We hiked Bandelier National Park with our Wander Bus friends. First we explored Frijoles Canyon's Main Loop trail which takes you past ancestral Puebloan kivas then thru the village before climbing up into the cliff dwellings.
This kiva is a ceremonial structure right alongside the trail.
Next we walked thru what used to be their village. A circular combination of
rectangle shaped rooms. Some for living in, some for storing food like corn.
The view from above.
Inside the visitor center we were able to see models of what the village looked like at one time.
The trail continues up the mountain and along the rock wall. Wooden ladders allow visitors to climb up inside the cavates.
A look inside the cavates.
We love exploring with new friends!
Later we drove 12 miles to a different section of the park to explore the village of Tsankawi. In the 1400s the Ancestral Pueblo people called this home. The ancient paths they walked are worn into the rock, often knee deep, but even hip deep in some places.
