Visiting in Fall

Fall color along the Ski Trail.

NPS / Sally King

 

Preparation

Fall is a beautiful time of year to visit Bandelier National Monument! But be sure to plan ahead before leaving the house.

• Plan your park activities ahead of time. Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back; there is no cell service.
• Check the weather forecast. It can be rainy in the early part of the season, and snow can occur as early as November.
• Check the park's Alerts & Conditions page for updates. Inclement weather sometimes causes the park to close for safety reasons.
• Bring food, water, and snacks. The restaurant closes late in the season, and water bottle fill stations can freeze. The park store has bottles of water and a few snack items available to purchase.
• Bring layers of clothing. It can be colder in the morning and warm up throughout the day.

 

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Current Forecast

The closest weather station to Bandelier National Monument is at the Los Alamos Airport at 7,171 feet (2,186 m). While in the park, you will be traveling between 5,000 feet (1,500 m) and 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in elevation. Please expect varying weather conditions.

Hazardous Weather Conditions

Lat: 35.7791125212611 Long: -106.27088578018203

Last updated:

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Bandelier National Monument 2024 Summer Shuttle Service

Bandelier's Summer Shuttle Service has ended for 2024.

 

Bandelier shuttle bus.

NPS

Shuttles

Bandelier National Monument's shuttle is seasonally operated, typically running from mid-May to mid-October. The shuttle is mandatory from 9 am to 3 pm daily and picks up at the White Rock Visitor Center and brings you to the park. The shuttle buses run every 30 minutes on weekdays and every 20 minutes on weekends. The last shuttle leaves the Bandelier National Monument Visitor Center at 5 pm. These shuttles are operated in partnership with Atomic City Transit in Los Alamos County.

There is no charge for riding the shuttle but all normal entry fees still apply for entering the park. Fees are based on the vehicle visitors arrive to the shuttle in, which is not a per person basis usually. All visitors are required to check in at the Bandelier Visitor Center when they arrive in the park.

Are there exceptions to taking the shuttle?

Yes. Shuttle exceptions include:

• Visitors can drive in before 9 am and after 3 pm
• Bicycles
• Anyone with Handicap Placard
• Anyone seeking an Overnight Backcountry Permit
• All Commercial Groups
• Educational Groups in a Bus or Van
• Anyone on Official Park Business
• Campers only going to Juniper Campground or the Juniper Campground Shuttle Stop

Why is there a shuttle?

Bandelier National Monument began utilizing a mandatory shuttle in Summer 2012 to help alleviate parking congestion and to prevent the need to turn cars around when the parking lots were full. The shuttle allows the park to accomodate more visitors.

Why does the shuttle run to mid-October?

It is one of our busiest times of the year. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a 9-day event that starts the first Saturday in October and brings visitors from all over the world. Many of them come to visit Bandelier National Monument during this time.

Does the shuttle take me directly to Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites?

No. The shuttle only provides transportation between the White Rock Visitor Center and the Bandelier National Monument Visitor Center during the busy season (typically mid-May to mid-October).

Can I drive anywhere else in the park?

Yes. You can still drive into a number of areas of the park any time of the day including Juniper Campground, Tsankawi, and to the many trails outside of Frijoles Canyon located along NM Highway 4. Remember the park closes at sunset, so plan to leave before that time.

 

Bandelier National Monument Shuttle Schedule

 

Bandelier National Monument shuttle schedule.