Bandelier's human history extends back for over 10,000 years when nomadic hunter-gatherers followed migrating wildlife across the mesas and canyons. By 1150 CE Ancestral Pueblo people began to build more permanent settlements. Reminders of these past times are still evident in the park as are the strong ties of the modern Pueblo people. By 1550 the Ancestral Pueblo people had moved from their homes here in the canyon to pueblos along the Rio Grande (Cochiti, San Felipe, San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo). In the mid-1700's Spanish settlers with Spanish land grants made their homes in Frijoles Canyon. In 1880 Jose Montoya of Cochiti Pueblo brought Adolph F. A. Bandelier to Frijoles Canyon. Montoya offered to show Bandelier his people's ancestral homelands.

In 1916 legislation to create Bandelier National Monument was signed by President Woodrow Wilson. Between 1934 and 1941 workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the road into Frijoles Canyon, the current visitor center, a new lodge, and miles of trails.

For several years during World War II the park was closed to the public and the Bandelier lodge was used to house Manhattan Project scientists and military personnel.

We hiked the beautiful Falls Trail as it descends 700 vertical feet in its 2.5 mile length passing two waterfalls and ending at the Rio Grande. There are steep dropoffs along the trail and places where we had to hop the creek. We carried snacks and water.

As we descended the Falls Trail we could see where the trail had been affected by a flash flood in late August, 2007. Several bridges were destroyed and the trail was washed out in many places. In the months that followed trail crews, repaired the damage.

A second flash flood in late January affected the area below the Lower Falls. As we hiked, there where blue flagging in the trees to make the trail.

We did not see any but there is a report or two of a group of feral cattle, including several large bulls, have been encountered in the area at the mouth of Frijoles Creek (where the Falls Trail ends at the Rio Grande). These bulls have exhibited some aggressive behavior.

Diana and I found the trail to be very tiring. We still don't understand why it was so tiring as we normally hike at a higher altitude and 5 miles is a normal length of a hike for us.

Pictures