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Alcove House Trail is a short trail at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. It’s one mile long round-trip and is accessed at the halfway point of the Main Loop Trail.
The Trail
The trail starts just after a log crossing over Frijoles Creek. It crosses the creek a couple more times and continues deeper into the canyon. After a while, you can spot Alcove House and the ladders leading up to it.
Alcove House
To access Alcove House, you have to climb up four wooden ladders to end up 140 feet above the canyon floor.
Sometimes you have to wait patiently for others to climb up and down safely, but it gives you a chance to enjoy the views.
Once you reach Alcove House, there’s a reconstructed kiva and niches from former homes. About 25 people once lived there.
You can enjoy the views of the canyon before heading back down. The trail runs back the way it came and connects with the Main Loop Trail, taking you back to the Frijoles Canyon Visitor Center.
