Chaco Culture NHP
The Chacoan culture began to flourish in the canyon in the mid-800s with continual habitation and building lasting for another 300 years. The Ancient Puebloan people (Anasazi) constructed massive stone buildings, called great houses, of multiple stories that are much larger than what had previously been built. Construction on some of these buildings spanned decades and even centuries. These structures were often aligned to solar, lunar, and cardinal directions and placed within a landscape surrounded by sacred mountains, mesas, and shrines. The buildings in the canyon are believed to be “public architecture” that were used periodically be the people for times of ceremony and commerce when temporary populations arrived in the canyon.
By 1050, Chaco had become the political, economic, and ceremonial center for the Chacoan culture. Roads connected the canyon to over a 150 other great houses, including Aztec Ruins and Salmon Ruins to the north. Chaco became the trade center for turquoise, parrots, macaws, copper bells, and other precious commodities.
By the mid-1100s the canyon began to decline as the regional center as new building ceased and influence moved to Aztec Ruins and other great houses. In time, the people moved away from the area and culture to reinvent themselves. Today the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico claim to be the descendants of the Ancient Puebloans.
What to do?
Hike
Bike
Guided tours
Self-guided tours
Camp
Night Sky programs
Photography
Journey Into the Past Tours
Find more info, photos, and videos of Chaco Culture National Historic Park by visiting the Farmington Convention & Visitors Bureau website.
Photos and videos © Aztec Media Corp.

Park Admin

Visitors Center & Museum
The Visitors Center and Museum has recently been remodeled. The Museum features many artifacts found at Chaco and interpretive displays. The Visitor Center has maps of each site and info on backcountry hiking. All fees for park entrance and camping must be paid here.
Find more info, photos, and videos of Chaco Culture National Historic Park by visiting the Farmington Convention & Visitors Bureau website.

Night Sky Program
Since 1991, Chaco Culture NHP has offered astronomy in its public interpretive programs. Programs emphasize the practices of the Chacoan people a thousand years ago, as well as modern approaches to viewing the same night sky they viewed--in a remote environment with clear, dark skies, and free from urban light pollution. The presentaions are given Friday and Saturday nights April through October.
Find more info, photos, and videos of Chaco Culture National Historic Park by visiting the Farmington Convention & Visitors Bureau website.

Canyon Loop Drive
The Canyon Loop Drive is a 9-mile paved, mostly one-way road that accesses the Visitors Center, campground, the Chaco Great Houses, and trails found throughout the central park area.

Gallo Campground
Gallo Campground, located one mile east of the Visitor Center, is open year-round and is tucked amongst the fallen boulders and cliffs of Gallo Wash. Petroglyphs, a cliff dwelling, inscriptions, and a high desert landscape surround the campground.
The campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to 7 days. Find your spot and than go to the Visitors Center to pay the camping fee. Each campsite costs $10.00 per night. Interagency Senior pass holders pay $5.00 per site, per night.
Things to Know
There is a limit of six people, two tents, and two vehicles at each campsite.
Each site has a picnic table and fire grate (with a grill).
Bring your own firewood or charcoal. Gathering wood is prohibited and no firewood is available in the park.
Trailers and RVs over 35 feet in length cannot be accommodated.
A dump station is located in the campground.
Most sites include a tent pad.
Pets are permitted, but must be kept on a leash at all times.
Do not approach or feed the wildlife.
The campground has water (non-potable) and restrooms with flush toilets.
Site #16 and both restrooms are handicap accessible.
There are no showers or hook-ups.
Drinking water is available 24 hours a day in the Visitor Center parking area, where telephones are located as well.
There is no gasoline, auto repair, food, or ice available in the park.

Campground Road

Fajada Butte
Fajada Butte (Banded Butte) rises 422ft above the canyon floor in the southeast section of the park and is home to the Sun Dagger site. The Sun Dagger site marks the summer and winter solstices and the equinoxes. There are also remnants of a large ramp on the southwestern face of the butte that allowed the Chacoan people to reach the top of the butte. There are also several ruins on the cliff edges. The Butte is not accessible do to the fragile nature of the Sun Dagger site and the ruins.
Photos and videos © Aztec Media Corp.

