Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Chaco canyon offers absolutely amazing Indian ruins in excellent condition, you can walk around on designated paths. I do believe they have guides you can hire to tour you around the ruins and give some history. The ruins are pretty far apart so you definitely need to be driving or biking. One thing that surprised us, we came in on a Google route from the north and that road was a pretty rough dirt road. I wouldn't want to be in a little car.

Beautiful and remote archaeological site. The road in and out is rough and I would suggest going under the suggested speed limit and therefore adding time to the Google maps estimate. It is an amazing opportunity to interact in the ruins themselves and go for a longer hikes through the desert. Make sure you fill your tank before you head out as there are no services for quite a distance around this site.

Incredible ruins. Amazing Petroglyphs. Remote and no cell service. Campgrounds have no hook ups (elec. or water) for campers. Bathrooms have flush toilets and are heated, no showers.

Yes... The road to this area is pure hell. It starts out being paved from Hwy 550 and paved around the park property but in between that is washboard hell... I'm probably missing a few nuts and bolts off the truck... Not sure why the part in between cannot be paved. The jaring, vibrating, shaky ride there is almost worth it to see and explore the many ancient dwellings, petroglyphs, etc. Would I ever return? No, not until the road is fully paved. I recommend the park but I do not recommend to horrible ride there!

First of all let me just say, if you are planning on bringing a rental car here, good luck. This is possibly the worst road I’ve ever driven on in my life. Huge potholes, ditches, it will DESTROY a car that is not meant for terrain. That being said, the site itself is incredible! Lots of stuff to see, lots of stuff to walk around and explore. And really fascinating stories and facts to gather along the way. Definitely recommend if you find yourself out here

The road in from the north is pretty rough, Also a section is a dirt road, with a dry wash, that "dry wash," would probably impassable if wet. Call ahead to District Ranger, or Chaco Visitor Center. Gallo campground lost alot of campsites due to rockfall, so reservations are scarce. Campsite is excellent. Filtered water, flush, not pit toilets. Elk can be seen at dusk we counted 20+. As for petroglyps along the main trail, difficult to spot some of them. We got lucky a Nat Park Ranger was walking the trail end of day, he pointed out ones we missed. Thanks to Ranger Todd. I did not get last name. Visitor Center building is still a work in progress. No artifacts at time of visit are on display. That was disappointing. Inquire with staff about a guided tour. The ruins are incredible.

The road here is bumpy (at best). The facilities are limited (at best). The sites are remarkable. Generally you’ll want to camp here since there’s no nearby place to get lodging. Which means you’ll be among the select few present at any time. Ask the rangers for advice - they are very helpful!

The 21-mile dirt road to get there was rough. The park itself was kept clean, parking spots near the kivas were few, as we had a handicap person with us. The sights of interest are spread apart with paved roads between each location. Minimal facilities for disabled folks at points of interest. Very limited access for those with walking difficulties. Stunning cliffs, fascinating cultural space. The Visitors Center is completely handicap accessible. There were many people, as it was the day before the Eclipse in October 2023. Wish I would have been able to see the Eclipse from here! Best part of my NM trip!

This park is absolutely beautiful with stunning landscapes and lots of history. Like all NPS locations, this is well run and the actual park itself has nice roads and facilities. I'll echo what many of the other reviews have said, be aware of the roads to get to the park. Either way you drive, you will encounter a long stretch of dirt road leading into the park (14 to 21 miles depending on your route). We drove both ways (one to the park, and one to leave), and they are both very rough in spots. My AWD subaru handled it very well, but I wouldn't want to try driving the road with a low clearance vehicle. We were driving in great weather with no recent rain, so the roads weren't as bad as they could have been. Be aware of this and plan accordingly.

Just a heads up came here in January. I did not expect it would be snow covered fields and roads. The road leading up to this place no matter where you're coming from Highway 40 or Highway 25, eventually turns into a dirt road. Because it was frozen with snow on top our drive was pretty slow - 35 mph. I cannot imagine if it was a rainy day, all that mud. Don't come here if you don't have high suspension or at least an all-wheel-drive vehicle. We came here and had less than an hour left. The Ranger said we can drive the loop and see as many buildings as we can but we weren't able to see the large Pueblo. Still, it was worth it. Pictures turned out amazing. I did the junior ranger program booklet as fast as I could and I have to say it's one of the harder ones I've encountered if you were to finish the whole entire thing. I would come back here again, except when there's no snow that way you get to see way more of the architecture.

