Extremely interesting, but will NEVER make the drive again. Would love to be able to time travel and see it at its peak. Go up a notch with this one, and sign up for a Night Sky Program at the park. The Visitor Center is open from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. It is the only tributary left in the Colorado River . Chaco Canyon is unlike other ancestral pueblos scattered throughout the Southwest. We were going to stay four nights, which gives us three full days since the first and last won't count. There are 4,000 known archaeological sites, and 1.5 million artifacts have been excavated and recorded. To most of us, this simply means that its got really, really dark skies. Is Chaco Canyon worth seeing? - New Mexico Forum - Tripadvisor The service is spotty, and second, some of the roads do not show up on GPS. Its possible that all sorts of activities centered around trade, culture, religion, and even art could have taken place here and spread its influence all throughout the Colorado Plateau. Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, May through October 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, November through April Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day Entrance Fees: The following fees are current as of October 21st 2018: To say about the route Colin gave you on 371. Dont climb on anything. Follow this road for 21 miles into the park. We recommend booking Chaco Culture National Historical Park tours ahead of time to secure your spot. As it is right on the way, make a stop at Aztec Ruins National Monument. Why are the roads to Chaco Canyon so bad? Grand Canyon National Park, located in northwestern Arizona, is the 15th site in the United States to have been named as a national park.The park's central feature is the Grand Canyon, a gorge of the Colorado River, which is often considered one of the Wonders of the World.The park, which covers 1,217,262 acres (1,901.972 sq mi; 4,926.08 km 2) of unincorporated area in Coconino and Mohave . Would love to stay longer but could not imagine driving it again when we were to leave. Running, yelling, loud or boisterous play is not appropriate, Chaco is an outdoor museum and a sacred place to many of todays Pueblo people. Both entrance roads are dirt and can become very rough. Hungo Pavi An unexcavated Chacocan Great House. Plan Your Visit - Chaco Culture National Historical Park (U.S. National I am almost 100% certain this is Navajo Land, so take your chances if you want to spend the night. Follow the cairns back towards Pueblo Bonito until you reach the lookout. With no allocation for potty or snack breaks, you should allow for right at three hours from Albuquerque. You might imagine that a group of amateur astronomers from Albuquerque are used to pretty good viewing and they were raving about the conditions at Chaco Canyon. Last updated: February 22, 2023 Was this page helpful? It's bumpy. Chaco Canyon Is A Gem For Its Remoteness & Unparalleled Desert Silence The Visitor Center is the only place to get water at Chaco. I backed up about 100 yards to a nearby driveway and turned around. The irony in this is that this whole trip started with a desire to see Chaco Canyon. Chaco has very few camp spots which are reserved well inadvance. Marsur Rock, Skardu, Pakistan Difficulty: Moderate Time needed: 3 hours Estimated distance: 5 km Region: Gilgit Baltistan Permit Required: No. It is easy to tell that Kin Kletso was built at a later time where the walls were formed from larger stones and were less intricate. There are no food concessions of any kind, other than the National Park Shop for information and souvenirs. There are short and long hikes around the site. Chetro Ketl A large great house an possible ceremonial center dating to 900 AD. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you are in 4wd trucks you may not care I hope this helps. After three-hundred years of prosperity, Chaco began to decline. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Note: The Fall date (Oct 8-15, 2022) has changed since we published our Winter 2022 catalog. You would only need it if the roads were washing out. My last stop was Casa Rinconada, the largest excavated kiva in the park. If you ever get a chance to walk in the footsteps of the ancients and explore the oldest settlement in America, its an experience you will never forget. Chaco Canyon is located inside Chaco Culture National Historical Park. One road leads sixty-miles north all the way to Aztec Ruins. The storm loomed in the distance and paralleled the dirt road the entire drive back to the main (nicely paved) highway like a vulture stalking its prey. 50 % of order total. Sometimes, the most amazing places are the hardest to reach. It was time to visit the "daddy of them . Salmon Ruins This tour is purely geology and paleontology - no archaeology exists in this region. Albq has pretty limited options for rv rental, and noplace I could find for a westfalia type. If you are mesmerized by night skies, youre already at the best place in the USA to stargaze! 