Bandelier Wilderness
Yes, a permit is required to visit Bandelier Wilderness. Bandelier Wilderness is a 23,267-acre wilderness area in Sandoval County, New Mexico. It rises from about 5,357 to 8,766 ft. The nearest town is Cochiti Lake, 3.6 miles away in a straight line.
Bandelier Wilderness map
Bandelier Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Agency fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
County and local burn bans may also apply on private, state, or county land nearby. On federal land, follow the land manager's order; off it, follow the strictest county or local rule that applies. When both touch your trip, obey both.
Common questions
- Yes, a permit is required to visit Bandelier Wilderness.
- Campfires are prohibited.
- Cochiti Lake, NM is the nearest town, 3.6 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Bandelier Wilderness is about 8,766 ft, and its lowest about 5,357 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Boundary Peak, about 8,179 ft.
Who manages Bandelier Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Park Service | 23,267 | free permit required for overnight stays. | Not on record | Not on record | Bandelier National Monument, 505-672-9607 |
Getting to Bandelier Wilderness
- Cochiti Lake, NM is the nearest town, 3.6 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Bandelier Wilderness
- American Springs (0.28 mi outside the boundary, 8,185 ft), at 35.8342, -106.3765
- Burnt Mesa Trailhead (0.49 mi outside the boundary, 7,336 ft), at 35.8282, -106.3289 (mapped on OpenStreetMap)
- Dome Trailhead (0.55 mi outside the boundary, 8,108 ft), at 35.7654, -106.3668 (mapped on OpenStreetMap)
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Trailheads mapped on OpenStreetMap: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License , accessed 2026-09-30. The extract used here, with distances from the boundary: osm-trailheads-nm.json. Where an agency layer lists the same trailhead, the agency's point is shown instead.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Bandelier Wilderness
- Boundary Peak summit
- Corral Hill summit
- Sawyer Spring spring
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-30. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Campgrounds in and around Bandelier Wilderness
- Ponderosa Group Campground (0.3 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
- Juniper Campground (0.6 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Public lands next to Bandelier Wilderness
- National Park Service unitBandelier Wilderness lies inside Bandelier National Monument.
- Wilderness areaBandelier Wilderness borders Dome Wilderness.
- National forestBandelier Wilderness borders Santa Fe National Forest.
- National Park Service unitValles Caldera National Preserve is 1.7 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- BLM unitKasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is 2.6 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in New Mexico
- wilderness.net (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- apps.fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- openstreetmap.org (accessed 2026-09-30)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.