This review is for Pueblo Bonito Overlook Trail which was a ~2 miles round trip that took ~1.5 hours to complete. About ~20 miles of driving through light snow over dirt road on Navajo Service Rte 14 (From Petrified Forest NP). A little bit of steep incline and rock scrambling behind the Kin Kletso near the beginning of the trail. This will take you through a slot canyon and up to the mesa. Follow the ridges until you reach the "End of trail" sign which is the Pueblo Bonito Overlook. Look for the trail marker for the descent back down. Beautiful views from the top of the mesa! Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/qL4yU22HJ3U

Just a forewarning, the drive out is very rough and much longer than I remembered it being. Chunks of the road are maintained and other chunks are not, I wouldn't recommend it in a lower car. To start, definitely check in with the visitor center as that is required. You get a window tag to show you checked in and that pass lasts seven days I believe. Chaco Canyon is such an important historical site and very much worth the visit. I've also heard that it is one of the best spots in the world for stargazing some maybe one day I will come back for some camping. There are some great hikes and it is fun to explore the different sites. Bonus was that I was able to use my National Parks Pass for admission, so yay! The annual passes are such a good investment that has more than paid for itself.

The Chaco staff were very informative/helpful. The ruins were just amazing. We were extremely disappointed with the road. How can a road to such an important park be this horrible. We will never go back, only because of the road. If you are passing by and only have a few hours forget it. It will take you 2hours out & back added to your visit. Gallo Campground: Camp host were great, sites really are nice. Bathrooms clean & well maintained. Stars/night skies were amazing. Easy back in spots. Camp site 17 was for tents & RVs. As you see in the pictures our 31ft fit with my truck on the side. The road to the campground is horrible. Took 1hour to drive 20 miles in. Damaged two of my RV tires & had to replace when I got home. Extremely happy I only had 3hrs to drive home.

In planning a trip through the southwest, I came across a number of ruins. But in doing my research, I came away with the impression Chaco Culture NHP was the largest, most expansive or best. I was right, as far as I know. I've visited a number of similar sites in the southwest and Chaco Culture blows them all away. The ruins there are more expansive than at all the others I've been to combined. They are so big, I was a little worried about getting lost in them. But it's not just bigger. There's multiple sets of ruins there. Also, the quality of construction is noticeably higher than at other sites. Some of the ruins are at least 3 stories tall. You can see doors, windows, wooden supports, and the stone used appeared in places to look more like a stone backsplash in a modern kitchen than something hundreds of years old. The road there isn't that bad. Im used to dirt roads so driving on the one there wasn't too bad. Coming from 550, the first 4 miles are paved, then the next 9 are county maintained and I was able to comfortably go 50 mph. After that, the road quality drops for the next 8, but you can still do 40. Yes, it's bumpy but except for 3 ditches that cross the road (probably for drainage?) it's not bad. Just call before you go because if it's rained, you might not be able to get there, or worse, you could get stuck there. I was truly impressed with Chaco Culture and recommend going there.

Check the National Park Service website (nps.gov) for directions before you go. The road to Chaco will easily be the worst road you have ever been on. It's a long, long, drive on a rough, dirt washboard road that will rattle your bones. You want to make sure the road is passable before you go; you surely don't want to get stuck out in the middle of nowhere, which is where Chaco is located. The road is paved at the park boundary, and passes the campground and a few small ruins. Then you enter Chaco Canyon. Stop at the Visitor Center first to get information, maps, brochures, trail guides, etc. There are ten major sites, most of which are right next to the 8 mile (one way) loop road. If you have time for only one, definitely see Pueblo Bonita, a 3-acre site with multi storied structures and hundreds of rooms. But if you are going to make the effort to get there, give yourself as much time to explore as possible.

Great Nat'l park, bad road! Minus one star for the rough road going in. Coming in from Gallup,NM the road is paved until the actual turn off to the park. On the way back, we got a flat tire. Luckily it was to the main road where we got off and changed out the tire. I don't recommend smaller cars. The park itself is beautiful. The amazing rock formations and alignments were a sight to see. The visitor center had some helpful handouts. I recommend the extra $2 booklet that shows you the numbers and background to it. Lastly bring some snacks or food for post hikes.

What is a National Historic Park? Well, it's more than a roadside historic sign and way less than a national park or national monument. In the case of Chaco Culture NHP, it is a large area in northwestern New Mexico containing multiple large Ancestral Puebloan stone and mud structures on the high Colorado Plateau, that 1,000 years ago was the center of a prehistoric civilization, oriented to the solar and lunar cycles, with trade contacts into South America and much of North America. I was amazed by buildings like Casa Bonita, standing 5 stories tall, with 600 rooms, and the round underground kivas, where people gathered for civic and religious activities. Without written language, the technical skills required to design and construct these pre-historic cities, and their survival to the present time is nothing short of astounding. More impressive still are the remains of roadways that go off in all directions as straight as arrows, whose uses are left to our imagination, but seem to be as much for people coming to these centers for ceremonial and trading purposes, as for sending people directly to known destinations. Rather than going around mesas or deep canyons, they continue straight, cutting steps up, over and down a mesa and down, across and up the other side of a steep ravine. The unbending nature of the routes suggests a rigid unwillingness to take the easy way around for dogmatic reasons. It does show how hard these societies were willing to work to express their priorities. These people predate the Navajo, who arrived long after the Chacoans were dispersed in the dust of history. They were in ruins when the Navajo arrived, and called them, "Anasazi," the ancient ones. Stay into the night to be blown away by the starry display and the magical glow of the sandstone walls in the moonlight.

