Bandelier National Monument consists of over 33,000 acre (50 square miles) which is located on the Pajarito Plateau, on the slopes of the Jemez volcanic field within the Jemez Mountains. The monument preserves the homelands of the ancient Anasazi indigenous people, also known as the Ancestral Puebloans and within this homeland area, most of the pueblo structures date from 1150 CE to 1600 CE.

The Bandelier National Monument is located northwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico and south of Los Alamos, New Mexico. The park entrance to the monument can be accessed on SH 4 about 8 miles west of White Rock, New Mexico.

From Los Alamos, New Mexico, drive west on SH 501 (W. Jemez Road) five miles to SH 4 and turn left. Drive east on SH 4 for almost six miles to the entrance to the national monument.

35.796024, -106.275089

6662 feet

35.782317, -106.273980

6112 feet

Basin and Range Region

Colorado Plateau Ecoregion

When the desert wayfarer culture, who most likely were part of the second migration, transitioned from hunter-gatherers to a more settled lifestyle, one characterized by dependence on agriculture, social stratification, population clusters and major architecture, they began what is called in the writings of this web site the post-wayfarer cultures (750 CE -1550 CE).

These Anasazi found this canyon perfect for there settlement. The tuff cliffs were easy to carve into and form rooms, there were areas where they could excavate rooms high above the canyon floor and thus provide a safe escape from any enemy that may have attacked them.

When the home was complete, when the crops were all in, when their bellies were full, and when they had enough animal skins to keep them warm, methinks, these people took the time to work on their latest rock art, or, what we call today, petroglyph. Here at Bandelier, the petroglyph are found carved into the tuff cliffs that line the valley, the same cliffs where the people excavated their homes. There are even some pictograph in the ruins.

Juniper Campground

Frijoles Canyon

Frijoles river (Rito de los Frijoles)

Rio Grande River (2.5 miles down Frijoles river)

Valles Caldera National Preserve (35.851700, -106.455201)

Jemez Hot Springs (35.771628, -106.690476)

Jemez Ruins (35.777915, -106.687809)

Although there is only a few available, I am able to get a good photograph of just one, which at one time it was created, during being occupied, was an inside wall of a dwelling there.