Bandelier National Monument

This 33,000-acre park contains more than seventy miles of hiking trails, from short walks along well-groomed paths (including the 1.2-mile Main Loop Trail, which snakes through archeological excavations) to hours-long, challenging excursions into the backcountry. One of the main attractions is Frijoles Canyon, where visitors can see stunning ruins of Anasazi cliff houses (cavates) that were first reported and studied by Swiss-born geologist Adolph Bandelier in 1880, as well as Pueblo dwellings on the canyon floor. Active visitors can climb ladders to a ceremonial cave 140 feet up the cliffs. Because of its easy access and noteworthy sites, Frijoles is quite touristy, but if you hike deeper into Bandelier, chances are you’ll soon be all alone in this beautiful New Mexico landmark. Bandelier is a one-hour drive from Santa Fe; be sure to bring a picnic, water and sunscreen, as there are few options along the way.