New Mexico · National Monument trail

Shrine Tyuonyi Overlook Trail Stop 5

in New Mexico · centroid 53 mi from Albuquerque

The exact purpose of the circular structure in front of you is unknown, but its location suggests it may have been a sacred site or a lookout/communication post. A place such as this may have been the site of prayer and ritual for successful farming and generous rain. Looking across the Frijoles Canyon you can see some jagged peaks in the distance.

Those are the San Miguel Mountains which are far older than the Jemez Mountains, which produced the rock on which you stand. All of these peaks are volcanic and over a million years old. The porous rock from the Jemez Volcano is an important feature that allowed the Ancestral Pueblo people to live here and to dry farm.

States: New Mexico
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Albuquerque, NM · 53 mi · ~1.5 hr drive
Centroid coords: 35.7857°, -106.2770°

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/shrine-tyuonyi-overlook-trail-stop-5.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 Shrine Tyuonyi Overlook Trail Stop 5 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 — 53 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.