Getting here was not easy but it was definitely worth it. Just WOW. What a spectacular park with amazing views.

This is one of the most substantial and well preserved ancient Pueblo ruins I've ever seen. Some of the stone structures are at least three stories high and the village encompasses several acres. Dating as far back as 800 AD, this is a must see ruin. A long portion of the road in is unpaved and can be quite bumpy in certain places. Be prepared to spend at least 45 minutes to get there from the main highway.

AWESOME!!!! DO IT!!!!! Amazing views and a chance to see things the way it was. As for the ruins there are cave drawings and many other fascinating things to discover!!! There is also camping and an observatory. Call ahead to the visitor center to get real time info and directions. Staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. The guided tour is a must. I forget her name but she is a volunteer, Suzette I believe. She is a solar astrophysicist and is amazing. Gives the best tour.

Let me start out by saying, if it has rained recently and you don't have a 4WD, don't even attempt it. It's a long drive into the park on a rough road to get close to the entrance and then have to turn around. Fortunately, it rarely rains in Nageezi. We drove from Texas to Chaco Canyon and when we hit Albuquerque on Thursday, it was pouring rain. We waited it out on Friday (due to reviews of the road conditions leading into the park) and then hit the park entrance on Saturday morning in our FWD Ford Escape to find the roads were still in really bad shape. We decided to drive on to Colorado and then return on Monday for another attempt. Fortunately, on Monday the roads had dried out enough that it was no problem getting into the park but our visit was shortened considerably due to rescheduling. There was something very rewarding about conquering the park entrance finally. Chaco is more difficult to access than most National parks, so you feel like you're part of an exclusive club. We were able to spend about six hours, which wasn't nearly enough time, but it was six spectacular hours. You can see most of the major archaeological sites in six hours but to see them all and have time to hit some of the hiking trails, you need two days. I would suggest you get there as early as possible and stay as late as possible, but unless you've reserved a campsite, be ready to leave promptly before the park closes. We are are already planning our return trip so we can hike to the Tsin Kletsin site and some of the more remote locations in the park. Don't forget the sunscreen!

We had the place almost to ourselves which made the visit special. It's definitely worthwhile to buy one or more of the guidebooks for $2 apiece at the visitor center, although I wish the Park Service would make these available to borrow and return to be more green. Be sure to make time to hike to the overlook atop the canyon rim for a bird's eye view of the entire Pueblo Bonito complex. We were able to see the majority of the sites in the valley floor during our limited five hour time window, although an overnight camp stay would have been awesome. A truly special place.

You know that saying if only the walls could talk. I sure with these ruins could talk. Amazing how these Great Houses were constructed for their time. Be sure to give yourself a full day. It's definitely worth the trip. Bring a picnic lunch. NO FOOD SERVICE. Also bring plenty of water. Recommended route is from the North. We did that and didn't get lost. Do not use your GPS. The brochure says not to so we went the old fashion route. For the most part we didn't have cell service. Be aware that 16 miles of the road in is UNPAVED. The website is very informative. I would suggest attending a tour from one of the volunteers- Brian was great!!

Beautiful scenery definitely worth the drive! The visitor center was neat had lots of useful information.

Easily rivals Mesa Verde National Park. No services nearby so come prepared. Was there the day before Winter Solstice and wish I could've stayed for the sunrise.

I love this place. Much history has been devastated and erased but not these ruins of great. The writing is on the walls.

I haven't been to Chaco in over a year, but writing a review about it could be done at any time because Chaco is still a timeless experience. You have to work hard to get here because the dirt road from the main highway is long and the washboard rhythms can be tiring. No matter: it's worth it. I've been to Chaco in the summer but I prefer the biting cold winter months when the night time temperatures stretch below zero and a few sleeping bags are necessary to hunker down at the adjacent campsite. Looking up at the stars on such totally silent nights is magical. (I speak from experience.) When it's cold enough, daytime walks through the ruins mean that you can often have Chaco to yourself and, if you're that lucky, you won't know what century you inhabit anymore. It's just you and one of the greatest ruins -- perhaps, the crossroads of ancient peoples -- in North America.

Worth the effort. Go early (though the Visitors Center does not open until 8 a.m.) to get a quiet glimpse of the sun rise creating shadows on dramatic landscapes. Bring food and water and a hat. Unless you are anal about hiking every trail - you can get a pretty good sense of the Park in a day. Perfect time to arrive is about 7:30 am - as you can park in the Visitors Center lot and adjacent there is a short trail, a few ruins, and some petroglyphs which will keep you busy until the VC opens. If you don't want to worry about your car being a bit shaken (not too bad coming from Hwy 550 - 13 miles of dirt roads, and only about 4 of those dirt miles were poorly maintained) on the dirt access roads - I suggest determining which car rental agency you hate the most. Then for your trip rent from them. You will enjoy the drive all the more!

