New Mexico · National Monument trail

Falls Trail Tour - Stop 7

in New Mexico · centroid 52 mi from Albuquerque

Note: There is no post currently for Stop 7, so just find a nice shady stop to pause! In the canyon, water-loving plants like narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) and willow (Salix spp) grow in profusion. Cottonwoods get their names from the cotton-like strands that catch the breeze and transport the seeds.

Narrowleaf cottonwood can easily be confused with willows. In early spring, willows are distinguished from cottonwoods because they only have one bud scale, which forms a little cap over the developing flower. Before the flood events in 2011 and 2013, willows were rare in this part of the canyon due to the dominance of ponderosa pine.

The pines created a thick overstory that blocked light from the willows. The floods downed many tall pines and deposited fresh soils. The new environment seems to benefit the willows.

States: New Mexico
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Albuquerque, NM · 52 mi · ~1.5 hr drive
Centroid coords: 35.7675°, -106.2630°

About Bandelier National Monument

National Monument

This trail is inside Bandelier National Monument, a national monument managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Entrance fee: $25 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/falls-trail-tour-stop-7.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Falls Trail Tour - Stop 7 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.

Stay nearby

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Driving in? The nearest documented metro is Albuquerque, NM — 52 miles away (~1.5 hr drive). See accommodation in Albuquerque on Booking.com → RoamFound earns a small commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you. How we handle affiliate links.