very worthwhile side trip to the Alcove House. Came back and completed the Main Loop then had a nice picnic in the pines. Finished the day off with the Falls Trail to the Upper Falls - which is fantastic. The trail to the lower falls and Rio Grande has been lost to massive erosion/runoff from a prior fire.

There are a lot of backcountry trails in the park that would be fun to explore. This is a great place!
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hi
 
Aug 13 2021
avatar

 Guides 4
 Routes 27
 Photos 4,621
 Triplogs 975

56 male
 Joined Aug 23 2005
 Pike National Fo
Bandelier Main Loop TrailNorth Central, NM
Bandelier Main Loop Trail
North Central, NM
Hiking avatar Aug 13 2021
sneakySASQUATCH • Triplogs 975
Hiking
Hiking
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
4 day trip with the first stop Bandelier which has been on the bucket list. Found a quick camp spot as we got to the area late. It was refreshing to be out of pollution advisories for the first time in a month. During the trip we had to pass through the Los Alamos labs security check points and surprisingly with Yertle only got searched once. My wife said if they were doing their jobs we would have gotten searched every time. :)
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:o
 
Sep 04 2018
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 Guides 2
 Routes 25
 Photos 1,890
 Triplogs 604

41 male
 Joined Sep 13 2009
 Mesa, AZ
Bandelier Main Loop TrailNorth Central, NM
Bandelier Main Loop Trail
North Central, NM
Hiking avatar Sep 04 2018
jochal • Triplogs 604
Hiking2.00 Miles 160 AEG
Hiking2.00 Miles
160 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Ceremonial Cave
Partners none no partners
Main loop trail plus Alcove trail. Nice place, but glad we were here on a Tuesday. Too many people would be annoying.
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Jul 11 2014
avatar

 Guides 77
 Routes 106
 Photos 2,987
 Triplogs 57

63 male
 Joined Jan 27 2007
 Thousand Oaks, C
Bandelier Main Loop TrailNorth Central, NM
Bandelier Main Loop Trail
North Central, NM
Hiking avatar Jul 11 2014
slegal • Triplogs 57
Hiking3.90 Miles 25 AEG
Hiking3.90 Miles
25 ft AEG
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
We headed out to Bandelier today. My wife and I had visited Bandelier 8 years ago, but today we also had our 19 year old son in tow. My two impressions of Bandelier today versus 8 years ago – way too hot and floods have messed the place up.

We did the same route that we did 8 years ago, the main loop plus the trip to Alcove House. The beginning of the main loop is on a southeast facing slope and it was baking. The skies were clear and I was breaking a sweat.

When we headed to Alcove House it was even hotter. When we touch the railings at the top of each ladder they were too hot to hold onto. On the way back down the ladders, even the wood steps in the ladders were too hot to hold onto.

The main loop and the trail to alcove house have been badly damages by floods. The 2011 fire that threatened Los Alamos had destroyed the ground cover uphill from the canyon causing the land uphill to be unable to hold the water. Thus, the monsoon rains frequently flood the canyon. Consequently, many trees, big and small, have fallen all along the creek that runs through the canyon.

The flooding destroyed a portion of the parking lot. Consequently, visitors can no longer drive into the monument between 9 AM and 3 PM. You now have to park in White Rock and take a bus in. I didn’t mind the bus.

When I got back to the car my car’s thermometer said it was 97 degrees, which is pretty hot for the over 6,000 foot elevation of the area. As we drove to Tsankawi the monsoon clouds finally rolled in and the temperature dropped to 88.
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May 30 2010
avatar

 Routes 17
 Photos 2,773
 Triplogs 249

53 female
 Joined May 15 2009
 Phoenix and Tucs
Bandelier Main Loop TrailNorth Central, NM
Bandelier Main Loop Trail
North Central, NM
Hiking avatar May 30 2010
cindyl • Triplogs 249
Hiking1.20 Miles 25 AEG
Hiking1.20 Miles
25 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Ceremonial Cave
Partners partners
rwstorm
This was after playing around Soda Dam, Spence Hot Springs, Jemez Falls, and then on to Los Alamos for lunch.

The monument was BUSY on this Sunday afternoon of a three-day weekend. If I had more time off during the rest of the year, this would not have been my choice of when to visit. I have to take advantage of these three-day weekends, though. The best part was when we pulled away from the masses by going up to the Alcove House. The steep ladders were quite sturdy - nothing to be afraid of (just don't look down or up!).
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Rio Grande Anasazi Dwelling  Rio Grande Anasazi Kiva
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There are just two switchbacks left. And another half-mile to the destination...
 