Amazing place! If you are on a Chaco and native ruins tour, this and Mesa Verde are the two must do stops. But the road is indeed as bad as everyone says. I had a rental Mazda SUV, and we got there and back unscathed, but it was an experience. We took the northern route in and out because I kept hearing the southern route was worse. Well the northern route is pretty bad. I think the Natives in this area keep the roads this way on purpose. If the roads were better, this place would be overrun like Machu Picchu. But as it is now, you can be amazed at the planning and building skills of these ancient people, and you can do so pretty much without being disturbed by others. Having said that, once you make it to the park, you can celebrate your accomplishment by viewing the most amazing archeological site in New Mexico. A park ranger at Mesa Verde suggested for us to read the Navajo story about the gambler. I suggest you read that too.

The scale and ambition of these structures is so impressive! That there are so many theories surrounding the origins of this place makes it even more fascinating. It was the architectural and cultural center of the ancient Pueblo/Anasazi civilization. This canyon is deservedly included in UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites...a place of "outstanding universal value". Our Park Service has done a great and largely unappreciated job of preserving, protecting and interpreting this mysterious, beautiful and fragile national treasure. Our volunteer tour guide was exceptional, providing much, much more information than we would have learned by just walking through on our own. In May, the tours began at 10 am and 2pm. If you are hikers like us, the trails are maintained in excellent condition, and accessible from many points along the paved 9 mile loop. From our experience, mid to late May is a good time to visit. We pitched a tent in the campground..nice tent pads and friendly Park Service staff. The days were warm.. night was low 40s..brrr but had good air mattresses and sleeping bags. Campsites have fire pits and picnic tables, and firewood is available for purchase. If the moon is crescent stage or less you'll see the most amazing night sky, as there are no lights in the campground. The 16 mile dirt road leading to the park is rough..in the most country meaning of that word. If it's dry you should be fine if you're just careful...if it has been raining you should not try it unless you're driving a high clearance 4WD with good tires.

The 1-Star review is based purely on the fact we planned our entire day for this park and could not access it without a 4x4 vehicle. Once we hit the "county maintenance ends here" sign, our Chevy Cobalt just bounced up and down violently on the road even just going 5mph. No way we were going to do another 4 miles of that and risk a busted axel. I'm most upset because there were no signs warning about the rough road and we basically turned around at the last minute. An absolute misstep on NPS part. Do NOT attempt this drive without a 4x4 and high clearance vehicle. The last 4 miles will KILL your car.

There is only one way to get there, you need to drive. The driving times will be more than two hours and you better prepare for the uneven path when you drove. It's definitely worth it when you get there, trust me on that.

It was my first time learning Native American culture. It was amazing how big the city was. It was hot (temperature) but so much to learn here.

Wow. What a place! What a drive! 13 miles of washboard road or 21 miles of washboard road depending on which entrance you choose. We did it in a sedan not equipped for off road and did fine, except the desert camouflage (dust) on the car made it invisible to other drivers - or at least that would explain some of the a-holes driving on my side of the road. Between AD 900 and 1150, Chaco Canyon was a major center of culture for the Ancient Pueblo people. Chacoans quarried sandstone blocks and hauled timber from great distances, assembling fifteen major complexes. On December 8, 1987, Chaco Culture National Historical Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, joining a select list of protected areas "whose outstanding natural and cultural resources form the common inheritance of all mankind" This place, along with the construction at Mesa Verde, staggers the mind of the visitor. At Chaco, tourists are allowed to enter all the ruins unescorted. Because of the remoteness to major highways, this is a perfect place to see, up close, how Ancient People engineered this huge community. Some of the buildings are five stories high. Six major sites are located along the 9-mile (paved) long Canyon Loop Drive. These sites include Una Vida, Hungo Pavi, Pueblo Bonito, Chetro Ketl, Pueblo del Arroyo, and Casa Rinconada believed to be the largest Kiva ever constructed.

Absolutely my favorite national park in the entire US. It's not easy to get to, but it's worth it. This area was once the spiritual, cultural, and commercial center for a thriving civilization (alternately called the Anasazi or the Ancestral Pueblos, which I believe is the preferred term), and this has left a obvious physical footprint... and I think a less obvious spiritual footprint as well. It's hard to describe what it's like here, but I know I'm not the only person to think that I've felt something spiritually moving in this particular corner of the world, like I'm standing somewhere sacred. I'm not a new-age-y person, and I'm not going to pretend to know anything about the spirituality of the Pueblo people, so that's about as well as I can describe it. There's just something in the air here. There is SO MUCH to learn at Chaco Canyon. I'm not a big believer in Ranger-led activities (for those over the age of 12, anyway), but if you visit, you have to take a Ranger tour of Pueblo Bonito, the remains of what was once a 5-story, 800-room building, and - until we really got the hang of sky-scrapers in the modern age - was the biggest building in the US. You'll also want to learn about the sun dagger and all the other ingenious strategies the Ancestral Pueblos had for keeping a calendar. And you should definitely, definitely, definitely take the hike to (or at least toward) Pueblo Alto to get the stunning view of Pueblo Bonito from above.