505-786-7014. Pueblo Heritage Educational Travel | Road Scholar You then return the same way. I was clearly in the right place! (Kivas are partially underground structures used by Puebloans for religious ceremonies.) To visit Chaco Canyon is to immerse yourself in an incredible number of notable spots of social, spiritual, and historical significance. It appears that this great house would have rooms for several families. New Mexico Day Trip Ideas Carlsbad Caverns The people. It's more than just a little fascinating studying what is known of the ancient and far reaching Chaco culture. Just FYI, I pull a 31ft travel trailer with a heavy duty 4x4 Dodge diesel with really stiff suspension. Things to Do in the Navajo Indian Reservation in New Mexico Chaco Canyon Day Tour - Heritage Inspirations LLC There is also industrial traffic from oil fields in the area. So is there somewhere else we should go to? Hi there. I instantly felt like I was back at Machu Picchu walking through elaborately built Inca ruins. Bandelier National Monument Reviews | U.S. News Travel Would be flying in to Albuquerque. When we were there last, the road was in pretty good shape. My first stop was the most important and stunning set of ruins in the park Pueblo Bonito. When I reached the riverbed, it was dry. The park is home to more, The Taos Pueblo World Heritage Site is an absolute must-visit for anyone traveling to New Mexico. Visiting Chaco Canyon Directions: See Directions and a Breakdown of Road Conditions below - this includes directions from all points. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. It is about 29 miles from SR 550 near Nageezie to Chaco Canyon. Chaco Canyon contains the most extensive collection of Puebloan ruins in North America. I recommend purchasing all the mini guides for each of the archaeological sites. Simply start climbing between the crevice until you reach the top. Chaco experiences exceptionally climate extremes. On the puma trail and the rewilding of Argentinian Patagonia | Metro News According to the visitor's center, the roads crisscross both county and tribal land. 11.Chaco Culture National Historic Park. You could also try Airbnb, whichlists around 18 rentals from $20-130. There is a maximum of 6 people, 2 tents, and 2 cars per campsite. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-13255020', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cars. Gallo Campground, Chaco Canyon is one of my absolute favorite places to camp in New Mexico. It is mind boggling to learn about how and think about why this was constructed a millennium ago. Is this too much time? It was nearing the deadline I had set to leave the park (3:30 p.m.) in order to make it to my campground reservation in Page, Arizona before they closed at 9 p.m. (Its a five-hour drive, but the time zone change gave me an extra hour.). Should we shorten it??? cmoiramagatos@gmail.com. Check the Guided Tours page, the schedule at the Visitor Center or call 505-786-7014 for more information. Its all herefrom savory Chickpea Soup to sweet Pion Nut Cake dripping with honey. The second is about 5 miles from US-550 on CR-7900 going to Chaco Canyon right where you take a sharp right turn toward Chaco Canyon. We visited in mid-October for the Albuequerque Balloon Festival and found it pleasant during the day, but cold at night. There are no hotels near Chaco Canyon and its dirt road access makes it difficult-although not impossible-to do a simple day visit. When you are driving the last 10 miles or so on deeply rutted dirt roads and the park ranger says the other route is worse, we could only assume he knew what he was talking about. Pueblo Bonito The largest and best known Great House in the park. Chaco's ruins are very impressive and the site history is quite unique in the area. Also plan a visit to Aztec Nat Mon near Farmington in the town of Aztec. The Four Corners region (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah) is dotted with thousands of archaeological sites. Casa Grande sits in the middle of a surrounding flat desert in Coolidge, Arizona, just a short drive from Phoenix. There is one campground in the park, near the visitors center, called the Gallo Campground. With such great distances and time between major cities, it makes sense to take advantage of Chaco Canyon camping and see other nearby remote attractions in northwest New Mexico. They have reconstructed some buildings, some are piles of rocks and many places have been stabilized. All paved 2 lane highway. The lightning and thunder were intense, but it did not seem to be moving in my direction. You should also take the northern route, entering from the park from the side near Nageezi. Visitors walk through the ruins of a massive stone complex (Pueblo Bonito) at Chaco Culture National Historical Park in Northwestern New Mexico. We crept along the dusty road and tried not to wake the rest of the campground. Continue north on Highway 550 north for 36 miles until just before Nageezi. Visiting this park in an RV might be a good reason to