Juniper Family Campground — Bandelier National Monument

Overview

Juniper Family Campground is the ideal place to camp on the Pajarito Plateau. Located just inside the main park entrance, the campground is a short drive from the Bandelier Visitor Center, the Frijoles Canyon Shuttle bus system (mid-May to mid-October), and the adjacent towns of Los Alamos and White Rock. Also within driving distance are many other opportunities for recreation and exploring the history and culture of the area such as Valles Caldera National Preserve, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Los Alamos museums, the Jemez District of the Santa Fe National Forest, and more. With 53 individuals sites and 2 group camp sites Juniper Family Campground is the perfect "home base" to explore the Pajarito Plateau, Jemez Mountains, and all of north central New Mexico! The campground is divided into 3 loops each has its own comfort station with indoor restrooms, running water, and dish washing stations but no showers. Each campsite has picnic tables, grills, fire rings, and food lockers.__ Loop A individual campsites are offered as first-come, first-serve. Individual campsites in Loop B (year-round) & Loop C (seasonally) are reservable up to 6 months in advance. Group campsites may be reserved up to 12 months in advance. No same day reservations allowed for group campsites.__ It is highly recommended that campers seeking a same-day reservation for a campsite (Loop B or C) make reservations prior to arriving at Bandelier. Cell service/data is not always reliable in the park and no public WiFi is available. Reliable cell service/data and public WiFi can be found in the neighboring towns of Los Alamos and White Rock. __***From mid-May to mid-October, the shuttle bus system is in service, running between the Visitor Center in Frijoles Canyon, the amphitheater parking area in Juniper Family Campground, and the White Rock Visitor Center in White Rock, NM. Access into Frijoles Canyon and the Visitor Center is by shuttle bus only between 9am-3pm and private vehicle traffic is prohibited. To reach the visitor center, campers at Juniper Family may take the free shuttle bus from the amphitheater parking area in Juniper Family Campground, hike the Frey Trail into Frijoles Canyon, or drive their private vehicle before 9am or after 3pm.***

Recreation

Bandelier is home to over 70 miles of hiking trails most of which are located within federally designated wilderness. Two trails are accessible directly from Juniper Family Campground. The Frey Trail follows the historic route into Frijoles Canyon and descends down the canyon wall to the Visitor Center and the Main Loop Trail. The Tyuonyi Overlook Trail leaves the amphitheater parking area for a 3/4-mile hike across the open mesa top to an overlook providing breathtaking views of Frijoles Canyon and of Tyounyi, an ancestral Pueblo village. The Bandelier Visitor Center houses museum exhibits, park film, information and ranger programs, Western National Parks Association sales outlet, and more. Entrance to Frijoles Canyon and the Visitor Center is by shuttle bus only (or by hiking) from mid-May to mid-October. These areas are accesibile by private vehicle outside the shuttle bus period.__ Many other opportunities for recreation are close by including Valles Caldera National Preserve, Santa Fe National Forest, US Department of Energy pulic recreation trails, and others around Los Alamos County.__ Rock climbing is prohibited within Bandelier National Monument, however many popular climbs are within a short drive up Route 4 into the Jemez Mountains.

Facilities

Juniper Family Campground is divided into 3 camping loops. Each loop has its own comfort station with restrooms and running water. Water spigots with potable water are centrally located in each loop. Picnic tables, fire rings with grills, and food lockers are provided at each campsite. No hookups are available at any campsites. There is an RV dump station on the road into the campground, however water at the dump station is turned off during winter months (no filling water tanks or dumping: mid-October to mid-April). Camping Loop C (Coyote Loop) is closed seasonally on November 1 and reopens March 1. Shade is limited in most campsites. During the summer months a camp host is present in the campground.__ *As of 10/27/23, due to temperatures below freezing, the RV dump station has been closed for the season. Individual Campsites Each individual campsite has a paved parking pull in or pull through parking spot. Driveways/pull through size vary by site, many can accommodate larger RVs/trailers. Picnic tables, fire rings with grills, and food lockers are provided at each campsite. There are three camping loops for individual campsites: Loop A campsites are available year-round as first-come, first serve only. Loop B campsites are open year-round and are reservable up to 6 months in advance. Some sites offered on shorter booking windows (7 or 14 days in advance).__ Loop C campsites are open seasonally, March 1 ___ October 31, and are reservable up to 6 months in advance. Some sites offered on shorter booking windows (7 or 14 days in advance).__ All first-come, first-serve campsites (Loop A) may be paid for at the self-pay kiosk located at the Juniper Family Campground kiosk or in-person during business hours at the Bandelier Visitor Center.__ Group Campsites Group campsites are available by reservation only up to 12 months in advance. No same day reservations. Each group campsite is for tent camping only and has ample space for multiple tents. Only one (1) RV or trailer is permitted per site. Each site can accommodate 10-20 campers. Group campsites have picnic tables, fire rings with grills and food lockers.______ The Frijoles Canyon shuttle system (mid-May to mid-October) includes a stop at the Amphitheater parking area located in the Juniper Family Campground. The shuttle can be ridden free of charge and offers service into Frijoles Canyon, stopping at the Visitor Center. Private vehicle traffic into Frijoles Canyon is prohibited while the shuttle is in service.__ During the summer months, interpretive programs may be offered during the day at the Visitor Center and in the evening at the Amphitheater located in the campground. Check the Visitor Center for program schedule.____ Postal mail and/or package deliveries cannot be received at campsites. Any deliveries will be returned to sender. Check-in time for individual campsites is 1:00 pm.__ Check-in time for group campsites is 4:00 pm. Check-out time for the campground is 11:30 a.m.

Natural Features

Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of rugged, beautiful canyon and mesa country which features evidence of human presence going back over 11,000 years. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities.__ Bandelier National Monument sits at the southern end of the Pajarito (Spanish for little bird) Plateau. The plateau was formed by two eruptions 1.6 and 1.4 million years ago. Home to the Bandelier Wilderness, Bandelier ranges from 5340 ft at the Rio Grande River to the south and 10,199 ft at the summit of Cerro Grande to the north, almost a mile of elevation change in just under 12 miles. This elevation gradient creates a unique diversity of habitats specific to Northern New Mexico. The diversity of habitats and quick access to water supported a relatively large population of Ancestral Pueblo people. Currently, Pi__on-Juniper woodlands dominate in the southern parts of the park transitioning through ponderosa pine savannahs and forests, finally reaching mixed conifer forests at the highest elevation. Scattered throughout the park are desert grasslands, montane meadows, and riparian areas in the canyon bottoms. Over 70 miles of trails at Bandelier climb in and out of deep canyons and cross large flat mesas, showcasing the entire spectrum of volcanic geology and ecosystems found within the park. The park is home to over 55 species of mammals including mule deer, Abert's squirrels, mountain lions, black bears, and 16 species of bats. Replitles and amphibians of all shapes and sizes can be seen. Birds such as Steller's jays, canyon towhees and mountain chickadees stay year-round, whereas turkey vultures, western tanagers, and black-headed grosbeaks are summer residents.

Nearby Attractions

The town of Los Alamos has shopping, museums, amenities, a movie theater, ice rink, ski hill, and is home to Manhattan Project National Historic Site.__ Nearby Department of Energy and US Forest Service lands provide trails which accommodate pets. Valles Caldera National Preserve is 16 miles west of Bandelier.__ Jemez Historic Site is 37 miles west. Pecos National Historical Park is 70 miles southeast.__ Santa Fe, 40 miles south of the park, is home to the New Mexico state capitol, museums, historic districts, art galleries, food, accomodations, and more.__

contact_info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (505) 672-3861.