It is difficult to describe the experience of visiting Chaco Canyon. I made a road trip from Colorado Springs along US 160 camping and visiting Anasazi Indian ruins, they were the "cliff dwellers". I traveled South to New Mexico and Chaco, but I would recommend continuing on to Arizona too. Chaco Canyon is thought to be the cultural and economic center of the ancient Anasazi culture, Unlike the cliff dwellings, Chaco is built on the flat. There are many kivas, cylindrical buildings, some for storing grain for the Anasazi civilization, some for ancient ceremonies. Many of the buildings have been partially restored after being excavated from a thousand years of silt. Especially fascinating is the video at the visitor center about the discovery and decoding of a spiral astronomical petroglyph, the sun dagger. Next visit I would try to trek out to the spot though it may be closed. These Indians were much more advanced in celestial mechanics than astronomers in other parts of the world. The two roads in are desolate gravel, dirt and in poor repair. Bring water and emergency supplies. That means everyone there really wants to be there. The camp ground is cold water. I was there in summer, but adverse weather other times of year could strand you. I planned a day and spent three, somehow it's mystical. It's a special place to visit, very sparsely visited. Your own private experience.

BE AWARE: The drive into this place is a 10+ mile stretch of dirt road that is unmaintained with extreme washboard and uneven areas. So bad it destroyed the topper on my truck. Literally drove this truck across country on many different backroads and this road into Chaco destroyed my topper. The passenger side split and came apart and shattered the glass and the door on the back was completely knocked off. So be prepared for a ROUGH drive in and out. The ruins are super cool though and it's an awesome experience.

Great resource with exceptional support facilities considering the relative remoteness of the area. Some practical information: --standard rental cars should be ok in dry weather on the access road. Road for last 6 miles is not that great washboard dirt/gravel, but driving slowly should be fine. I'd consider 100 mile AAA tow coverage, however. --bring everything with you, except water. That includes water containers and food. Have more than 1/2 tank of gas. (YMMV) --very limited shade --firewood available currently (summer, 2014) at visitor's center --visitor center can't say with certainty whether campground will be full --visitor center has evening talks on astronomy. Small observatory adjacent. --flush toilets at visitor's center and campground! --access to Pueblo Alto north from Kin Kletso site takes some scrambling through an inclined chimney. Not technically difficult, but probably not suitable for children less than 10 or anyone not up for it. Web site is great. Read up on it before you go.

A super-long drive down a crazy-desolate dirt road leads to amazing ruins. We soaked in the ruinous landscape and were ready to leave in an hour. Ps This trip requires prep: gathering of nutritious snacks and water (there is nothing to buy for miles), studying of maps (people get lost, and there may be no phone reception), and itinerary planning (what can you do in the allotted time?). Do not be foolish and wing it. Pps I think it would have been more interesting to us if we had not seen multiple more accessible ancient sites in Arizona a couple of years ago.

I stayed in Chaco last night and hiked around as many beautiful trails as I could today. I ended my last hike as the sun was setting and on the way out to the parking lot I was greeted by a park ranger car with sirens blaring. At first I was startled that something had happened, then ranger Adam Casey told me I should have been out of there 20 minutes ago. Even though the sun had just set that minute. He took my license for half an hour then told me I was getting a $130 ticket, there were signs all around the park saying it was closed at sunset and I was making him work late. 'Take that visitor for trying to enjoy a nice hike in nature'. I could understand if I were walking around ruins in the dark, but leaving a couple minutes late? Come on. I had read everything I could online and at the visitor's center and had never come across this strict out-of-the-gate policy by exactly sunset or a $130 ticket. And judging by the handful of cars in surrounding parking lots still leaving many others hadn't either. I hope the park will either make this policy more clear or ease off this strict policy I've never run into in any other national park. I highly recommend visiting the park just leave long before sunset and watch out for a strict park ranger trying to make ticket quota.

This was an amazing place that truly changed my idea of life 1000+ years ago. Is it close to anything? No. Sorry that they didn't plan more appropriately back then. It is what it is. To the people who were up in arms about the road, well, maybe I lucked out, but it was one of the best dirt roads I have ever driven. Now, perhaps if you have never driven a dirt road it would be scary for some. Take your time, pay attention, and you should be fine. I'm sure it's more treacherous in muddy conditions, and I can't speak to that. I found a day to be plenty to see the park and get a feel for it. However, more than one day would really be best if you plan on doing anything other than seeing the main sites around the loop drive.

First of all, getting here is a B---CH!!! If you're coming from the 550, exit Rd 7900, take it all the way to Rd 7950. We used Google maps navigation that had us go a different way off Rd 7900, which was technically shorter in distance, but was on dirt roads. If you take the way I said, you have FAR LESS dirt roads. Once you get there, it's $8 for a pass. You can use an Annual Pass too. Nice ruins. Fun to walk around. A simple loop with multiple pull off stops with ruins to walk around. If you're in this area, definitely worth a trip.... but be mindful, it'll take a huge chunk of time out of your day because of the drive TO and FROM.