upgrade your rig with solar panels. We love to hike, hunt for crystals and minerals, and visit historic sites and ruins scattered throughout the southwest. BOOKSTORE Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest It didnt take long for first rays of the morning sun to wash out the Big Dipper, as if it never existed. You can purchase tickets at the visitor center, and enjoy the great introductory movie that explains Chaco Culture and what you will see on your journey through Chaco Canyon. Chaco Canyon Historical Park New Mexico Day Trip Dogs are not allowed on any of the trails. Farmington is your best bet for a place to stay and still allow most of a day in Chaco. It's some years ago and I checked my notes but it took almost all day from SF to drive, visit and drive from there to Durango a visit to Aztec Ruins (also recommended) included. Opinion: This magical place deserves our protection, and it's one of It seems that the word Anasazi is actually a Navajo word that means Ancient enemy. But its more than that. We have camping reservations but I am nervous about the roads. The horizon was empty except for the occasional abandoned house. The remaining 34 campsites can also accommodate RVs up to 35. Road Trip Guide to Chaco Canyon - Travel Like Anna: How to Travel on a We camped out in our car the night before, but I couldnt sleep. Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Culture National Historical ParkPueblo Bonito a Chacoan Great House at Chaco Culture National Historical Park. $(this).click(function(event) { The Big Dipper, the Milky Way, and all the famous constellations made an appearance in the blue-black sky that night. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Postcard Chaco Canyon National Park New Mexico USA North America at the best online prices at eBay! The course includes 8 miles of paved road and 13 miles of rough dirt road. RVs up to 35 feet can fit in the campground, but theres no water at the sites, no power, and no sewer, although there is a dump station in the campground. After an hour and a half, the first park rangers begin to appear. Chaco Canyon: Show Your Children the Sun, Moon, & Stars - Traveling Mom With Chaco Canyon now declared a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site, visitors to Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico can marvel at the remains of 12 great houses and. United States - Best month for NW New Mexico - We are planning a girls trip to NW New Mexico and are wondering if Mid May would be a good time. I remember that dirt road to and fro 550 which already took 1.5 hours. Each Chacoan great house ruin has unique characteristics with Pueblo Bonito as the highlight in the middle of them all. Check, Situated only a few miles west of downtown Tucson is the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. The day we were there they had no ranger available to do tours but honestly you can buy guide books for all sites for only a couple of dollars each and take a self guided tour. Hey, I dont know the best answer except to say that the ranger suggested we take the road we came in on back out. Tips For Visiting Chaco Culture National Historical Park Getting there is another story. A Practical, In-Depth Guide to Chaco Canyon Camping and Hiking Its also believed that it was a major trade center because of the abnormally high number of storage areas found in the ruins and the existence of well-developed roads leading into the city. Simply visit Recreation.govor call (877) 444-6777 to make a reservation. The Chaco Canyon NHP ranger-led tours offer fantastic insights into Chacoan history and life, along with their interest in astronomy. A VISIT TO CHACO CANYON | Ouray County Plaindealer The first thing you see is Gallo Campground. Hitting the smooth black asphalt at the entrance to the park after 21 miles of rough road is extremely satisfying. Chaco Canyon can only be visited by driving on dirt roads. To see photos and get more info on Chaco, visit http://www.nps.gov and go to CHaco. Testimonials "We took the Crow Canyon tour and it was a wonderful experience, educational and deeply moving. Then, a small RV appeared on the horizon strategically maneuvering all the ruts in the road. We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. Turn right on county road 7950. They are about 1.5 hours away from Chaco. Google Maps said the journey would take about 75 minutes, but it ended up taking closer . }); At times the road is heavily rutted. This is the only way into Chaco Canyon. