While at a week-long conference at Glorieta, a few of us got to spend a day at Bandelier National Monument which is located near Los Alamos. Within it are many old Anasazi sites, carvings, and cliff-dwellings which are open to the public. As can be seen, the canyon itself was amazingly beautiful, and the chance to see some of the old kivas and dwellings gave us a real sense of history and respect for the place as well. (1998)
Remnants of the many cliff-dwellings that once existed here
An old dwelling reconstructed after archaeologists excavated it
The most unique aspect of this part of the US, of course, are all the strange and interesting rock formations that you can find.
You have to walk up steep old ladders to access the site.
Here we are after the steep 410-foot climp up narrow ladders to Ceremonial Cave.
Here I am at a kiva, an underground chamber once used for important rituals
Frijoles Canyon