The ruins of this Native American city is a national treasure. Everyone should see it! The natural scenery is absolutely first class as well. Visitors should be warned though that there is about 11 miles of ROUGH unpaved road between the highway and the Park. It's really too bad that it was such an awful ride. This is the first time I have ever seen such poor access to National Park in fact. It was almost too much for our poor Jetta. We will have to come back regardless of these difficulties since we want to see it again and possibly camp!

Pretty cool experience. I was sad I didn't get to explore more of the ruins but the next time I return I can't wait to explore some more. It is awesome to see what our history is and the fact that you can walk through the grounds and listen to nothing but silence makes you appreciate the culture.

I've been to multiple National Parks in the Southwest with ruins, and this is by far my favorite one. Mesa Verde up north gets a lot of hype, and it should - it's beautiful and the ruins are amazing. Mesa Verde is also super crowded, and to get to most of the major ruins (Cliff Palace, Balcony House), you need to be on a ranger-guided tour, which often feels rushed. Chaco Canyon, on the other hand, has just as impressive ruins as Mesa Verde (if not more so), and you can get up close and personal with them. You can actually walk through most of them, and the petroglyph trails are amazing. And the park isn't nearly as crowded as Mesa Verde, probably because it's a difficult park to get to when compared to Mesa Verde. Getting to Chaco Canyon, to put it bluntly, is not fun. The road getting there from Nageezi/550 is sixteen miles of washboard hell. I've discovered that the trick to this is to drive at about 30mph at all times, because then the bumps aren't SO bad (they are still bad). Occasionally, the park dumps gravel onto the road, so if you can get there right after they do that, it's not so bad. The gravel, unfortunately, is usually long gone within a month. Your car may need a front end alignment after your trip - I'd recommend a rental if you can afford it. But once you get to Chaco Canyon, it's magic. It's not a busy park - I've never seen more than probably a dozen people in one place at one time in the park, and that includes the campground. I'd recommend going in April, May, September, or October - before it is bitterly cold at night (you'll probably want to spend at least one night here because of how difficult it is to get into and out of the park) and before/after the intense heat of the desert summer. Bring plenty of water - you will need it, even in these months. The ruins are amazing, and like I said, you can get up close and personal with most of them. There are also a few backcountry trails that I would recommend. The Pueblo Alto Complex one is the more strenuous of the two, but you can get some gorgeous views of the ruins from up above, plus see some that many tourists who stay on the paved loop don't get to see. But I highly recommend the Peñasco Blanco trail. It's not horribly strenuous - the end does get a little iffy when you have to climb up the side of Chacra Mesa - but it is so, so worth the time that it takes to get here (prepare for a six hour round trip). The ruins are unexcavated and look much as they have for hundreds of years. Few make this trip, so there is a good chance that you will be alone here. And there are still shards of pottery laying on the ground (look along the walls of the ruins - the whole perimeter) where they have been for hundreds of years. It's absolutely amazing! There's also a great petroglyph trail along the way, as well as some "hidden" petroglyphs that aren't pointed out on any map, so pay attention! :) I am not in the best of shape, and I have done both of these backcountry trails without much problem (just took it easy and brought plenty of water), so if I can do it, nearly anyone can! The campground is nice, and I've never had a problem showing up and getting a tent site the same day. There's a small ruin that you can see from most of the campground, so that's a nice thing to see first thing in the morning, really gets you in the mood for some hiking. Wijiji is also near here, so if you get to the campground relatively late in the day (after 4pm-ish) and don't want to start on the loop, you can make the short hike there and get some viewing in anyway. There is a flight path somewhere above Chaco, so the night sky isn't completely unpolluted, but you can still see tons of stars on clear nights. Like I said, this is my favorite park that I have been to the in the Southwest. Do a quick drive through of Mesa Verde, but spend your time here. It's just as impressive, if not more so, and you can wander to your heart's content without being rushed along. I'd also recommend hitting up Aztec if you're coming down along 550!

You've made the arduous trek. You packed your four-wheeled gas-guzzling buggy with supplies and steered the beast at 65-75 mph out into the middle of nowhere, turning on to a dirt and rock washboard access road that added another 45 minutes to your journey, and now you've arrived Chaco Park, and you've checked in at park headquarters and you've driven yet further, into the abyss, and you've parked your buggy and you're wandering out, wondering to yourself: why on earth would anyone choose to reside here? Very, very good question. In fact, it's a query historians and archeologists have been trying to solve for eons. I suppose you can just throw this thought aside, but when I visit Chaco I can't get over the fact that back in the day people came here by foot and horseback, they made a pilgrimage to visit this oasis. One lonely and dry riverbank skirts the premises, I'm guessing it flowed when the place was happenin'. Today, some cottonwood trees line the basin and otherwise nothing green exists. So the question begs: how did people live here? Yet judging from the architecture of the place, it's clear these people thrived. Thus the absence of human activity is the essence of its magic: somehow, in some way, Chaco crafted culture. And the beauty of your experience is in this absence, in your imagination. A visit to this site will stimulate your ancient core and remind you that as far removed as you are, as technologically advanced as you may perceive yourself, and however benign your evening stay at a bed and breakfast might seem, your ancestors lived here. They worshipped and traded and crafted this world for you, and you are connected. You are a part of this. You are Chaco.

