Here are some of the most recommended hotels near Chaco Canyon. We drove first to Aztec Ruins and then to Chaco. Its 20.5 miles from the turn off to the park but itll take you a good hour possibly depending on road conditions. How to get to Chaco Canyon National Park? Dating back to approximately the time of Pueblo Bonito, Una Vidawhich translates to One Lifeis one of the original three great houses in Chaco Canyon. Containing the most sweeping collection of ancient ruins north of Mexico, the park preserves one of the most important pre-Columbian cultural and historical areas in the United States. From cliff-sited dwellings and small pit houses to massive grand houses, the Anasazi lived in a wide variety of structures. Plan on budgeting 3-4 hours at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Furthermore, from about A.D. 200 to A.D. 1300, the Anasazi built many significant settlements in the area including in Navajo National Monument, Mesa Verde National Park, and Chaco Canyon. Chaco Canyon is a wonderful place to visit; it will undoubtedly become one of your favorite vacation memories and will inspire you, like it has us, to learn as much as you can about the people and communities that shaped our planet long before our time. For that reason, experts in the field have started using the term Ancient Pueblo Peoples out of courtesy to the present day Puebloans, and, quite truthfully, because we have no idea what they originally called themselves. The hardest part of your trip will be to select which Chaco Canyon lodging to go for, so stop looking at that Chaco Canyon hotel! To most of us, this simply means that its got really, really dark skies. At the time, there wasnt a word to describe the people, so the Navajo term caught on. 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. Carry plenty of water and snacks with carbohydrates. Note: Due to COVID-19, the visitor center has limited hours and services. It is the only "great house" you can walk through the rooms of within the canyon. The park and campground are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day. There is limited cell service inside the Visitor Center. If youre coming from Colorado, you can go through Durango, down to Farmington, and on to Chaco Canyon. Located approximately 150 miles north of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves more than 15 Chacoan "great houses" that were the hubs of Puebloan civilization between 850 A.D. and 1150 A.D. Bring binoculars for the best experience. Frequently Asked Questions - Chaco Culture National Historical Park (U Cliff Palace is Mesa Verdes largest and best-known site, and North Americas largest cliff dwelling, with 150 rooms (you climb five 8-10-foot ladders and can descend into one of its kivas). Delta-8 use is exploding across the country. Hiking is one of the most popular activities; there are four backcountry trails that extend as long as eight miles, allowing plenty of opportunities to stretch and challenge yourself while taking in some of the incredible views of the ruins and the landscapes beyond them. Chaco Culture National Historical Park - New Mexico Chaco Canyon is located in northwestern New Mexico. By continuing to browse our site we'll assume you are okay with it. 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. Most of the land in NM is owned by the government which means most of it is devoid of development. Otherwise the nearest hotels/motels are 1.5 hours away! However, most cars can make it in good weather just dont drive your brand-new low-clearance luxury car out there. You may notice that we keep calling the folks who lived here the Ancient Pueblo Peoples, and not Anasazi as they have been called in the past. The 4 1/2 miles before entering the park are very rough. The reason for this is their remoteness. To get a good feel for Chaco takes about 3 days 2 nights. With no running water, no power, no cell phone connection, this experience has always been what we consider an essential experience when visiting the southwest. Chaco Canyon is located in northwestern New Mexico. Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico (photo: Paul Williams, CC BY-NC 2.0) Pueblo Bonito is among the most impressive of the Great Houses. Read Also: Mule Rides Grand Canyon South Rim. The nearest airports are Farmington, NM, Gallup, NM, Durango,CO, and Albuquerque, NM. There are many places in the American southwest where you can experience this kind of silence, but it seems more intense here in Chaco Canyon, assuming that silence can be considered intense.. The route includes 8 miles of paved road (CR 7900 & CR7950) and 13 miles of rough dirt road (CR7950). However, in this case, being a famous site doesnt translate into being overcrowded. The next several attractions in Chaco Canyon are within walking distance of each other. Directions - Canyon de Chelly National Monument (U.S. National