Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-233394
When Ponderosa Group Campground (NM) reopens
Ponderosa Group Campground (NM)'s openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
4
Openings · last 90 days
4
Only 4 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027 · of 2 monitored sites
Of the 366 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 335 open for online reservation · 31 reserved.
Where the open windows are
8.5% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 335 of 366 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Not open online8.5%
Open site-nights335 / 366
Reserved (of online inventory)31 / 366
Weekday openings206
Weekend openings129
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 206 fall on weekdays and 129 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027December holds the most room. 62 of 62 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 2 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 2 | Open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 2 | Open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 2 | Open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 2 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 2 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 2 | Open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 2 | Open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: 2 sites are available for the complete three-night stay. Christmas: 2 sites are available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: 2 sites are available for the complete two-night stay.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| Group B | 170 |
| Group A | 165 |
The 2 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateSat · Sep 19
Next open weekendSat · Sep 19
The next bookable night is Sep 19; the first open weekend starts Sep 19. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
335 open site-nights across 2 sites at Ponderosa Group Campground (NM), from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 14 2-night, 14 3-night, 3 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 19 at site Group B.
All 2 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group B | Not recorded | None | 170 | 145 nights | Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4 +158 more |
| Group A | Not recorded | None | 165 | 117 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5 +153 more |
About Ponderosa Group Campground (NM)
Overview
Ponderosa Group Campground is located 6 miles (9.7 km) from the park's main entrance and is an ideal place to stay for large groups visiting Bandelier National Monument. The campground is adjacent to Ponderosa Trailhead providing access to more than 70 miles (113 km) of hiking trails and is just a short drive from the Visitor Center, the Frijoles Canyon Shuttle System (mid-May to mid-October), and the town of Los Alamos, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Manhattan Project National Historic Site, and the Santa Fe National Forest.
Ponderosa Group Campground is open year-round (water is only available from mid-May to mid-October, subject to delays and/or early shut off). Same-day reservations are not permitted.
Frijoles Canyon and the park Visitor Center are accessible only by shuttle bus from mid-May to mid-October. The shuttle bus system stops at the Bandelier Visitor Center, Juniper Campground, and the White Rock Visitor Center in the town of White Rock. Outside of the designated shuttle bus period, visitors may access all park areas by private vehicle.
Public events are prohibited at Ponderosa Campground. Private events that adhere to campsite capacity limits, may be permitted after obtaining a special use permit. Visit the park's Permits & Reservations web page or call (505) 672-3861 ext. 1102.
Recreation
Accessible from Ponderosa Group Campground, the Ponderosa Trail descends into the park through ponderosa pine forest and connects to many other trails including the Middle Frijoles Trails which leads 8 miles (13 km) through Frijoles Canyon to the Visitor Center and Main Loop Trail.
The Visitor Center houses museum exhibits, park film, information and ranger programs, Western National Parks Association sales outlet, and more.
Entrance to Frijoles Canyon and the Visitor Center is by shuttle bus only from mid-May to mid-October. These areas are accesibile by private vehicle outside the shuttle bus period.
Although rock climbing is prohibited within Bandelier National Monument, many popular climbs are within a short drive up Route 4 into the Jemez Mountains.
Facilities
This campground is located at 7600 feet (2316 m) and is usually free of snow from mid-April through mid October. Water is not available during any months with freezing temperatures (potentially mid-October to mid-May).
Vault toilets (with no running water), drinking water, a picnic shelter, picnic tables, food storage lockers, and campfire rings are provided at this facility. No hookup campsites are available. These sites are tent-only, but one RV per site can be accommodated in the parking area. Each site can accommodate between 10 and 50 people.
Check-in time for the campground is 4:00 pm.
Check-out time for the campround is 11:30 a.m.
Group Picnics : Sites can be reserved for large group picnics, however the fee and process is the same as reserving the site for an overnight stay.
Natural Features
Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres (13,355 ha) of rugged, beautiful canyon and mesa country which features evidence of human presence going back over 11,000 years. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities.
