Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico

From Alamosa, CO we moved in to New Mexico and on to Bandelier National Monument, which is one of the National Park Services oldest sites (1916). There is a shuttle that goes between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM, and at those times you can't drive in with your personal vehicle, with some exceptions. Bandelier National Monument has petroglyphs, cliff dwellings, and masonry walls left from an ancient time period.

There was a flood in the area in 2011 and some of the trails are closed. The Main Loop Trail is a 1.2 mile trail that goes past the Big Kiva (was a communal meeting place), Tyouny (originally 2 stories tall), Talus House and the Long House (both were living areas).  There are some ladders along the trail to climb if you want to go in to some of the areas. There is an area with 4 ladders that you can climb up if you want to get to the Alcove House.

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