Convenient and accessible!…read more En route to Bandelier National Monument, we stopped at White Rock Visitor Center, to take advantage of the shuttle service that you can get from here to Bandelier, especially because there's limited road access to the monument. The shuttle service runs about every 20 minutes, and gets you directly to the main visitor's entrance of Bandelier. Inside the visitors center is where you'll find tons of information of nearby attractions and sites, with brochures, maps, etc... The space was also very large, clean and dog-friendly. There's also a help desk at the center where staff are happy to speak with you for recommendations and assistance. You can also pay for your park fees here. I advise anyone who's on their way to Bandelier National Monument to stop by the White Rock Visitor Center for its shuttle service and getting tips and information on other nearby sites while in the area.

A pit stop to grab the Bandelier Shuttle, we were happy to miss the first ride and spent some time…read morein the center. Delightful staff, with so much knowledge, ask them questions! You will learn a lot :) They also have very easy parking, nice bathrooms, and lots of fliers to promote ideas in the area. The gorgeous large windows make it a delightful pit stop to sit and relax, while you take in a bit of the mini museum.

Frijoles Creek flows right through the Bandalier National Monument. It is a gentle waterway here as…read moreit passes under foot bridges and along creeks dotted with river rock. But that was not always the case as the gigantic 2011 Las Conchas wildfire burned through the monument's watershed. According to a story in the Albuquerque Journal newspaper, " the fire left thousands of acres charred and denuded, and cleared the way for huge floods through Frijoles Canyon in 2011 and again in 2013 that threatened key features of the (Bandalier) monument and the visitors center." Yes, little Frijoles Creek (El Rito de los Frijoles, Spanish for "the little river of beans,") turned into a mighty raging river of water.The floods here washed out Frijoles Rim Trail and the bottom part of the Falls Trail down to the Rio Grande. The Bandelier website says the "Frijoles Canyon Trail between Alcove House and the Upper Crossing "is basically a streambed hike at this point - passable but challenging in places due to erosion, rockfalls, fallen trees, log jams, flood debris, dense vegetation and numerous stream crossings," said the Journal newspaper at the time. Frijoles Creek generally flows at 10 cubic feet per second or less. But in September 2013, it was rushing along at 9,000 cfs, park rangers say. That's a lot of water moving around. Frijoles Creek was so powerfully flooded that 300-year old trees came toppling down along it's banks. But this Creek is so important because it is one of the few places in the plateau region where water flows year-round This reliable source of water must have been very important to the Native Peoples who utilized the H20 for drinking and cooking. Animals and wildlife would have been attracted to the area to drink at the stream. A wide range of plant life would have flourished along the stream. The Creek I saw at Bandalier in May 2015 was a peaceful stream of cold river water. The water is so cold because it flows down from the melted snow up in the mountains above the plateau. The Creek has waterfalls. Both Upper Frijoles Falls and Lower Frijoles Falls feed the Creek stream. But these waterfalls are not really the main attraction, as not much water flows over them. However, the hike up to see the Falls and the beautiful rocks around them are fantastic. I have to give Frijoles Creek 5 YELP STARS for it's unusual name and the fact that this hardy watershed has recently survived both a raging wildfire and torrential flooding. It's consistent flow of water enabled the Ancestral Pueblo people to survive and flourish in this sometimes arid and harsh climate.

The Los Alamos area has *so* many phenomenal parks and trails, but if you're pressed for time and…read morecan only choose one, and the weather is good for it, I highly recommend the Tsankawi Section of Bandolier National Monument. It's less than 20 minutes away and you can have a great 1.5 mile loop hike with cool history & stunning vistas in less than 2 hours. The hike isn't really strenuous, but there are some ladder climbs & descents, as well as several instances of unprotected paths along an open cliffside, a little nerve-wracking for those with fear of heights. If there's ice on the ground, I'd recommend a different trail. Note that there is no shade or shelter at all, so wear appropriate cover & sunscreen, and don't go if any storm is forecast. Watch out for snakes, and beware of the possibility of splinters in your hands from the ladders - use gloves there if you have them. At Tsankawi, you will see wonderous 360-degree views of colorful mesas, valleys, skies, and mountains. Keep your eyes peeled for ancient petroglyphs carved into boulders along the way. Some of the hike is on sandy or gravel paths, while other parts are along deeply grooved ruts in stone, worn by 1000s of years of footfalls. Eventually you will reach hollowed out cave dwellings with soot covered ceilings, the remains of the Tewa people's pueblo homes from another era. Official hours are 9a - 5p daily, but I've heard that sunrise and sunset are amazing from this mesa. As of November 2024, you'll pay $25 for the per-vehicle parking pass, and this will be good for 1 week of entry to all of Bandolier. You can pay with credit card at the covered kiosk near the trailhead and receive a receipt to display on your dashboard. Of course, if you're planning to see other national parks this year, you might as well spend the $45 to get the annual pass.