Una Vida

Una Vida
Una Vida today is in a near-natural state of preservation with only minor excavations and preservation repairs. Construction was begun about 850 on a small natural rise and was built upon and added to for the next 250 years. There is also a petroglyph panel on the canyon wall behind the ruin. Because the ruin has not been excavated, not much is known about the ruin.
The trail through the ruin is rocky and steep and is 1 mile round trip. It takes about 45 minutes to complete. The trial is accessed from the northwest corner of the visitor center parking lot.

Una Vida Trail
The marked trail is approximate and may not be exact.

Photos

Una Vida from trail
Photos © Aztec Media Corp.

Elevated Kivas
Photos © Aztec Media Corp.

Una Vida Overlook
Photos © Aztec Media Corp.

Room

Petroglyph Panel 1

Petroglyph Panel 2

Hungo Pavi

Hungo Pavi
Hungo Pavi is an unexcavated great house that was started in the 1000s. Construction was continued in stages for the next 150 years. It as over 150 rooms, a great kiva, and a plaza.
The ruin is 2 miles from the visitor center on the Canyon Loop Drive. The trail through the ruin is graveled and climbs several short, steep rises and is 0.25 mile round trip. It takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Hungo Pavi Trail
The marked trail is approximate and may not be exact.

Hungo Pavi from trail

Back Room Block

Rooms

Back Wall

Chetro Ketl

Chetro Ketl
Chetro Ketl began as a small block of rooms around 1010 and eventually grew to cover almost 3 acres that consists of an estimated 500 rooms and that reached three stories high. Like most great houses, it contains a great kiva and several other smaller kivas. A unique feature of this ruin is its elevated kivas. The kivas were built above ground and were believed to be used for the same purpose as other kivas.
The ruin is 4.5 miles from the visitor center on the Canyon Loop Drive and shares a parking area with Pueblo Bonito. The trail through the ruin is graveled and climbs several short, steep rises and is 0.5 mile round trip. It takes about 45 to 60 minutes to complete.
You may also walk the trail along the canyon wall between Pueblo Bonito and Chetro Ketl to see various examples of petroglyphs.
Photos and videos © Aztec Media Corp.

Chetro Ketl Trail
The marked trail is approximate and may not be exact.

Elevated Kiva
Photo © Aztec Media Corp.

Great Kiva
Photo © Aztec Media Corp.

Kivas
Photo © Aztec Media Corp.

Room Block

Petroglyphs

Talus Unit

Pueblo Bonito

Pueblo Bonito
Pueblo Bonito is the most thoroughly investigated ruin in the park. It was planned and constructed in stages from 850 to 1150 and was the center of the Chacoan world. Pueblo Bonito typifies the great house architecture because of its planned layout, multi-storied rooms, plazas, and great kivas. The ruin consists of more than 600 rooms that towered four to five stories above the canyon floor and covers roughly 3 acres.
The ruin is 4.5 miles from the visitor center on the Canyon Loop Drive and shares a parking area with Chetro Ketl. The trail through the ruin is graveled and climbs several short, steep rises and is 0.6 mile round trip. It takes about 45 to 60 minutes to complete. Guided tours are also available daily. Ask about the tour at the visitor center.
You may also walk the trail along the canyon wall between Pueblo Bonito and Chetro Ketl to see various examples of petroglyphs.

Pueblo Bonito Trial

Photos and Videos

Back Rooms

Pueblo Bonito Overlook

Plaza View Looking West

West Plaza Great Kiva

West Room Block

Plaza View Looking East

Constructions Styles
To view the full video or to find more info, photos, and videos of Chaco Canyon, please visit the Farmington Convention & Visitors Bureau website.

Chaco Descendants
To view the full video or to find more info, photos, and videos of Chaco Canyon, please visit the Farmington Convention & Visitors Bureau website.

The Population in Chaco Canyon
To view the full video or to find more info, photos, and videos of Chaco Canyon, please visit the Farmington Convention & Visitors Bureau website.

