The Tsankawi Unit At Bandelier National Monument In New Mexico Will Be Closing In Mid-March: Here's What To Do In The Meantime
By Melissa Mahoney|Published February 27, 2023
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Melissa Mahoney
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I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
Wouldn’t it be great if all of our national parks could be open all the time? Well, in reality, sometimes a park or a portion of a park has to be shut down for a while for weather, flooding, structural damage, trail maintenance, or even construction. If you’re planning on heading to Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico soon, its Tsankawi Unit will be shut down for several months due to construction. But don’t despair — there are plenty of other sites to see around the park!
An extensive construction project at the Tsankawai Unit of Bandelier National Monument is expected to begin in mid-March 2023. Due to the project, Tsankawi will be closed to visitors.
If you're not familiar with the Tsankawai Unit at Bandelier, it is an ancient ancestral pueblo village with caves and petroglyphs. Located approximately 12 miles from the main entrance to the park on State Highway 4, getting to the ancient village involves a hike along a mesa.
While utterly fascinating, if you've planned on visiting this section of Bandelier this spring or summer and feel disappointed it won't be open, don't despair. Not only can you view a virtual tour of Tsankawi, but there are plenty of other sections of the park to explore.
After all, Bandelier National Monument encompasses 33,000 acres complete with a canyon and mesas. And throughout, you'll see ruins of an ancient civilization that lived here more than 11,000 years ago.
One idea is to take the 1.4-mile Pueblo Loop Trail in Frijoles Canyon to see the Tyuonyi Pueblo ruins as an alternative to the Tsankawi Unit.
You can also take the Cerro Grande Route to the highest point in the park at 10,199 feet. This trek is 4.6 miles round trip through forest and wildflowers and has a steep elevation gain.
Just come prepared if you're intent on hiking this route. Although there are plenty of other trails to choose from in the park.
If you want to spend a significant amount of time exploring Bandelier, camping is also available. The Juniper Campground is perfect for families while the Ponderosa Campground is great for groups.
Backcountry camping is also available for those who are a little more adventurous!
Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico is a vast and popular park to explore. Aside from the Tsankawi Unit, what other parts of the park do you enjoy? Let us know in the comments! For more information on the Tsankawi Unit closure, visit the National Park Service website.
After a trip to Bandelier National Monument, why not head into Los Alamos for some brews at Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op? This is a great co-op brewery in New Mexico!
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