Bandelier National Monument, NM
You’ll find Bandelier National Monument on the Pajarito Plateau, on the slopes of the Jemez Volcanic field in the Jemez Mountains. It features ancient dwellings of the Anasazi (now called Pueblo) people who lived in the area from 1150-1550.
Interestingly, the pink canyon rocks are volcanic ash called “tuff” resulting from the volcanic eruptions in the nearby Jemez Mountains. Years of erosion caused the small openings that were later expanded to make homes. Around 70 percent of this underrated place provides a wide range of life zones and wildlife habitats.
And while there are only 3 miles of road, you’ll find over 70 miles of hiking trails. The Monument, founded in 1916, protects Ancestral Pueblo archeological sites, a beautiful landscape, and the country’s most extensive Civilian Conservation Corps National Landmark District.
