Major flash flooding closes most trails, bridges in Bandelier National Monument

LOS ALAMOS COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – Editor’s Note: As of 8:00 p.m. on Friday, Frey Trail has reopened and the Cottonwood Overflow parking lot has reopened. Officials said parking may be limited so people arrive before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. to avoid possible traffic congestion.

Heavy rains left a path of destruction through one of New Mexico’s popular recreation areas, closing trails and damaging historic sites. Now, officials at Bandelier National Monument are surveying the damage, and asking visitors to be patient while they do. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” said Zachary Whitlow, Public Information Officer for Bandelier National Monument.

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Heavy rains over the national monument hit Frijoles Canyon and caused Frijoles Creek to surge. “Yesterday afternoon just before 5:00 p.m. we did have a flash flooding event,” Whitlow said.

Park officials said the river surged up to five times its usual height and even flowed over onto the parking lot. “For most of yesterday, Frijoles Creek was completely dried up which is very common it runs seasonally But yesterday afternoon, our park resources team told us it rose to about 5.74 feet,” Whitlow said.

The water level came down about an hour and a half later but the damage was done. Debris and mud was left behind causing the closure of the Cottonwood parking lot and almost all of the trails in the park. “We do have our bridges closed off for assessments as well,” Whitlow said.

Officials are evaluating damage to the trails, bridges, and historic dwellings the park is famous for. “The Alcove House trail at the Long House Junction did sustain a lot of damage so it has to be closed off for safety concerns and to be further evaluated,” Whitlow said.

They’re asking the public to bear with them while they sort out the situation. “We understand that this is a very popular place and certainly love it when people come out, but please be aware parking may be very limited. Not everything will be opened at this weekend but we’ll be working as quickly as we can to reopen everything,” Whitlow said.

He said annually, the park gets around 100,000 visitors. Officials said while there were visitors in the park at the time of the flash flood, no one was injured. There is no word on how long it might be before all the trails, bridges, and parking lot will be open again.

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