Bandelier National Monument was established in 1916 to preserve some 3000 archaeological sites scattered over the canyons and mesas of the arid Pajarito Plateau. Frijoles Canyon, the heart of the park, is famous for its Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, some accessible by ladders, along its south-facing cliffs. Many of the most popular sites are easily accessed on well maintained trails, so if you are concerned about mobility, Frijoles Canyon is an ideal choice. In summer and fall, we can enhance your experience by hiking into the canyon along switchbacks built for visitors during the early years of the park's history. But Bandelier is more than the ancestral home of the Puebloan people. As in all national parks, a deeper experience awaits you just off the beaten path. A network of backcountry trails can take us into the narrow depths of upper Frijoles Canyon, or up and over remote mesa tops to spectacular overlooks of other canyon systems. And everywhere we will be accompanied by the music of the pines, for Bandelier is filled with groves of magnificent Ponderosa trees.

A two-hour looping hike only 35 minutes drive from Santa Fe will take us into this world, at a remarkable place called Tsankawi Mesa. Tsankawi is part of Bandelier National Monument. It brings together in a small place all the features for which the larger part of the park is famous. The views from the mesa-top ruin are magnificent. And this is a great hike for families. The colorful cliffs, twisting paths, ladders, and caves fascinate the younger ones.

Winter is a beautiful time to discover Santa Fe's spectacular mountain areas. With over 330 days of sunshine each year, the snowy mountains are truly a winter wonderland. Snowshoe season in the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe corresponds closely with seasonal winter, from December 21 to March 21. Conditions peak in February, when an established base of snow and strengthening winter light make a blissful combination. Ambitious hikers can choose ridge climbs with great payoffs in mountain views, while families might enjoy more gentle forested hikes. Our guides design private tours for all levels and abilities. You don't need any prior snowshoeing experience!

We can choose among a variety of hikes, from gentle walks along canyon rims, to challenging descents more suitable for energetic hikers. A favorite moderate choice leads down a secluded tributary canyon, then contours along the rocky walls to a spectacular vista above the Rio Grande. For those hikers willing to make the rugged descent (and ascent!) of White Rock Canyon, we can visit some of the most remarkable petroglyph panels in northern New Mexico.

You can choose hikes of 2 to 4 miles length, or more, depending upon your day's schedule and your party's stamina. Although you'll be hiking at high altitudes, from 8000' to 11,000', some hikes involve little elevation gain and are delightful for families or small groups. For a greater challenge you can choose steeper paths that gain as much as 1500' elevation and bring you to the edge of alpine tundra. But if you need a gentle, short, or simply lower-altitude walk, we can arrange that as well. You'll enjoy the characteristic mixed-conifer forest of the Southern Rockies at middle elevations, and the fragrant spruce-aspen forest higher up. Wildflowers dots streamsides and sunny meadows, changing constantly with the transition of summer into fall. Early autumn hikes catch the peak of the aspen color, but fall color persists in lower elevation canyons. We keep track of the leaf changes to help you choose the most spectacular displays.