Courtesy/NPS

BANDELIER News:

Bandelier National Monument has announced its schedule for the upcoming holidays, and also two special events.

Saturday, Dec. 13, Bandelier’s Artist-in-Residence, well-known photographer David Halpern, will be offering a photo hike in Frijoles Canyon. Numbers are limited, so anyone interested in attending must call the park Visitor Center at 505.672.3861 x 51 to sign up. There is no charge for the walk beyond the park entrance fee. Then Sunday, Dec. 21, there will be the annual Winter Solstice Sunrise Walk, meeting at 7:15 a.m. at the Visitor Center. Participants walk up the canyon to watch the sun rise in alignment with the entry walls at Tyuonyi Pueblo. No sign ups are necessary for this walk.

Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, the park will be open, including  the Tsankawi section and Frijoles Canyon. The Visitor Center and Bandelier Trading gift shop and snack bar will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thanksgiving Day, but will not be open Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. On other days through the holiday season, the Visitor Center and Bandelier Trading will be open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., unless the park is closed due to hazardous weather. Juniper Campground is open.

“We hope that visitors will consider coming to Bandelier over the holiday season,” Bandelier Superintendent Jason Lott said. “On sunny, quiet winter days it might be just the place to bring relatives who are in town.  Just dress warmly, keep an eye on weather forecasts, and be careful if there is snow or ice on roads or trails. The cliffs and caves are beautiful with fresh snow.”

Visitors can pay their entrance fee at the monument entrance or the Visitor Center, and Annual, Bandelier, Senior, Access and Military passes are honored. For more information, the Visitor Center can be reached at 505.672.3861 x 517, the park’s website is www.nps.gov/band, and the Facebook page is BandelierNPS.