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After surviving one of the worst forest fires in New Mexico history, Bandelier National Monument near Los Alamos is open for business and visitors are rediscovering mesa-top areas of the park.
The national monument has relaxed most fire restrictions and visitors may also enjoy campfires at Juniper Campground.
"Bandelier National Monument is open; however the backcountry trails and access to Frijoles Canyon remain unavailable for now," said Bandelier Superintendent Jason Lott. "We want the public to know that we will make more of our beloved monument available as soon as we can safely do so."
Officially known as the Las Conchas fire, the fire started June 26, 2011 and burned more than 156,000 acres. Full containment of the fire finally was announced on Aug. 1, 2011.
The Las Conchas Fire burned more than 50 percent of the park's landscape and has left Frijoles Canyon, where the visitor center and main sites are located, subject to flash flooding.
The sight of visitors at the Tsankawi District and driving through the main entrance station is a promising sign to park staff and local businesses, one ranger said.
In addition to the Tsankawi District, visitors may hike along the Tyuonyi Overlook Trail to view the Frijoles Canyon cultural sites, and along Burnt Mesa Trail to see the rapid greening-up of an area affected by the Las Conchas Fire.
Since the Las Conchas Fire, visitors and local residents have become familiar with the sight of park rangers and volunteers providing fire information at local businesses and events.
Sections of Bandelier National Monument reopened to the public on Friday, July 15, 2011. Currently, the park's rangers and volunteers are roving Bandelier's open trails and staffing the visitor contact station at the Tsankawi District. Ranger-led programs have also begun at Bandelier, including evening programs at the Juniper Campground Amphitheater on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Although the most-visited stretch of Frijoles Canyon was unaffected by the fire, bridges along Frijoles Creek have been removed to allow heavy runoff from the monsoon rains to flow unimpeded, and the Visitor Center has been sealed and protected from the threat of flash floods.
While it is possible that the Visitor Center may remain sealed for the remainder of this year, visitation to the archeological sites in Frijoles Canyon may resume after the monsoon season ends and the daily threat of flooding eases.
For more information, visit the park's Web site at www.nps.gov/band.
The national monument has relaxed most fire restrictions and visitors may also enjoy campfires at Juniper Campground.
"Bandelier National Monument is open; however the backcountry trails and access to Frijoles Canyon remain unavailable for now," said Bandelier Superintendent Jason Lott. "We want the public to know that we will make more of our beloved monument available as soon as we can safely do so."Officially known as the Las Conchas fire, the fire started June 26, 2011 and burned more than 156,000 acres. Full containment of the fire finally was announced on Aug. 1, 2011.
The Las Conchas Fire burned more than 50 percent of the park's landscape and has left Frijoles Canyon, where the visitor center and main sites are located, subject to flash flooding.
The sight of visitors at the Tsankawi District and driving through the main entrance station is a promising sign to park staff and local businesses, one ranger said.
In addition to the Tsankawi District, visitors may hike along the Tyuonyi Overlook Trail to view the Frijoles Canyon cultural sites, and along Burnt Mesa Trail to see the rapid greening-up of an area affected by the Las Conchas Fire.
Since the Las Conchas Fire, visitors and local residents have become familiar with the sight of park rangers and volunteers providing fire information at local businesses and events.
Sections of Bandelier National Monument reopened to the public on Friday, July 15, 2011. Currently, the park's rangers and volunteers are roving Bandelier's open trails and staffing the visitor contact station at the Tsankawi District. Ranger-led programs have also begun at Bandelier, including evening programs at the Juniper Campground Amphitheater on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Although the most-visited stretch of Frijoles Canyon was unaffected by the fire, bridges along Frijoles Creek have been removed to allow heavy runoff from the monsoon rains to flow unimpeded, and the Visitor Center has been sealed and protected from the threat of flash floods.
While it is possible that the Visitor Center may remain sealed for the remainder of this year, visitation to the archeological sites in Frijoles Canyon may resume after the monsoon season ends and the daily threat of flooding eases.
For more information, visit the park's Web site at www.nps.gov/band.
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