May 30 2010
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 136
 Photos 22,415
 Triplogs 1,041

77 male
 Joined Feb 28 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Bandelier Main Loop TrailNorth Central, NM
Bandelier Main Loop Trail
North Central, NM
Hiking avatar May 30 2010
rwstorm • Triplogs 1,041
Hiking1.20 Miles 25 AEG
Hiking1.20 Miles
25 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners partners
cindyl
Following El Morro, it was on to Old Town Albuquerque for dinner, before finishing our first day at Jemez Springs, New Mexico. After breakfast we checked out Soda Dam, Spense Hot Springs, Jemez Falls, and Valle Grande before hitting Los Alamos for lunch. On to Bandelier National Monument for more fun, even with the crowd. We stopped at White Rock to buy some wine and check out the fine view of the Rio Grande River, then it was on to the city different for night number two. I live for these road trips. Keep me moving!
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
 Geology
 Geology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Hoodoo Rock
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Rio Grande Anasazi Dwelling  Rio Grande Anasazi Kiva
_____________________
 
Sep 06 2009
avatar

 Photos 60
 Triplogs 106

66 male
 Joined Mar 12 2007
 Phoenix, AZ
Bandelier Main Loop TrailNorth Central, NM
Bandelier Main Loop Trail
North Central, NM
Hiking avatar Sep 06 2009
Scorpionrider • Triplogs 106
Hiking1.20 Miles 25 AEG
Hiking1.20 Miles      20 Mns   3.60 mph
25 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
 
Sep 02 2007
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 136
 Photos 22,415
 Triplogs 1,041

77 male
 Joined Feb 28 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Bandelier Main Loop TrailNorth Central, NM
Bandelier Main Loop Trail
North Central, NM
Hiking avatar Sep 02 2007
rwstorm • Triplogs 1,041
Hiking1.20 Miles 25 AEG
Hiking1.20 Miles
25 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Camped two nights at Juniper CG in Bandelier National Monument as part of our Labor Day Weekend trip. In addition to checking out main attractions on the loop from the visitor center, we also took a side trip down to nearby White Rock for views down toward the Rio Grande River from the edge of the mesa, as well as get some supplies/food. I also wanted to stop at the Balagna Winery in White Rock to pick up a bottle of John Balagna's "La Bomba Grande" red table wine (not that this was an award winning wine or anything, but I loved the atomic bomb blast label :) ). I became aware of this wine in 1995 when I found it in Santa Fe, but I wanted to finally visit the winery and meet the proprietor. Turns out it was a good thing we stopped when we did, because he told us he was closing the winery at the end of the year (2007). John was a nuclear chemist at Los Alamos who got into wine making after his retirement. Since he was involved with the development of the first atomic bomb, it was only natural one of his wines should have that name. :lol: One thing we wanted to ask him was if he knew the father of a hiking friend, who also was a scientist at Los Alamos. He said, "Sure, we were practically neighbors." Very cool indeed!

After our time around Bandelier we drove scenic NM 4 down through Jemez Springs (with a stop at Soda Dam), then it was US 550 to Bernalillo, where we hit the freeways for the fast track home. It really was an awesome whirlwind five day adventure! :D
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Soda Dam
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  2 archives
Jul 16 2005
avatar

 Triplogs 348

32 male
 Joined Oct 13 2012
 Tucson, AZ
Bandelier Main Loop TrailNorth Central, NM
Bandelier Main Loop Trail
North Central, NM
Hiking avatar Jul 16 2005
iborrego • Triplogs 348
Hiking1.20 Miles 25 AEG
Hiking1.20 Miles
25 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
 
Nov 03 2003
avatar

 Guides 31
 Routes 135
 Photos 2,699
 Triplogs 615

52 female
 Joined Apr 02 2007
 Scottsdale, AZ
Bandelier Main Loop TrailNorth Central, NM
Bandelier Main Loop Trail
North Central, NM
Hiking avatar Nov 03 2003
Crzy4AZ • Triplogs 615
Hiking1.20 Miles 25 AEG
Hiking1.20 Miles
25 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners partners
GI Jones
Fall weather and scenery - - the climb up the ladder to get to the kiva was worth it. Not really a hike - more like a nice guided walk.
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Rio Grande Anasazi Building - Unknown Function  Rio Grande Anasazi Dwelling  Rio Grande Anasazi Kiva  Rio Grande Anasazi Storage Building
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  1 archive
average hiking speed 1.97 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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