The Spirits of Chaco

Pueblo del Arroyo

Pueblo del Arroyo
Pueblo del Arroyo was constructed in stages from about 1025 to 1125. It is different from a typical great house in that there is not a great kiva and there are no earthen mounds. It also lacks a south-facing plaza.
The ruin is 5.5 miles from the visitor center on the Canyon Loop Drive. The trail through the ruin is graveled and climbs several short, steep rises and is ¼ mile round trip. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete.

Pueblo del Arroyo Trail

Tri-Walled Kiva

South Wall

Richard Wetherill Cemetery

Richard Wetherill Cemetery
Richard Wetherill came to Chaco Canyon in 1896 after excavating at Mesa Verde to start work on Pueblo Bonito. George H. Pepper led the excavation from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The main focus of the excavations was to collect artifacts for the museum. In 1901, Wetherill filed for a homestead deed on land that included Pueblo Bonito, Pueblo del Arroyo, and Chetro Ketl. Wetherill stayed at Chaco excavating other sites and operating a trading post until 1910 when a Navajo Indian murdered him. He is buried in this small cemetery next to Pueblo Bonito.

Richard Wetherill Cemetery Trail

Kin Kletso & Casa Chiquita

Kin Kletso & Casa Chiquita Trailhead
Distance – Kin Kletso round trip - .5 mi (30 mins – 1 hr)
Distance – Casa Chiquita round trip – 2 mi (1 – 1.5 hrs)
Trailhead – Pueblo del Arroyo parking area
Elevation Gain – Insignificant
This trail leads to Kin Klesto, Casa Chiquita, and Peñasco Blanco. The trail is the old entrance road into the park and is a graveled road. Hiking or biking is permeted on this trail. Allow extra time to explore the sites.
A hiking permit is required for this trail. The permit is free and is available at the trailhead and at the Visitor Center. The trail is open from sunrise to sunset. Pets are permitted on leashes. Carry water, snacks, and sun protection.

Kin Kletso & Casa Chiquita Trail

Kin Kletso
Kin Kletso was built in two phases between 1125 and 1130 and contains over 55 rooms, four kivas, and a tower kiva. The rooms reached three stores high. The great house is rectangular in shape and more compact than the early great houses with no great kiva or plaza. Evidence has been found that people migrating into the canyon from the northern San Juan Basin area built this building.
The trail to Kin Kletso is accessed at the Pueblo del Arroyo parking area, 5.5 miles from the visitor center on the Canyon Loop Drive. The ruin is .25 miles from the trailhead. Continuing on the trail will take you to Casa Chiquita and Penasco Blanco.

Casa Chiquita
Casa Chiquita was completed in the 1060s in one phase of construction. The site was built into and on top of a natural hillside. It features a square block of rooms that surrounds an elevated kiva.
The trail to Casa Chiquita is accessed at the Pueblo del Arroyo parking area, 5.5 miles from the visitor center on the Canyon Loop Drive. The ruin is 2 miles round trip from the trailhead. Continuing on the trail will take you to Penasco Blanco.

Pueblo Alto Complex

Pueblo Alto Complex Trail
Distance - Entire loop trail – 5.4 mi roundtrip (3-4 hours)
Pueblo Alto - 3.2 mi roundtrip (2 hours)
Pueblo Bonito Overlook – 2.0 mi roundtrip (1 hr)
Trailhead - Pueblo del Arroyo parking area
Elevation Gain - 250 feet
This trail provides spectacular overlook views of Pueblo Bonito, Chetro Ketl, and Kin Kletso, enters Pueblo Alto and New Alto, passes by Chacoan stairways, ramps, and roads, and affords panoramic views of the San Juan Basin. Add time to explore the sites.
A hiking permit is required for this trail. The permit is free and is available at the trailhead and at the Visitor Center. The trail is open from sunrise to sunset. Pets are permitted on leashes. Carry water, snacks, and sun protection.

