In July 2001 my friend Cheryl and I visited Bandelier National Monument. Bandelier is approximately 50 miles northwest of Santa Fe. Bandelier National Monument contains remnants of an Anasazi community established 7 or 8 centuries ago. Remnants of the Anasazi community include cave rooms carved out of the soft tuff rock, buildings constructed at the base of the tuff cliffs, and a circular community village.
We had a great day! Cheryl packed us a delicious picnic lunch -- thanks Cheryl! We hiked the Tyuonyi Trail and the Falls Trail. The Tyuonyi Trail explores many of the cave rooms, ruins of buildings and remants of the Anasazi community village.
The Falls Trail is a pretty steep trail down to the Rio Grande. Two waterfalls mark geologic transitions along the trail.
After hiking around Bandelier, Cheryl and I took the scenic route home through the Jemez Mountains. It's a beautiful drive! We stopped at the caldera, hot springs and a soda dam (a formation caused by mineral deposition due to the hot springs).
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