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliatelinks which means that we receive asmall commission if you click on alink and purchase something that weve recommended, at no extra cost to you. The Chaco Culture National Park is a UNESCO site. Let's get the negative out of the way first. The weather is best in the spring and fall (Sept. Oct.). Free permits are available at the Visitor Center and at all trailheads. The ruins of Hungo Pavi at Chaco Canyon National Monument. We were there one night when one of the group sites was occupied by the Albuquerque Astronomical Society; a group of friendly people willing to share their views from their amazing telescopes. Please check your gas level in your vehicle there are NO gas stations in the park. Pueblo BonitoRuins of Pueblo Bonito at Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Visit Chaco - VisitChaco.us Here is a link to the official park service directions for getting there. After the Visitor Center, take a drive on the 9-mile one-way loop to get an overview of the most accessible archaeological sites. /* Trust me on this one. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for CHACO CANYON Signed R.B. The sites are well signposted. Dont put your hands and feet anywhere you cant see them. My fingers tightened on the steering wheel as the gravel faded into a washboard dirt road. Chaco Canyon is listed as an International dark sky Park with the IDA Dark Sky Association. We stayed at Motel 6. 12.The Blue Hole. If you dont want to camp, the closest town to Chaco Culture National Historical Park is Farmington. What are the hours of operation what are the hours of operation. Then, I realized the storm was headed straight for the nightmarish dirt road, the only northern exit from the park. Pueblo BonitoRuins of Pueblo Bonito at Chaco Canyon. Colorado State Patrol Chief Col. Matthew C. Packard donates blood. We would have walked around not totally understanding all there is to know about the history of the Chacos if it had not been for Tori who is very passionate about the park and the area. People of Chaco: A Canyon and Its Culture by Frazier, Kendrick Fajada Butte Overlook - the place of the famous "sun dagger" Hungo Pavi - An unexcavated Chacocan Great House. The first settlements at Chaco were not the grand casas that you see today, but the modest pit-houses dug into the earth around 200 AD. Author Event & Book Signing: Scott Graham "Saguaro Sanction" | Visit Chaco Canyon You bring the adventurous spirit, we'll supply the archaeology! The only real reason to go camping at Chaco Canyon is to visit Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Chaco Canyon. I was driving 10 mph, and my car was shaking so violently that I thought it might fall apart at any second. }); Pueblo Bonito is a stunning set of ancient ruins located at the remote Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico. Some of todays Pueblo people believe that the people of Chaco didnt abandon the site, but were on a journey. (Betty is my Kia Spectra and faithful travel companion.) September and October are ideal for visiting the Chaco Canyon as the daytime temperatures are in the low 80s and high 20s, and you can see the weather is mostly stable. They are about $1-$2 each. It was first used back in the mid-nineteenth century by Navajo workers who were hired to go out and collect pot shards and other artifacts lying about ancient ruins. The dirt road is not maintained by the state, nor the National Park Service. (LogOut/ Dismals Canyon, Alabama "Glow worms wall" by The Next Gen Scientist on Sept. 15, 2015. Archaeologists, historians, and writers have devoted entire lifetimes to studying Chaco Culture National Historic Park. Hungo Pavi,The Great House of Hungo Pavi was tucked up next to the rocks. Thanks. Chaco Canyon National Historical Park is a treasure, but visiting the remote site takes some pre-planning. Free shipping for many products! The light of the pre-dawn sun was soon replaced with a dramatic light and shadow show. Chaco Canyon Is A Gem For Its Remoteness & Unparalleled Desert Silence By Jeff Oganga Published Dec 18, 2022 Anyone fascinated with a remote wilderness landscape will be blown away by the sheer feel and look of Chaco Canyon. It was only a 21- mile detour off the main road. */ I grew up literally 2 blocks from theend of the pavement, so I am familiar with dirt roads, and I am not exaggerating. Containing the most sweeping collection of ancient ruins north of Mexico, the park preserves one of the most important pre . The dark skies are great, and the solitude is even better but the point is that Chaco Canyon is considered to be the central cultural center of the Ancient Pueblo People. Its a four lane freeway running diagonally through the state between Albuquerque and Farmington. FYI: the water at the water point next to the visitor center is excellent. Explore more of our Chaco Canyon Photos Here. Those with a passenger car or a light SUV with softer suspension will have a much easier time. Grand Canyon National Park - Wikipedia 2023|An affiliate website brought to you by. Bisti Badlands Hiking Map with GPS Coordinates - DIY Travel HQ A visit to the Homestead Crater in Heber Valley, Utah, makes for a fantastic experience. From there, a 9-mile loop road accesses five major Chacoan sites, including Pueblo Bonito. Recommendations for visit to Chaco Canyon - Fodor's Wayne and his family own Horsethief Campground, a Dry Camp area, just past the end of the pavement. Chiang Mai is where I normally spend my winters and where I just returned after a pandemic hiatus.