Pueblo Alto Complex Trail

New Pueblo Alto
There are two separate great houses that make up the Pueblo Alto Complex. The largest, Old Pueblo Alto, was constructed from 1020 to 1050 and has about 89 rooms in a single-story layout. The other great house is New Pueblo Alto. New Pueblo Alto was constructed in the 1080s in a more compact style then the older great houses. It is believed that immigrants from the northern San Juan Basin built this building.
The Pueblo Alto Complex is accessed from the Pueblo Alto backcountry trail. The trail starts at Kin Kletso, which is accessed from the Pueblo del Arroyo parking area. Along the trail are several overlooks of the Wetherill Cemetery, Pueblo del Arroyo, and Pueblo Bonito. The trail to the complex is 3.2 miles round trip and will take 2-3 hours to complete. The entire loop is 5.4 miles and will take 3-4 hours to complete.

Old Pueblo Alto
There are two separate great houses that make up the Pueblo Alto Complex. The largest, Old Pueblo Alto, was constructed from 1020 to 1050 and has about 89 rooms in a single-story layout. The other great house is New Pueblo Alto. New Pueblo Alto was constructed in the 1080s in a more compact style then the older great houses. It is believed that immigrants from the northern San Juan Basin built this building.
The Pueblo Alto Complex is accessed from the Pueblo Alto backcountry trail. The trail starts at Kin Kletso, which is accessed from the Pueblo del Arroyo parking area. Along the trail are several overlooks of the Wetherill Cemetery, Pueblo del Arroyo, and Pueblo Bonito. The trail to the complex is 3.2 miles round trip and will take 2-3 hours to complete. The entire loop is 5.4 miles and will take 3-4 hours to complete.

Jackson Stairs

Penasco Blanco

Penasco Blanco Trailhead
Distance - Peñasco Blanco roundtrip 7.4 mi (5-7 hrs)
Petroglyph Trail only roundtrip 3.5 mi (2 hours)
Supernova Pictograph roundtrip 5.8 mi (4-6 hours)
Trailhead - Pueblo del Arroyo parking area
Elevation Gain - 200 feet
The longest trail - relatively level - includes the Petroglyph Trail to view numerous Pueblo and Navajo petroglyphs and historic inscriptions. The trail continues to Peñasco Blanco, an unexcavated great house with a unique oval design and a spectacular natural setting. Hot summer sun and soft sand can make this a long and difficult hike. Carry plenty of water, snacks, and sun protection. Add extra time to explore the sites.
A hiking permit is required for this trail. The permit is free and is available at the trailhead and at the Visitor Center. The trail is open from sunrise to sunset. Pets are permitted on leashes. Carry water, snacks, and sun protection.

Penasco Blanco
Penasco Blanco is a large, oval-shaped great house that was started in 900 and completed about 1095. It contains over 200 rooms reaching as high as three or four stories. There is an enclosed plaza that contains kivas and two great kivas. There are also two great kivas found outside the main building.
The trail to Penasco Blanco starts at the parking area near Pueblo del Arroyo and is 7.2 miles round trip. Be sure to stop at Kin Kletso and Casa Chiquita along the way. There is also a short trail of petroglyphs along the way.

Penasco Blanco Trail

Casa Rinconada

Casa Rinconada
Casa Rinconada is a complex of small villages and a great kiva that stands on a small hilltop separate from any other buildings. It is believed to be a ceremonial and civic center for the nearby smaller villages. The villages along the trail are more modest then the great houses across the wash, but were built and occupied during the same period. One theory is that the people living in these small villages were the caretakers of the great houses when they were not in use.
The ruin is 6 miles from the visitor center on the Canyon Loop Drive. The trail through the ruin is graveled and climbs several short, steep rises and is 1/2 mile round trip. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. Guided tours are also available daily. Ask about the tour at the visitor center.
The South Mesa Trailhead can be found at Stop 10 along the trail. The trail takes you to Tsin Kletzin, proceeds through the South Gap, and arrives back in this area near Stop 11.

Casa Rinconada Trail

Photos and Video

West Edge

North Door

Village

Kiva Meaning

Solar Alignments
To view the full video or to find more info, photos, and videos of the Chaco Canyon, please visit the Farmington Convention & Visitors Bureau website.

