Camping
Juniper Campground
Near the park entrance station. 505 672-3861 ex 517. open most of the year, but may close in the winter depending on the weather. the gate to frijoles canyon closes for the night at sundown and opens at 7 am, the entrance to this campground is just before the gate. there is a 24-hour paystation close to the entrance to pay camping fees not entrance fees. the station accepts cash and most credit cards using a do-it-yourself keypad and credit card reader. after dark, its lights turn on automatically when someone approaches the station. campsite fees are good until 12 noon, more than a single day can be paid for at one time. first-come, first-serve, no reservations. 94 sites, no hook-ups, but centrally-located water taps and a dump station are available. each site has a paved parking pad, picnic table and fire grill. parking pads, picnic tables and tent sites are nearly all sloped, a few pieces of 2 inch x 6 inch slabs of wood will usually prove helpful in levelling vehicles and picnic tables. during extreme fire hazard conditions building of fires in the grills may be prohibited. it is always a good idea to bring a fueled stove for cooking rather than to rely only on the possibility of building a fire in the grill. the restrooms have electrical outlets, flush toilets, sinks with hand soap dispensers, and special sanitary sinks to dump small portable toilets and gray water from dishwashing. no showers available for a fee at the public pool and the ymca in los alamos, 12 miles/20 km away. limit 10 people/2 vehicles/3 tents per site. firewood gathering is not permitted. pets are permitted only in campsites, parking areas, or along roadways, and must be on leash. evening programs are offered at campground amphitheater in summer as staffing permits; check the bulletin boards on the restrooms. camping fee $12/night/site as of 6/29/06; golden age and golden access passes provide 50% discount.
Ponderosa Group Campground
Located along state route 4, just south of the intersection with state route 501, about 6 miles 10 km west of the bandelier entrance station. 505 672-3861, [email protected] . open mid-spring to mid-autumn. for use of groups of 10 or more only. reservations required, and sites can also be reserved for day use. two sites, capacity 50 people each; fee is $35/night/site. parking is limited, and any group may have only 1 rv among its vehicles. central water taps, pit toilets, fire grills, picnic tables; no hook-ups. no showers in the park, but showers are available at the public pool and the ymca in los alamos 5 miles for a small fee. firewood gathering not permitted. sites can also be reserved for day use. picnic tables at this campground are available to non-campers when no group is using the campground.
lodging
The nearest hotel/motel is a Hampton Inn in White Rock, about 8 miles 13 km away. Los Alamos proper has more hotel options. Satisfactory bed-and-breakfasts can be found in both towns, but do a curiously poor job of advertising their existence and seem to change hands often enough to make information rapidly obsolete. One that appears to have been around for a while is Canyon Inn B&B in Los Alamos, phone 505 662-9595. Competition for the tourist dollar in Los Alamos is not exactly cutthroat; if they don't have a room available when you want to visit, they can probably tell you about some other B&B that might.
backcountry
Free permits are required for overnight trips; obtain them in person at the Visitor Center during regular hours. Campfires are never permitted in the Bandelier wilderness, but fuel-type stoves are OK. No pets, weapons, or fireworks permitted. Be prepared to hang food at night and to purify water. For further information call the park service at 505 672-3861 ex 517.