Tsankawi Section Bandelier National Monument

Great little loop hike with ladders, historic trails trod into the ash flow tuff and gorgeous views!

Best short (1.5 m) hike to see sunrise in the known universe. Plan about 20 minutes from the start to get to the mesa top before sunrise. An amazing place filled with cliff dwellings, pictographs, peace and views.

This small portion of Bandelier National Monument is a real jewel that is detached from the main park area. We explored this area by following the 1.5 mile loop trail. We enjoyed the trail immensely, feeling that it had many features that we have not experienced in other areas. The sheer number of dwellings, and the large area covered in this hike makes this site unique. Another unique feature is the ruts that were created by the years of ancestral pueblo Indians walking from the dwellings to the land that they farmed.
The trail is very hot if you are doing it in the summer during the mid-​day time frame. There is very little shade along the trail and the trail is completely dry. There is a very clean restroom and potable water available at the trailhead. Make sure that you take water with you. There is a trail guide at the start of the trail as well which you can purchase for $ 0.50 which is very interesting and helps guide you along the trail.
The parking lot for this hike is located just along Hwy 4, just south of the junction of NM502 and NM 4, or just north of the stop light at East Jemez Rd and NM4.

This place is so special, I hesitate to write a review for fear it’ll get discovered. Just – if you happen upon this spot, don’t be a douche, ok?
We heard about this spot initially from a barista at Better Day Café in Santa Fe who knew his stuff. He even drew us a map, which made the process of getting there all the more exciting… like a treasure hunt. «Now, it’s not marked, but you’ll see a parking lot off to the left. Turn in there, and you’ll see the entrance to the place.» Sounds cool, right?
With some help from the tourist info spot nearby, we finally found it. Really, it’s not marked.
The trail is awesome, and unlike any other I’ve experienced. You follow the path of the people who lived in these cliffs so many years ago. Water has also helped erode the trails, so in places, you have to shimmy through a trench between two waist-​high pieces of stone. At a couple points, you have the option of ascending or descending a ladder that is screwed into the rockface, or scrambling/​climbing the rocks. Let’s just say, your frail mama needs to stay in the car for this one.
The views are a serious treat, and you’re given access to parts of the cliff dwellings that Bandalier doesn’t allow. Respect this area! I can’t stress this enough! Keep your eye out for pottery shards and arrowheads just about everywhere.
I love this place, so much that we returned the following morning at dawn for a sunrise photo session from the top of the mesa.

While the main Bandelier National Park is amazing… this trail is gorgeous, unique, and peaceful. There are a few laddres that you climb to get up to mesa tops. In some sections, the rock has been worn down so well that it acts as a trail. Nearby petroglphys and you can go into some small caves which act as shelters. Trail guide gives information as to the different markers and helps you learn about the hsitory of this community. There are bathrooms located at the trailhead, make sure to take valuables from your car. The trailhead is located near a stoplight, a small gravel parking lot (hard to see in the snow). One of my favorite trails, ever!

A smaller section of the Bandelier National Park, but worth the trip after the larger section. It’s eleven miles north of the main entrance.
It has a one and a half mile loop trail, is unexcavated and is beautiful. This place reminds me of where some of my family lives in Arizona. You can walk around and see unexcavated ruins all around you. I think it’s best at sunset.