Here in New Mexico, history surrounds us. Our state is home to some of the oldest places in the country, where residents of centuries past have left their mark on the landscape. This includes dozens of ancient sites, once home to the ancestors of today’s Indigenous peoples, and you can still see evidence of the lives they lived all across the land now known as New Mexico.

One such location: Bandelier National Monument in northern New Mexico.
Ali K/Google
Located almost an hour's drive from Santa Fe, this national monument is home to a number of archaeological finds that date back centuries, including villages, petroglyphs, and trails.
Like many other cliff dwellings in the Southwest, the village at Tsankawi blends in with the landscape and was a home for Ancestral Puebloans.
Harrison Frazier/Flickr
These dwellings are a bit of an off-the-beaten-path find. The village is isolated from other sites at Bandelier and is best accessible from a gravel parking lot off State Road 4.
The village dates back to the 15th century, when its residents constructed their homes into the cliffside.
Thomas Shahan/Flickr
They lived here for roughly a century before eventually abandoning the site, most likely due to a severe drought.

While the people left, their homes and some of their belongings stayed. On a walk through the site, you can find the weathered remains of brickwork, pottery shards, and petroglyphs.

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However, one of the most fascinating finds at Tsankawi are the worn trails found along the cliffside.
Atheria PsychicGal/Google
A combination of narrow footpaths and footholds are worn into the rock, some as much as two feet deep. These trails were used to travel around the village and to their farming area below the mesa.
Today, you can follow in the same footsteps of Ancestral Puebloans by embarking on the Tsankawi Ruins Trail.
KrisNM/Flickr
Measuring a mere 1.6 miles, the loop trail will lead you from a parking area up to the dwellings. Keep in mind this trail requires climbing up a ladder, narrow footpaths, and little-to-no shade. Despite that, this is a mini hike worth checking out.
The Tsankawi Ancestral Pueblo village can be found approximately 12 miles from the main location of Bandelier National Monument in northern New Mexico.
Google Maps

It is located about 40 miles west of Santa Fe via U.S. Route 84 and State Road 4. An entrance pass costs $25 per vehicle and is valid for seven days. For additional details about visiting the park, other sites to visit, and special events, visit the park’s website or Facebook page.

Location: Google Maps
Phone: 505-672-3861
Website: nps.gov
Facebook: Bandelier National Monument

Looking forward to checking out more incredible ancient sites around the state? New Mexico is home to an untold number but you can read about a few favorites in These 10 Trails In New Mexico Will Lead You To Extraordinary Ancient Ruins.

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