Bandelier Wilderness
From the twelfth to the mid-sixteenth centuries, a large population of Ancestral Pueblo people flourished among the cream-and-tan cliffs and piñon-juniper-forested mesas of the slopes of the Jemez Mountains....
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | New Mexico |
| Size | 23,267 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.7611, -106.3240 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 23) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 4 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- WildfireFrijoles
29 mi from the center point · 15,956 acres · 74% contained
- WildfireMogote Ridge
50 mi from the center point · 152 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 4.5 miUnited States Post Office-Los Alamos, New Mexico ↗Los Alamos, NM
- 5.6 miGrant Road ↗Los Alamos, NM
- 5.6 miBayo Road ↗Los Alamos, NM
- 9.8 miOtowi Suspension Bridge ↗San Ildefonso, NM
- 13 miSanto Domingo Indian Trading Post ↗Domingo, NM
- 13.6 miJackson, J.b., House ↗Santa Fe, NM
- 13.8 miLujan--Ortiz House ↗Jaconita, NM
- 14.8 miRoybal, Ignacio, House ↗Jacona, NM
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Bandelier Wilderness?
23,267 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Bandelier Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Bandelier Wilderness in?
New Mexico.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Bandelier Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Bandelier Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Ponderosa Group Campground, 0.4 miles out. 4 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Bandelier Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.761, -106.324. Bandelier National Monument is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Bandelier Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Frijoles at 29 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Bandelier Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 23 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near Bandelier Wilderness?
Bandelier National Monument (adjacent), Manhattan Project National Historical Park (4 mi) and Valles Caldera National Preserve (8 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Bandelier Wilderness?
8 National Register listings within 15 miles, including United States Post Office-Los Alamos, New Mexico and Grant Road.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.