New Mexico · National Monument trail

Falls Trail Tour - Stop 8

in New Mexico · centroid 52 mi from Albuquerque

Note: Post 8 is currently lying down on the trail, so look carefully! Look at the small group of oaks here. Several species of oaks can be found not only in riparian areas like this one, but also in the piñon-juniper woodland and mixed conifer forests of the mesatops.

In the canyons, oaks grow into small trees up to 60 feet tall, but usually remain short and shrubby on the drier mesas. The acorns of these trees are an important food for wildlife such as black bears, jays, and rock squirrels. The Ancestral Pueblo people ate these acorns too.

Acorns are usually boiled before eating to remove acid that makes them taste very bitter. In autumn, oaks turn yellow or red. However, the dead brown leaves do not fall until the next spring, when new growth begins.

States: New Mexico
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Albuquerque, NM · 52 mi · ~1.5 hr drive
Centroid coords: 35.7675°, -106.2628°

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-8.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 8 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.