Park We found our stop at the visitors center to be a nice way to ground our experience and ensure we made the most of the time we had there. There are no hotels near Chaco Canyon and its dirt road access makes it difficult-although not impossible-to do a simple day visit. This is a must see when at Chaco Culture National Historical Park. You'll find a large multi-story structure you can explore inside and out as well as several kivas here. Chaco Canyon: The Ancient Ruins of New Mexico - Road Unraveled No matter what your plans may be, visit the Chaco Canyon Visitors Center before you explore the rest of the park. Youll find the road to Chaco on maps as Highway 57 (also shown on some maps as Highway 14), a turn-off from Highway 9 (a paved road). Cuba Visitor Center phone number is 575-289-3808. The visitors center is staffed year round and is a starting place for your adventure here. See the Dark in the Park Featured Programme section below and learn how to take advantage of the unique and free nocturnal astronomy presentation given by park rangers during your stay. Turn left on County Road 7950, and follow the signs 16 miles to the park entrance (3 miles paved and 13 of rough dirt road). Each is about an hour and a half from the parks entrance. Lodging - Chaco Culture National Historical - National Park Service Plan to spend at least 45 minutes here. Chaco Canyon is remembered as a gathering place in the lore of todays Pueblo and Navajo tribes. The closest decent lodging is in Albuquerque.I would start early in Santa Fe, go to Chaco, then drive back and go in to Albuquerque. Car There is one campground in the park, near the visitors center, called the Gallo Campground. Firewood and food need to be brought into the campground. can contribute to strong sunrays. I havent yet made it to Chaco Canyon, but I have been looking into it. Once you see Pueblo Bonito, you might be ready to leave, thinking that nothing can top the experience. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The next 4+ miles of road into Chaco has . A: The nearest gas station is 21 miles north of the park at the junction of US 550 and CR 7900. The one-mile round-trip walk includes views of petroglyphs. You can learn more about our newsletter and see a preview of a past edition. The Gallo Campground has no shade throughout the year, and checkout time is 11 am. Besides being home to these amazing ruins, Chaco is also an International Dark Sky Park, so it is worth camping here to experience it. You can visit the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, which lies in the northwestern part of New Mexico between Albuquerque and Farmington. The park is also an International Dark Sky Park, which makes a visit even more enticing. The main entrance into the park is from US Highway 550. The remote location of Chaco Canyon adds to the beauty and adventure of visiting this National Park. Gallo campsites may be reserved in advance from March through October at $15 each. Simply visit Recreation.govor call (877) 444-6777 to make a reservation. Its a well-preserved and interesting look into how meeting spaces were defined, constructed, and used in Chaco Canyon. Drinkingwater is only availableat the Chaco Culture National Historical Park Visitor Center, which is a mile away. Preserving some of the largest structures built by the Ancestral Puebloans, Chaco Culture National Historical Park is one of the most studied archaeological sites in the U.S. Southwest. In fact, many people think that the park would be one of the nations most popular if it wasnt so hard to reach. About Ready? Source: nps.gov. Please use our directions below to avoid getting lost or stuck. The park has no restaurant or grocery store, so make sure you have enough food and water. For more ideas on things to do and see in New Mexico have a look at Wander articles by our southwestern travel experts. When visiting the site, remember that you wont find restrooms at the individual structures. Formally, its known as the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Its located in the northwestern corner of New Mexico. Not quite a year before that drive, as I sat inside of an icebreaker ship bound for Antarctica, I remembered a phrase that seemed appropriate as our boat fought the turbulence of the Drake Passage: you dont just visit Antarctica, you earn it. Each is about an hour and a half from the park's entrance. Chaco Culture National Historical Park preserves a major center of ancestral Puebloan culture dating between 850 and 1250 CE. While exploring any of the ruins, make sure you carry water and wear a hat and sunscreen. What Chaco Canyon can call itself, though, is remarkable. Extremely interesting, but will NEVER make the drive again. