Bandelier National Park

Bandelier National Park is about an hour northwest of Santa Fe (and that town is a fine place to go after your outing for food or some southwest culture).

My girlfriend and I went in mid-April of 1998 and planned to a week-long backpacking trip through the park. Our visit was cut short due to unusually high amounts of rain and snow that spring. It was still an awesome trip for the days we were able to hike.

The best place to begin a visit is the park's visitor center. That's where you get the answers to your questions and sign up for your backcountry permit.

From there we hiked through the canyon, past ancient cliff dwellings that had been made accessible with ladders affixed to the walls. We continued through the canyon and up and above it for great views.

This is high mountain desert and you can access mountains from here if you choose. Go see it for yourself you will love it. You can e-mail me if you want more information.