Want to see the mothership of pre Colombian ruins in the SW USA? Go to Chaco. Forget Mesa verde, too many people, too many ropes and paved paths. Chaco is huge, separate great houses spread over miles of arid grassland. This trip will require 1 day to seeing anything. If you are not so fit, walk the easy trail through pueblo bonito, feel your jaw drop at the detail, craftsmanship, and scale of the building ca. 1100 AD. If you are moderately fit, walk up the trail to the top of the Mesa above pueblo bonito, survey the views, look for the distant great houses in all directions. If you are really fit, walk one of the 6-12 mile loops in the canyon to one of the remote great houses. These ruins are pristine, archaeology is on the surface everywhere. Pot shards, who knows what else. Tread lightly, take nothing, appreciate the quiet and the history of this special place. I am an architect and have been going here once a year for more than 15 years, still haven't seen everything. I go here for tranquil long hikes among the most impressive architectural ruins in the SW. Take water, stay cool, walk all day. Best to visit in the winter, spring or fall. Summer can be too hot for contemplation and all day walking. Parts of the road from 550 can be wash boarded. Slow down, any car can make the trip in dry weather.

Don't come to Chaco with the expectation of Grand Canyon-type panoramas, but this enchanting place has more pre-Columbus significance than almost anyplace else in America! We marveled at the ingenious craftsmanship with which the stone structures were built, even as we wondered why they were constructed. This was the historic hub of a vast pre-contact empire that extended for hundreds of miles. The structures were made with superb skill and exquisite planning, yet we have only theories about what far-reaching governmental structure or underlying motivations led to this citadel of Anasazi culture. Also, we saw a herd of seven elk, two captivating species of lizards, blooming cacti, and lots of distinctive white-tailed squirrels that look like chipmunks -- only much cuter. The entry road is a long gravel washboard, but nothing an ordinary car can't handle at 15 MPH. If you want to get a feel for the excellence of this part of America before white guys got here, go to Chaco.

These ruins are so amazing.You can feel something special about this place. Marvel of how well they build things 1200 years ago. The walls are 2 feet thick, while its 95'F outside inside the walls its a cool 70'F. We'll definitely come back and do a little hiking when its cooler. Its a bit challenging to get here, 20 miles of dirt road from either the north side or the south side, buts its well worth the drive, just take it slow.

ATT does not reach much of Chaco so I could not check in. Not having Internet or cell is a good thing though for someone who is way too connected 24/7 That's the beauty of Chaco. Away, far away from civilization. We arrived one day after the Dark Sky designation it received April 24, 2014. I believe there were many people visiting this weekend for that reason. We arrived late in the day but still light. Set up camp ( recommend getting reservations), met with some friends, shared a few Stellas. Once it was dark it was time for the 9pm observatory talk. We were lead by a very informative, gentle volunteer Steve. I saw Jupiter, Mars, M51, M3, M81 and 82 and the double cluster in Gemini. In the morning we took the 7 mile round trip hike to Penasco Blanco. It did not disappoint. I imagined how incredible it must have been to live in that palace with that Mesa top view! WOW! The Chacoans are a mystery indeed. The architecture is just not like anything else for many many miles ( although mimicked even in later years closely ) Interesting that they only stayed for 100 years. Well worth the trip, I have a great guide, my husbAnd had his first park service job here

Firstly, I do want to state that I was not *completely* dissatisfied with my visit to Chaco National Park, as the grounds, the pueblos, the night sky, etc. was breathtakingly beautiful. Also, the park staff at the visitors center was friendly and informative. The reason for this complaint message relates to the ticket I received, and the experience I had with Park Ranger, Adam Casey. At around 5:06pm, I came out from using the bathroom at the Pueblo Bonita site. In the bathroom I heard sirens and I wondered what was going on. I exited the bathroom, ready to get in my car, only to find Mr. Casey taking down my plate numbers (please note that I was aware of the park rules, that the park is closed after sundown, which is why I was getting ready to leave the park, right AT sundown). I said "Oh, I am leaving right now." Mr. Casey was silent and did not give me an explanation as to why he was writing down my plate number at that point. He then asked to see my license, for which I gave promptly without question, as I assumed he would quickly check it to see if it matched the permit paper I had left on my dashboard. He told me to get in the car to keep warm, still not giving me an explanation (looking back I wished I pressed Mr. Casey for more clarity as to what I did wrong, but I assumed he was a friendly park ranger, possibly checking if my plates matched a missing persons report, or something of the sort). After approximately 26 minutes, he came to the driver's side and first made sure to tell me that I was "keeping him out past his regular working hours" and said that there are park rules and I must respect them, and then explained the ticket details. The time listed on the ticket was 5:05, and I am not exaggerating, but he was blaring his sirens at 5:06. At the end of each year, I make a point to visit a new National Park. This time is sacred to me, and respecting the Park Rules is something I always pride myself in. I know I will continue to visit national parks, but I worry that if others visit Chaco, and have this same experience, this may deter others from exploring and enjoying sunsets! If these rules are so strict, I hope the parks install more warnings of the exact sunset times (http://www.sunrisesunset.com/calendar.asp), and or explicit warnings and expectations of receiving a $130 ticket for watching the sunset. I sincerely hope this can happen, as this experience with Park Ranger Casey was especially disheartening.

