Tsankawi hike was our last hike and favorite in Bandelier National Monument. We did not see anyone along the 3 mile hike and felt as though we were walking in the paths of the ancients. There was so much to see and explore that it didn’t feel like a 3 mile hike. This spot is separated from Bandelier National Monument and is located 12 miles away on State Highway 4. If you aren’t looking for it, the marking is unremarkable and you can easily drive by without noticing it.
The hike takes you on a climb to the top of a mesa with ladders or you can walk along through centuries old path to the top. This trail feels untouched and rugged in its beauty. At the top of the mesa, an unexcavated Ancestral Pueblo village of Tsankawi can be seen. When you walk next to it, you can just imagine the busy community it once was and appreciate the stillness currently around you. The views from the top of the mesa are breathtaking and the flowers and cactus in bloom are beautiful to enjoy.
Once you finish your walk on top of the mesa, the hike gets more exciting. As you come off the top, cavates and cliff dwellings appear on the mesa wall while the trail takes you along them to see them scattered throughout the mesa wall. Petroglyphs appear all throughout the dwellings and there is so much to see. The trail does become more challenging as the pathways become more more engrained and steep. I wouldn’t recommend taking kids or this hike for anyone with joint challenges. And if the heat can allow it, hiking pants would be recommended it. The rock groves can be slick and narrow, making for skinned knees or legs.
But it is worth the effort! From the breathtaking mesa views to seeing the Ancestral village of Tsankawi and exploring the dwellings, we rated that our top hike of the day and would highly recommend it. Be sure to bring hats for shade, plenty of water, and good hiking boots.
