Chaco Canyon National Park
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Chaco Canyon National Park
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Chaco Canyon Visitor Guide
Located
in the remote badlands of northwestern New Mexico, Chaco Canyon is
noteworthy for its massive pueblo ruins, with impressive public The achievements of Chacoan culture include incorporating astronomical alignments, roads, landscaping, and engineering to create an urban center of spectacular public architecture - one that still inspires the imagination a thousand years later. Believed to have been up to five stories tall, Pueblo Bonito is the largest single ruin in the United States. Indeed, the influence of Chacoan culture once spread for hundreds of miles in every direction, with trading routes that extended deep into Mexico and west to the Pacific Ocean. Reaching the park requires a long drive over rough dirt roads, so it's not for everyone, but worth the effort for anyone with an appreciation of the special archaeological status of Chaco. There are no accommodations inside the park. The nearest hotels are in Farmington, New Mexico. There is one campground inside the park. The Gallo Campground is open year-round with 48 sites available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Except for water and restrooms there are no services, so bring all the food you need with you. The Visitor Center has first-rate museum with detailed information on Pueblo culture. You must stop at the Visitor Center to pay your entrance fee and pick up a backcountry permit if you plan to do any hiking out of the main canyon. There are at least nine major pueblo sites in the park and hundreds of petroglyphs. Visitors and hike a self-guided trial through Pueblo Bonito, Chetro Ketl, Casa Rinconada, Pueblo del Arroyo and Hungo Pavi. A backcountry hiking permit is required for Kin Kletso, Pueblo Alto, Casa Chiquita and Penasco Blanco. For more information visit: This page last updated: |
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ceremonial buildings, and its distinctive architecture. Pueblo Bonito,
pictured here, grew to become the ceremonial hub and
trading center of a complex culture that flourished throughout the Four
Corners region between 850 AD and 1250. Chaco is an important stop for anyone wanting to gain a more
comprehensive understanding of ancient pueblo civilization in the Four Corners
region.