Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument, established in 1916 as one of the National Park Service’s first protected areas, safeguards over 33,000 acres of rugged desert and offers a glimpse into the lives of ancient inhabitants. Nestled in the Southwest, the site preserves cliff dwellings and petroglyphs, with evidence of human presence dating back 11,000 years. Visitors can explore the textured walls of the cliff dwellings, trace the intricate carvings left by ancestral Puebloans, and hike through the diverse landscapes that have supported life for millennia.