Bandelier National Monument sits at the southern end of the Pajarito (Spanish for "little bird") Plateau. The plateau was formed by two eruptions 1.6 and 1.4 million years ago. Home to the Bandelier Wilderness, Bandelier ranges from 5340 feet (1628 m) at the Rio Grande River to the south and 10,199 feet (3109 m) at the summit of Cerro Grande to the north, almost a mile (1.6 km) of elevation change in just under 12 miles (19 km). This elevation gradient creates a unique diversity of habitats specific to Northern New Mexico. The diversity of habitats and quick access to water supported a relatively large population of Ancestral Pueblo people. Currently, Piñon-Juniper woodlands dominate in the southern parts of the park transitioning through ponderosa pine savannahs and forests, finally reaching mixed conifer forests at the highest elevation. Scattered throughout the park are desert grasslands, montane meadows, and riparian areas in the canyon bottoms. Over 70 miles (113 km) of trails at Bandelier climb in and out of deep canyons and cross large flat mesas, showcasing the entire spectrum of volcanic geology and ecosystems found within the park.
The park is home to over 55 species of mammals including mule deer, Abert's squirrels, mountain lions, black bears, and 16 species of bats. Reptiles and amphibians of all shapes and sizes can be seen. Birds such as Steller's jays, canyon towhees and mountain chickadees stay year-round, whereas turkey vultures, western tanagers, and black-headed grosbeaks are summer residents.
Nearby Attractions
The town of Los Alamos has shopping, museums, amenities, a movie theater, ice rink, ski hill, and is home to the Los Alamos unit of Manhattan Project National Historic Site.
Nearby Department of Energy and US Forest Service lands provide trails which accommodate pets.
Valles Caldera National Preserve is 16 miles (26 km) west of Bandelier.
Jemez Historic Site is 37 miles (60 km) west.
Pecos National Historical Park is 70 miles (113 km) southeast.
Santa Fe, 40 miles (64 km) south of the park, is home to the New Mexico state capitol, museums, historic districts, art galleries, food, accomodations, and more.
2 monitored sitesNo hookups2 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 50
Getting there
From Santa Fe (appx 1 hour travel time): Take Highway 84/285 (Saint Francis Drive) north toward Los Alamos. Merge right onto NM 502 to Los Alamos. Exit onto NM 4 toward White Rock. Continue for 12 miles (19 km), passing through White Rock. Bandelier's entrance is on the left. Enter here and purchase entrance pass(es) at the automated fee machine or continue on Entrance Rd for 3 miles (4.8 km) to the Visitor Center. Ponderosa Group Campground is 6 miles (9.7 km) past the park entrance on NM 4 . From Taos (appx. 1.5 hours travel time): Take NM 68 (Paseo del Pueblo Sur) south. In Espanola, turn right onto Fairway. Turn left on Highway 84/285 . Turn right on NM 30 . Merge right onto NM 502 to Los Alamos. Exit onto NM 4 toward White Rock. Continue for 12 miles (19 km), passing through White Rock. Bandelier's entrance is on the left. Enter here and purchase entrance pass(es) or continue on Entrance Rd for 3 miles (4.8 km) to the Visitor Center. Ponderosa Group Campground is 6 miles (9.7 km) past the park entrance on NM 4. Visit the Directions page on the park website for detailed directions from other areas.
15 Entrance Road, Los Alamos, NM 87544(505) 672-3861
BirdingCampingDay Use AreaHikingPicnickingStar GazingWildernessWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-233394 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-233394 · Ponderosa Group Campground (NM) · Los Alamos NM10 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Ponderosa Group Campground (NM)?
Reservations for Ponderosa Group Campground (NM) are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 335 of 366 tracked site-nights are open (91.5%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 4 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Ponderosa Group Campground (NM)?
Campsite Sniper detected 4 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Ponderosa Group Campground (NM)?
14 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 19 at site Group B. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Ponderosa Group Campground (NM)?
December 2026, with 62 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 62.
When is the next open date at Ponderosa Group Campground (NM)?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Sat, Sep 19 and the next open weekend starts Sat, Sep 19. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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