Ponderosa Campground (Nm)
The Ponderosa Campground (Nm) location is in Los Alamos, New Mexico
87544. This page provides detailed contact information for this campground location including the campground phone number, office hours, reservation information and driving directions.
If you have any questions about the Ponderosa Campground (Nm) facility, or if you need to reserve a campsite, then call the campground listed below.
Address
15 Entrance Road
Los Alamos
New Mexico
87544
Phone number
(505) 672-3861
Email
BAND_GROUP_RESERVATIONS@nps.gov
Campground information Los Alamos, New Mexico
Overview
Ponderosa Group Campground is located 6 miles from the park’s main entrance and is an ideal place to stay for large groups visiting Bandelier National Monument. The campground is adjacent to Ponderosa Trail Head providing access to more than 70 miles of hiking trails and is just a short drive from the Visitor Center, the Frijoles Canyon Shuttle System (mid-May to mid-October), and the town of Los Alamos, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Manhattan Project National Historic Site, and the Santa Fe National Forest.
Ponderosa Group Campground is open year-round (Water is only available from mid-May to mid-October). Frijoles Canyon and the park Visitor Center are accessible only by shuttle bus from mid-May to mid-October. The shuttle bus system stops at the Bandelier Visitor Center, Juniper Campground, and the White Rock Visitor Center in the town of White Rock. All park areas can be accessed by private vehicle outside of the designated shuttle bus period.
Recreation
Accessible from Ponderosa Group Campground, the Ponderosa Trail descends into the park through ponderosa pine forest and connects to many other trails including the Middle Frijoles Trails which leads 8 miles through Frijoles Canyon to the Visitor Center and Main Loop Trail. The Visitor Center houses museum exhibits, park film, information and ranger programs, Western National Parks Association sales outlet, and more. Entrance to Frijoles Canyon and the Visitor Center is by shuttle bus only from mid-May to mid-October. These areas are accesibile by private vehicle outside the shuttle bus period.
Although rock climbing is prohibited within Bandelier National Monument, many popular climbs are within a short drive up Route 4 into the Jemez Mountains.
Facilities
This campground is located at 7600 feet and is usually free of snow from mid-April through mid October. Water is not available during any months with freezing temperatures (potentially mid-October to mid-May).
Vault toilets (with no running water), drinking water, a picnic shelter, picnic tables, food storage lockers, and campfire rings are provided at this facility. No hookup campsites are available. These sites are tent-only, but one RV per site can be accommodated in the parking area. Each site can accommodate between 10 and 50 people.
Check-in time for campground is 4:00 pm.
Check-out time for the campround is 11:30 a.m.
Sites can be reserved for large group picnics, however the fee and process is the same as reserving the site for an overnight stay.
Natural Features
Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of rugged, beautiful canyon and mesa country which features evidence of human presence going back over 11,000 years. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities.
Bandelier National Monument sits at the southern end of the Pajarito (Spanish for little bird) Plateau. The plateau was formed by two eruptions 1.6 and 1.4 million years ago. Home to the Bandelier Wilderness, Bandelier ranges from 5340 ft at the Rio Grande River to the south and 10,199 ft at the summit of Cerro Grande to the north, almost a mile of elevation change in just under 12 miles. This elevation gradient creates a unique diversity of habitats specific to Northern New Mexico. The diversity of habitats and quick access to water supported a relatively large population of Ancestral Pueblo people. Currently, Piñon-Juniper woodlands dominate in the southern parts of the park transitioning through ponderosa pine savannahs and forests, finally reaching mixed conifer forests at the highest elevation. Scattered throughout the park are desert grasslands, montane meadows, and riparian areas in the canyon bottoms. Over 70 miles of trails at Bandelier climb in and out of deep canyons and cross large flat mesas, showcasing the entire spectrum of volcanic geology and ecosystems found within the park.
The park is home to over 55 species of mammals including mule deer, Abert’s squirrels, mountain lions, black bears, and 16 species of bats. Replitles and amphibians of all shapes and sizes can be seen. Birds such as Steller’s jays, canyon towhees and mountain chickadees stay year-round, whereas turkey vultures, western tanagers, and black-headed grosbeaks are summer residents.
Nearby Attractions
The town of Los Alamos has shopping, museums, amenities, a movie theater, ice rink, ski hill, and is home to Manhattan Project National Historic Site.
Nearby Department of Energy and US Forest Service lands provide trails which accommodate pets.
Valles Caldera National Preserve is 16 miles west of Bandelier.
Jemez Historic Site is 37 miles west.
Pecos National Historical Park is 70 miles southeast.
Santa Fe, 40 miles south of the park, is home to the New Mexico state capitol, museums, historic districts, art galleries, food, accomodations, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About 15 Entrance Road Los Alamos, NM
How do I make a reservation with Ponderosa Campground (Nm)?
To make reservations at Ponderosa Campground (Nm), you can call the office at (505) 672-3861.
All campers (16 years and up) are subject to park entrance fees. Each vehicle in the campsite must obtain an entrance pass. America the Beautiful Interagency Passes and Bandelier Annual Passes may be used.
- 7-day Vehicle Pass: $25.00 (covers all persons in vehicle)
- 7-day Motorcycle Pass: $20.00 (covers 2 people)
- 7-day Individual Pass: $15.00
- For non-commercial group (scouts, church group, etc.) entrance fees, visit: Non-Commercial Groups at Bandelier
- For commercial group entrance fees, visit: Commercial Tours at Bandelier
Entrance fees can be paid via credit card at the Automated Fee Machine located at the Bandelier Entrance Station (6 miles from Poderosa Group Campground). Payment by cash, check, or credit card can be made at the Bandelier Visitor Center during open hours (9:00 am – 5:00 pm). Entrance passes or Interagency Passes must be displayed in all vehicles while in the park.
Where is Ponderosa Campground (Nm) located?
The Ponderosa Campground (Nm) is located at 15 Entrance Road in Los Alamos,
. This is the location you will need to go to for camping and information.
Does Ponderosa Campground (Nm) have tent or RV camping?
Ponderosa Campground (Nm) offers both tent and RV camping, but to confirm you will need to call the office at (505) 672-3861 to make sure things haven’t changed.