The 4 1/2 miles before entering the park are
very rough
. From the south, two routes access Chaco from Highway 9, which runs between Crownpoint, Pueblo Pintado, and Cuba. Both routes can vary from very rough to impassable. Not recommended for RVs.
Is there a paved road to Chaco Canyon?
A 9-mile long paved loop drive
provides driving access to five Chacoan sites in the heart of Chaco Canyon, including Pueblo Bonito, Chetro Ketl, and Casa Rinconada. Parking areas for vehicles and bicycles are located at each site, and trail guides are available.
How many days do you need in Chaco Canyon?
To get a good feel for Chaco takes about
3 days 2 nights
. We usually get their early on the first day and tour the loop buildings all day, go back to the campground and build a nice relaxing fire to sit near and wait for the chile con carne to warm up.
Is Chaco Canyon open during Covid?
All trails are self-guided. All backcounty trails require a backcountry permit, which can be found at the entrance of each trailhead.
The visitor center exhibits along with the park film and museum are also now fully open
.
Is Chaco Canyon worth visiting?
Chaco Canyon
definitely is one of the best places to visit
but it takes a lot of time. 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.
What is the best time to visit Chaco Canyon?
September and October
are two of the best months to visit the canyon, with warm days and cool nights. During winter months, Pacific and Arctic airstreams dominate Chaco’s weather. These systems bring cool temperatures and occasional snow storms.
What town is closest to Chaco Canyon?
Bloomfield, Aztec and Farmington, New Mexico
, are the closest towns to Chaco Canyon National Historical Park’s main north road. Each is about an hour and a half from the park’s entrance.
Can you hike in Chaco Canyon?
There are four backcountry hiking trails in Chaco Culture National Historical Park: Wijiji Trail, South Mesa Trail, Pueblo Alto Trail, and Peñasco Blanco Trail
. These trails range from three miles round trip (Wijiji) to eight miles round trip (Peñasco Blanco).
What is the road like to Chaco Canyon?
The road getting to Chaco Canyon is
rough, but well worth it
, although I’d avoid it after any sort of significant rain. The road becomes 23 miles of very slippery mud. There are all sorts of trails once you get into the Chaco Canyon site. The one I highly suggest is the one that takes you up the side of the cliff.
Why is Chaco Canyon important?
Chaco Canyon
served as a major center of ancestral Puebloan culture
. Remarkable for its monu mental buildings, distinctive architecture, astronomy, artistic achievements, it served as a hub of ceremony, trade, and administration for the Four Corners Area unlike anything before or since.
Do you need reservations for Chaco Canyon?
The campsites are available by reservation
. Camping is limited to 14 days. Each campsite costs $20.00 per night.
Are there guided tours in Chaco Canyon?
Tours guided by National Park Service rangers are available from April through October
. The main tour takes visitors to Pueblo Bonita. Not only is this considered the most significant location in Chaco Canyon; it is also one of the largest pueblo structures.
Is Chaco Canyon open for visitors?
Hiking trails and archaeological sites are open daily from 7:00am to 9:00pm
, with the entry gate to loop road closing 30 minutes prior to closing, which is at 8:30 pm. The park and campground are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Are dogs allowed in Chaco Canyon?
Dogs are allowed for no additional fee
. Dogs are not allowed inside sites, ruins, or park buildings. Dogs are also not allowed on the short (200 yard) trails to some of the more famous ruins and would have to stay in the parking lot area. They are allowed on leash on the backcountry trails which are 3 to 7 miles long.
Who owns Chaco Canyon?
The National Park Service’s general policies in these areas supplement the site-specific plans. The five Chaco Culture Archaeological Protection Sites are owned and managed for conservation by
the Bureau of Land Management
, a sister agency in the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What has been found at Chaco Canyon?
In 1896 archaeologists excavating Pueblo Bonito, a 650-room, multistory brick edifice in northwestern New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon, found
the remains of 14 people
in a burial crypt. Necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry made up of thousands of turquoise and shell beads accompanied the bones.
Can you visit Pueblo Bonito?
Located 4 1/2 miles from the Visitor Center on the 9-mile Canyon Loop Drive
. This is the most important site in the canyon and a must for all visitors. The trail through Pueblo Bonito is 0.6 mile, roundtrip.
What do you wear to Chaco Canyon?
When hiking the canyon, be prepared for heat, rain, wind, and unexpected changes in temperature.
Carry a rain poncho and a jacket or sweater
. Wear hiking boots and a wide-brimmed hat, and use sunscreen. Carry and drink extra water.
Did people live at Chaco Canyon?
Their kivas were roofed with enormous pine timbers that laborers carried more than 60 miles from the Zuni mountains. Meanwhile,
ordinary people in Chaco Canyon led relatively humble lives, with few possessions
. The distance between their experiences and those of people in the great houses grew over time.
Where do you stay when visiting Chaco Canyon?
- Camping is the only lodging available in the park itself.
- Bloomfield (61 miles, an hour and a half)
- Aztec (69 miles, an hour and a half)
- Farmington (74 miles, an hour and a half)
- Albuquerque (151 miles via Highway 550, 3 hours)
- Santa Fe (178 miles via Highway 550, 3 hours)
- Gallup (94 miles, 2 and a half hours)
