One of the Atomic City Transit shuttle buses that will carry visitors from White Rock to Bandelier National Monument May 17 to Oct. 17. Courtesy/NPS BANDELIER News:
It’s been a very busy spring at Bandelier National Monument. So busy that there’s just not enough parking in the Frijoles Canyon parking areas near the Visitor Center!
Shuttle service starts back up Thursday, May 17. As well, the Bandelier Visitor Center hours will lengthen, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. and the Los Alamos County White Rock Visitor Center hours are 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.
The shuttles are free, have really big windows to take in the scenery along the way, and run seven days a week through Oct. 17. Starting at 9 a.m., they leave the White Rock Visitor Center every half hour on weekdays and every twenty minutes on weekends. Every run stops at Juniper Campground and then proceeds to the Bandelier Visitor Center, and stops at the campground again on its way back to White Rock.
“The County of Los Alamos and Atomic City Transit provide us with a terrific service”, said Bandelier Superintendent Jason Lott. “Visitors can have a relaxed, enjoyable day at the park without having to wait in a long line for a parking space and the drivers are the best!”
Visitors who arrive at the park before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. may drive into Frijoles Canyon without taking the shuttles. In addition there are exceptions for visitors with disability placards on their vehicle, those starting an overnight hike into the back country, traveling with pets, coming on park business, commercial tours and organized groups traveling in their own bus or vans.
Anyone wishing to camp in Juniper Campground can drive into the campground at any time, but then must use the shuttle to access the Visitor Center area as well.
Between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., the hours when most visitors are required to use the shuttle, a member of the park staff will be on duty at the Bandelier entrance station to provide information and assistance.
For more details about the shuttle service, or other information about Bandelier National Monument, contact the Bandelier Visitor Center at 505.672.3861 x 517 or visit www.nps.gov/band, on Facebook, BandelierNPS.
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