Bandelier National Monument Cliff Dwellings and Cavate Rooms
Ancient Cavates and Wooden Ladder at Bandelier National Monument
Shadows and Stone: Exploring the Ancient Cavates of Bandelier
Stepping foot into Bandelier National Monument feels like walking right into the pages of deep Southwest history. Last year during my trip through northern New Mexico, I made a point to visit these incredible volcanic tuff cliffs, where Ancestral Puebloans carved out home sites—known as cavates—between 1150 and 1550 CE. The entire landscape is a testament to natural architecture, shaped millions of years ago by massive eruptions from the nearby Valles Caldera that deposited dense layers of volcanic ash.
By the time I hiked up the canyon path to this particular cliff dwelling, the high-desert sun was absolutely relentless. My energy was completely zapped, and as much as I wanted to climb that wooden ladder to peek into the darkened room, my body and spirit firmly vetoed the idea. As Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry famously said, “A man’s got to know his limitations” when you're out in the elements—especially for an old man taking on steep climbs in the summer heat! I had to settle for capturing the striking contrast of the weathered rock and the hand-hewn ladder from ground level before calling it a day.
Even without climbing inside, standing beneath these sheer tuff walls offers a humbling sense of connection to the people who once called them home. Bandelier protects over 33,000 acres of rugged canyon and mesa country, preserving thousands of historic sites where families farmed, gathered, and lived in harmony with the harsh landscape. While I couldn't push all the way down the trail on this visit, capturing this frame made the sweaty trek worth every step. It’s a place that stays with you, and I’m looking forward to returning under cooler weather conditions to explore a little further.
By the way, this photo happens to be this month's featured image on my annual calendar! I hope to have my new 2027 calendar available soon. If you'd like to be notified when they drop, please sign up for my private email list at the bottom of the page, and I'll send an update straight to your inbox.
Explore More of My Adventures
Explore the stunning volcanic tuff cliffs and ancient cavate rooms of Bandelier National Monument in northern New Mexico through this fine art landscape photograph.