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chaco Canyon is a remarkable place. Dont Miss: Where To Go At The Grand Canyon. Bento theme by Satori, Salisbury Cathedral in Southwestern England. The quarter-mile trail leads you along the cliff face between the two sites, filled with petroglyphs. The national park contains an interesting collection of ancient ruins that date back over 1,000 years. Horrible. Although most great houses had a south-facing orientation, Pueblo del Arroyo faced to the east. 7 Fun Things to do at Chaco Canyon - Trailer Traveler Also Check: Camping Golden Gate Canyon State Park. 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. Discover the luxury you are looking for in the western saloon turned glamping cabin or one of the many exquisite options nestled in the natural setting of the mountains. The quarter-mile round-trip trail through the site is gravel but climbs a few steep rises. Last minute booking. Original Vigas at Pueblo BonitaOriginal wood is still found in some of the buildings at Pueblo Bonita. Three decades after leaving Romania, this background still helps her appreciate and connect with people of different backgrounds, which shows up in her articles, which highlight the culture, history, and legends of the places she visits. You May Like: Grand Canyon North Rim Camping. Most of it is good, though youll have to pass cattle guards and some rough parts. We stopped for gas at the Red Mesa Express station just before turning on to CR 7900, and having a full tank made us feel a lot better about navigating the unpaved roadsthere would be little worse than getting stuck on them! The following are the Chaco Culture National Historical Park highlights. Please ride single file. From the south, two routes access Chaco from Highway 9, which runs between Crownpoint, Pueblo Pintado, and Cuba. The park is home to many prehistoric, multistory buildings called great houses. Where To Stay Near Chaco Canyon - CanyonLoveClub.com What travelers should know about medical, 'I'm dead': 10 years ago, he watched fertilizer, Unsolved Season 4: A missing girl, a search for, Noxious piping fix is making people sick. What does a vitamin A deficiency look like? Note that the signs directing you to turn off of Hwy 371 onto Highway 9 are missing. The only ones available at the park are at the visitor center. Look up and notice the corner window in one room, built so the sun can shine through during the solstices. Camping is the only lodging available in the park itself. They dont recommend it for RVs. You can do this by visiting the reservation website. Chetro KetlChetro Ketl, a Chacoan great house at Chaco Canyon. The limited facilities includetoilets, picnic table, and fire grates. From 550 turn onto CR 7900, . To walk among the ruins so carefully constructed by the people who lived there centuries ago opens your eyes to their unique communityand the similarities between their lives and our own. Some are clear, but youll find others so eroded, you can only guess what was there in ancient times. However, once youre within the parks boundaries, youll be back on a paved road. The road to Chaco can become impassible in inclement weather. Map detail of Chaco Canyon and the 8 mile loop that provides national park access. p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p); The focal point for most visitors of Chaco Canyon is Pueblo Bonito, the largest prehistoric Southwest Native American dwelling ever excavated. Some spots also require traversing narrow spaces and situations that approximate rock scrambles, so be sure to know your limits and how far you plan to go. Most sites are open to RVs or tents. Despite their nomadic tendencies, by the mid-800s AD they were in the midst of constructing large-scale architectural projects that relied on advanced masonry techniques and resulted in enormous, primarily residential buildings to house the Chacoan people. Wearing good, solid hiking boots or shoes is key; we attempted a few of the trails and found they benefit from some preparation and smart footwear choices to ensure you keep your balance. Because the drive from Santa Fe to teh canyon is about 4 hours, we would like to find a place to sleep as close to teh park as possible. The regular sites are most appropriate for tent camping, and most of them have a tent pad. This route is clearly signed from US 550 to the park boundary . Outside the structure, explore the maze of kivas, proving the ceremonial importance of the site. Luxury log cabins near Chaco Culture National Historical Park are the ideal getaway. You can try broadening your search by changing some of the filters or move and zoom-out into the map to show more results. It has 49 regular campsites and 2 group sites that can accommodate between 10 and 30 people. Just behind Kin Kletso is the start of the Pueblo Bonito Lookout trail. Once you see Pueblo Bonito, you might be ready to leave, thinking that nothing can top the experience. The only structure standing in this area is a long wall the trail follows.