Spectacular! It was the highlight of our day. Only about dozen or so parking spots. I'm shocked…read moreit's not more known. I think it's better that way. Less the better. We went to cliff dwellings at Bandelier day prior. That was nice too but we enjoyed the ruggedness here more. The rocks are easy to climb. And we probably saw 6 other people the whole time we were there. The highlight is to climb that second ladder for mind blowing views from the top.

This is a very well taken care of trail that is very easy for people to see quite up close. You…read morecould possibly have a stroller or wheelchair here and still see a lot. There are seats all throughout the routes. The first third of the trail isn't as shaded but the entire last portion is quite shaded. There's also a bathroom available about 2/3rds of the way to alcove house. The history is amazing. Glad we are preserving this place and sharing it with the public.

One of my favorite national parks that I have ever been to and hiked! STUNNING. I love that you can…read morehike up the ladders on one of the hikes here. That hike definitely is not for the faint of heart and pushed my limits at the top (you are high and it seems scary) but it is one of my most memorable hikes all around for the scenery and unique experience. A must visit! For those who don't to do the ladder hike, you can still walk to the bottom of it and look up and get a good view. So there is something for all levels here. The scenery is gorgeous. It does get windy here sometimes (we had a lot of wind blasting us as we were climbing the ladders) so be careful and be prepared for that. The nature all around is beautiful. Additionally, there are some tables so you could bring a picnic. Staff in the visitor center is very friendly and has lots of great recommendations of what to do here or nearby. A must do! This was the highlight of my trip to this area and I can't recommend it enough :)

National parks are amazing aspect of our country. This one is focused on the history of the…read moreManhattan project, leading to the atomic bomb. It is a relatively new park, celebrating its 10 year anniversary this year. Literature is great, especially the map for the walking tour as well as the buildings "behind the fence". If you collect national park stamps and the NPS visitor center is closed, you can also get it at the Los Alamos visitor center right next door as well as at the Los Alamos Historical Center museum just a little ways away.

Very interesting to tour these sites especially after seeing the movie Oppenheimer. I would…read morerecommend stopping to learn about the history of the project and where it took place.

Great park for dogs and their humans! My medium and small rescue dogs love going there and meeting…read morenew friends.

Last weekend was the second year I attended a Ladies Retreat with my church friends. The people…read moremanaging the resort are the most accommodating and welcoming folks. The food was delicious. But the hamburger was Amazing!!!! I've never tasted such terrific beef. I'm taking my husband back here even if it's only for lunch. Thank you Kind Manzano Management and Staff.

We attended their Holiday gathering on New Mexican buffet night and had a great time. The staff is…read morebeyond friendly & helpful, the food was amazing, and the overall ambiance was spectacular. They even got THE Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus to attend. Highly recommend everything about the place.

The Los Alamos Ski Club no longer owns Pajarito Mountain. While the club originally founded and…read morebuilt the ski area in the 1950s, it transferred management to a resort group in 2014 and sold almost all the land and infrastructure to Mountain Capital Partners in 2018. Despite selling the resort, the Los Alamos Ski Club maintains strong ties to the mountain and club members actively volunteer for trail clearing and forest maintenance. Despite the long and winding trip up the Mountain, Gayle and I enjoyed the scenery as we drove up the parking lot to take a look. It no longer looks like the family-run operation of years past, but it remains formable and maybe worth a special winter trip to check it out again.

First time skiing, total success! I signed up for a lesson, rentals and a full day lift pass…read more Paid $172 for everything. Started at the rentals, they already had my skis and poles out and labelled, went up and got my boots, made a quick exchange for a size up- ski boots are hard to put on! Then rented a locker for our shoes (which when we came back proved to be unnecessary since everyone just leaves their shoes on the ground) Walked over to the lesson area and got placed in a group of beginners based on our zero skill level. They had a few other groups for those with more experience. We went through a ton of drills- one foot in, then the other, then will both. Worked on pizza/French fry positioning, wedge turns and horizontal climbs. Then headed to the magic carpet- would have been nice to be told what to expect when exiting - just stay loose and upright and walk out when off the belt. With 30 mins left of the lesson, I asked if we were going to go up the beginners lift, the instructor was psyched to take the three of us older kids The instructor slowed the lift for getting on and off to make it easier. Then taught us how to use the wedge turns to navigate down the mountain. Had a great time and feeling super accomplished! Couple notes- I bought ski pants/bib thing, went with a few layers on top with a rain jacket over, good gloves and regular sunglasses. Felt very comfortable and warm and happy I didn't spend any more on gear. For the food, you'll be better off bringing your own cooler. You can eat outside food in the lodge and they don't have alcohol, so if you're looking for a midday beer, you should bring some with you. I should have just got the beginner lift tickets, I wasn't ready after one lesson for anything else Overall great day and would totally come back!