Chaco Culture refers to the ancient civilization of the Ancestral Puebloans who inhabited the region now known as Chaco Culture National Historical Park, located in northwestern New Mexico. This culture flourished between approximately 900 and 1150 AD and with some of the structures still standing, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Below is everything you need to know to make your visit with kids a great experience!
Getting to Chaco Culture National Historic Park
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Reaching Chaco Culture, some might say, is part of the adventure. You’re GPS is not lying to you on the amount of time it is going to take to get there, and it might take even longer. The park is tucked away in the remote deserts of New Mexico and a long stretch of unpaved roads awaits!
We drove in from the Farmington direction which included taking US-550 South toward Nageezi and then turning onto County Road 7900 (Chaco Canyon Road) for 21 miles. The first 8 miles on that road were paved, and the last 13 miles were unpaved! The final 4 miles before entering the park boundary were extremely rough and we were never able to go more than 5-10mph.
If you are driving from Albuquerque you will want to take US-550 North to approach the park the same way.
Additional details from the park website on the south entrance:
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. These routes are not recommended for RVs. If you are traveling from the south, please call ahead for the latest conditions.
Via Highway 57 (Hwy 14 on some maps): This turnoff is located on Highway 9, 13 miles (21 km) east of Highway 371, at the former Seven Lakes Trading Post. This route is 21 miles (34 km) of dirt road. Note that the signs directing you to turn off of Highway 371 onto Highway 9 are missing.
Via Pueblo Pintado: At the community of Pueblo Pintado, turn north on Navajo 46 for 10 miles (16 km) on a rough dirt road. Turn left on County Road 7900 for 7 miles (11 km) on a road with some rough dirt. Turn left on County Road 7950, and follow the signs 16 miles (26 km) to the park entrance. This will include 3 miles (5 km) of paved and 13 miles (21 km) of rough dirt road.
Our minivan did just fine on the road, but it felt like we were crawling at times (and also shaking like crazy). Have patience and give yourself plenty of time to navigate the roads and you’ll be there…eventually.
Historical Significance
Chaco Culture National Historical Park preserves one of the most significant pre-Columbian cultural and historical areas in the United States. The park contains the remains of monumental public and ceremonial buildings, some dating back over a thousand years. The Chacoans developed complex architectural styles, advanced road systems, and significant astronomical alignments, demonstrating their sophisticated understanding of engineering and astronomy.
Exploring The Ruins
Arriving at Chaco Culture, we were immediately struck by the sheer scale and sophistication of the ancient ruins. Here are some of the highlights:
Hungo Pavi: Hungo Pavi is an unexcavated Chacoan great house containing over 150 rooms, a great kiva, and an enclosed plaza. We did the quick loop on this trail but then quickly made our way to the “main event”, Pueblo Bonito.
Pueblo Bonito: The largest and most famous of the Chacoan great houses, Pueblo Bonito was a multi-storied structure with over 600 rooms and 40 kivas (ceremonial chambers). We spent a good amount of time here, walking through this enormous structure. The girls loved exploring the maze-like corridors and peeking into the different rooms.
Chetro Ketl: This great house is the second-largest in Chaco Canyon, featuring impressive masonry and a unique D-shaped layout. It includes a large kiva and an extensive plaza area. It can be accessed from the same trailhead as Pueblo Bonito, but once you see Pueblo Bonito, the others just don’t seem quite as exciting!
Kin Kletso: Located past the end of the north loop (small hike) Kin Kletso is a smaller but well-preserved great house. It offers a closer look at the Chacoan building techniques and the community layout.
Hiking Trails
Chaco Culture National Historical Park offers several hiking trails that allow you to explore the canyon’s unique landscape and numerous archaeological sites. We opted against any of the hikes as many of the sites are easily accessible from the parking lot, but there is more to see in the park if you are willing to do the extra walking.
Here are a few family-friendly trails that were recommended to us at the visitor center:
Pueblo Alto Trail: This 5.4-mile loop trail provides stunning views of the canyon and access to several ancient sites, including Pueblo Alto and New Alto. The trail also offers a bird’s-eye view of Pueblo Bonito.
South Mesa Trail: A 4.1-mile loop trail that takes you to Tsin Kletzin, another Chacoan great house. The trail offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
Wijiji Trail: A 3-mile round-trip hike that leads to the ruins of Wijiji, a smaller and less-visited Chacoan great house. The trail is relatively easy and provides a more secluded experience.
Final Note:
The drive back was better than the drive there – largely because we knew what to expect. The last few miles getting in and the first few out really are bad, so be prepared. We did see some mule deer in the canyon between the north and south loop as we were leaving, which brightened everyone’s spirits for the drive out; keep an eye out for them!
And if you do head out toward the north, consider a stop in Farmington at Aztec Ruins National Monument where you can find similar ruins and learn even more about the people and culture of the Chaco Canyon (the ruins aren’t actually from the Aztecs!)
Can you spot him above???