Awesome. It's incredible to imagine that after living here for hundreds of years, the pueblos were abandoned 240 years before Columbus. Definitely a must see if you have any interest in ancient native cultures. The setting is very remote and beautiful. All of the ruins are carefully preserved and visitors are directed in, around and through the ruins. Guided tours are very limited, which is unfortunate because there is much more to know beyond what is printed. The visitor center/gift shop are small but offer the necessary amenities. One thing that makes it so great is the lack of crowds. This means the visitors are people who really want to be there. Largely, I attribute this to the remote location, lack of marketing and the roads to get there. Come in from Nageezi, as you'll only have 5 miles of moonscape (Unimproved, unmaintained dirt) to drive. That said, it can be done in any car short of a Corvette or Ferrari. My car is fairly low and on sport tires and I made it just fine. Just take it slow (10mph +/-5), keep your eyes open and be prepared to use the entire road. It's better at the edges. Washboard sections make you think your car will shake apart, washed out sections require care and planning, and there are potholes thrown in for fun. Once you arrive in the park, the roads are paved and you'll feel like you accomplished something to get there.

Well worth the bumpy and windy 20 some Miles of off roading. If you can spend a few days here to really explore the ruins and hike to other historical sites. You can even bike from site to site.

Chaco Canyon is a wild place. I wrote a PhD dissertation on it, 20 years ago and still do statistical analyses on rain data from the place. The best picnic area is Casa Rinconada, and the one by the Visitor Center is also nice. They used to have a museum but they replaced it with a 25-minute video. Too bad. WARNING: DO NOT ATTEMPT THE ROAD FROM 550 IF YOU HAVE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS OR SHINGLES, BECAUSE YOU WILL DIE. From 550 to the Visitor Center is 21 miles. The last 12.5 miles are dirt. The last 4 miles are heavily rutted. I was going 10 mph and thought my car was going to fly apart into a million pieces. Think I'm exaggerating? If you have a camper, everything in it that is not tied down will be thrown around the interior like a hurricane.

I really can't add much to what other yelpers have said. I had never heard of the place until my wife saw a special on it on tv. We "dropped in" on the spur of the moment while making our way to the Grand Canyon on a camping trip. Be warned: you will know the meaning of the saying "like five miles of bad road" when you finally arrive at the visitor center except that it was 20 miles for us. The road is tough in the best of weather and parts can be slippery after a rain. At least front wheel drive is a big help. But, once there, it is a wonderful place to be. Not just the ruins, but the landscape. And, while we never saw any elk which are abundant in the area, we heard them at night calling to each other. Tent camping is available as well as a few sites for smaller RVs but there are no hook ups. Its best to check with the park rangers before making the trek. Flush toilets are a bonus and drinking water is available for free but no camp store or fuel.

I wish I could give this place 6 stars. Its a shame it's off the beaten path, because everyone should visit this beautiful park. Or...maybe it's good that it's hard to get to. Don't let the horror stories about the drive scare you off. I came in from the south and the dirt road was in great shape all the way, just take your time and enjoy the wide open spaces. The ruins are all beautiful and mysterious in their own unique ways. I spent the night at Gallo Campground, right there in the park. I would recommend this unless you REALLY like to drive. The campground is clean and in a great location, but there is NO shade, so if you are spending anytime in the campground during the day, I would recommend bringing a tarp or some other type of shade structure. Finally, the highlight of the trip for me was an early morning hike on the Puebla Alta trail up to the ruins of a couple of the great houses. It's an easy hike with great views down into the canyon, and I didn't see anyone else until I was back at the trailhead. In my opinion, these ruins are best appreciated with the silence that accompanies solitude.

I'd been meaning to get here and when I saw the sign on my drive from Farmington to Los Alamos I turned. I'm glad I did. It is a spiritual and amazing place. It's so cool to see how we as humans built civilizations. Your imagination runs wild thinking about all of these people living in these structures. It's worth the trip down the dirt roads. Bring a hat and water especially if you go in the summer. You're very exposed on your hikes. They sell water bottles at the gift store.