Daily Postcard: View on Jan. 5 at Bandelier National Monument. The majority of the Alcove House trail consists of an easy stroll, but at the end of the hike there is an optional long climb on a series of steep wooden ladders. The trailhead for the Alcove House Trail is just a quarter of a mile west of the visitor center, but can also be accessed the trail via the Pueblo Loop Trail (formerly Main Loop Trail). Combining the two hikes saves time without missing any parts of either of the trails. Photo by Brandon George