Los Alamos/Bandelier sights

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Permalink Reply by Kat on February 28, 2009 at 10:38am

One of our favorite drives is to take I-25 to 550 to 4 (I think) towards Jemez Springs.

Stop in Jemez Springs for early lunch. Or stop beforehand at the roadside stands at Jemez Pueblo for some frybread and indian tacos.
Stop to take the quick hike to Jemez Falls which is after Battleship Rock. (When you take the right turn off of 4, go past the campground, through the group picnic area and hike the short hike down to the falls.) See teh falls, but take the time to go up the creek past the crowds and hang out. There are a couple of nice pools worth sitting next to for a a few minutes. You can also climb up the rocks to get a nice view.
Next stop is Valles Caldera. Well, you don't have to stop, b/c the road goes right next to it, but I would highly recommend it. There is one hike here you don't have to have a permit for, but you probably don't have time to take it. Just stop on oneo f the pullovers, pull out the binoculars, and see if there are any elk hanging around.
Next stop, Bandalier National Monument. Just follow the designated path, and definitely take the time to climb the ladders to the top. There is some hiking in here, but I haven't tried any of it. (It's probably worth it to buy the little guide book from the store for $1 if you have never been here before.)
After that, it's up to you. YOu can stop in Los Alamos or Espanola or santa Fe for dinner depending on how hungry you are. Los Alamos is kind of a fun drive through. After Bandalier, we usually head home, so I don't know as much about Los Alamos.
Have fun!

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Permalink Reply by Kat on March 4, 2009 at 6:18pm

so, how was the trip?

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Schoenberg on March 5, 2009 at 9:28am

I haven't gone yet, I will be going this weekend. Thanks for the tips!

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Permalink Reply by Joan Fenicle on August 15, 2009 at 1:34pm

Bandelier is full of amazing hiking - accessible both from the park headquarters near Los Alamos and from Dome fire lookout near Cochiti Pueblo. My favorite is from the Dome as that area is much less used. There is trail from the Dome into Capulin Canyon where there is good camping (think you need a permit). From the canyon you can take some short and relatively easy hikes to the Stone Lions shrine, some pueblo ruins on the mesa top, Painted Cave and more. It's about 5 miles from Dome to the bottom of the canyon and, of course, five steep miles to climb the next day to get back to your car. I came out along the Rio Grande once thinking it would be easier, but it was more difficult. If you're not up for that much of a hike - detour on your way to Jemez and turn across the creek at Canon to Gillman, the scenic Rio Guadalupe Canyon and the historic Gillman Tunnels (as in 310 to Yuma). The first part is paved but narrow. If you continue beyond the tunnels you are on dirt road that will take you all the way to Fenton Lake and back down to the highway just above Jemez Springs. A nice and scenic diversion.

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