Updated July 2026
Upper Frijoles Falls
The Upper Frijoles Falls is a roughly 90-foot waterfall on Frijoles Creek reached via the Falls Trail descending Frijoles Canyon from the Bandelier National Monument visitor center. The section beyond the upper falls toward the Rio Grande has been closed by flood damage.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Bandelier National Monument (NPS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Upper Frijoles Falls drops about 90 feet. That makes it the 240th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 66% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Falls Trail reaches it about 3 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 400 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Los Alamos. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Bandelier National Monument (NPS) for closures and current conditions.
spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More New Mexico waterfalls
- Bluff Springs Waterfall
- Bridal Veil Falls · 45 ft
- Catwalk Falls (Whitewater Canyon)
- El Salto del Agua Falls
- Jemez Falls · 70 ft
- Nambe Falls · 100 ft
- Rio en Medio Falls · 20 ft
- Sitting Bull Falls · 150 ft
Sources
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