Why the Chocoans Left

The Early Explorers

Petroglyph 1 Trailhead

Petroglyph 1 Trail

Petroglyph 2 Trailhead

Petroglyph 2 Trail

Supernova Pictograph
This pictorgaph panel is believed to depict the supernova that occurred in 1054, now the Crab Nebula. The Chinese and Japanese have also recorded this event that was six times brighter then Venus and could be seen at noon in the sky. Three concentric circles with flames coming out one side below the supernova is believed to be a depiction of Halley's Comet.

Supernova Pictograph Trail

Supernova Pictorgraph Trailhead

Wijiji

Wijiji Trailhead
Distance - Wijiji roundtrip from parking area - 3.0 mi (2 hrs)
Wijiji roundtrip from campground - 3.2 mile (2 hrs)
Trailheads – Wijiji parking area and campground
Elevation Gain - Insignificant
This trail leads to Wijiji, a later-period Chacoan great house built around AD 1100. Wijiji differs from sites like Pueblo Bonito and Chetro Ketl in that it appears to have been built at once rather than several building periods; with exceptional symmetry and the uniform masonry. Wijiji lacks typical Chacoan features such as enclosed plazas and great kivas. Add time to explore the site and visit a short (0.2 mile roundtrip) petroglyph spur trail.

Wijiji Trail

Wijiji
Wijiji is a later-period great house built around 1100. It differs from other great houses in that it was built all at once, not in stages. It also differs in that there is not a great kiva or an enclosed plaza.
Wijiji is accessed by the Wijiji Trail across from the campground. The trail is 3 miles round trip and will take 2-3 hours to complete. The trail can be hiked or biked.

Tsin Kletsin & South Mesa Trail

Tsin Kletsin
Tsin Kletzin has over 70 rooms that may have reached as high as three stories and was constructed in the early 1100s. There are also several kivas, one of which may have been two stories tall. Tsin Kletzin is aligned with Pueblo Bonito on a north-south axis with Penasco Blanco and Casa Chiquita viewable to the northwest, and Kin Kletso and the Pueblo Alto complex viewable to the north.
Use the South Mesa Trail to access Tsin Kletzin. The trailhead is at Stop 10 on the Casa Rinconada self-guided tour. The trail is well marked and is steep is some places. It is 3 miles to Tsin Kletzin and another mile back to Casa Rinconada through the South Gap. Depending on your hiking abilities, it will take 2-4 hours to complete the full loop.

South Mesa Trail Trailhead
Distance - Entire loop trail - 4.1 mi roundtrip (3-4 hrs)
Tsin Kletzin - 3.0 mi roundtrip (2-3 hrs)
Trailhead - Casa Rinconada Trail, Stop 10
Elevation Gain - 450 feet
This trail leaves from Stop 10 on the Casa Rinconada trail, climbs to a high point on South Mesa, and leads to the great house Tsin Kletzin. Spectacular views of the surrounding landscape are visible at the site. The loop trail descends into South Gap, follows the Chacoan South Roads, and re-enters the canyon near Casa Rinconada. Add extra time to explore the site and enjoy the vistas.

South Mesa Trail

South Gap

Main Park Boundary

Access Roads

US Hwy 550
US Hwy 550 is a four-lane highway to Farmington and the Four Corners area from Albuquerque, NM.

County Road 7900
County Road 7900 is a narrow two-lane road that is paved for 8 miles and the main entrance into the park. The turn off is at mile marker 112.5 on US Hwy 550 3 miles southeast of Nageezi and 50 miles west of Cuba. Turn right (southwest) on County Road 7950 where the pavement ends to continue to the central park area.
Continue south on County Road 7900 to reach Pueblo Pintado and Navajo Route 9. Use caution in wet weather on the dirt section, as the road may become impassable for small vehicles and RVs in some areas.

Counthy Road 7950
County Road 7950 is a two-lane, 13-mile long paved and dirt road to Chaco Canyon’s main entrance off County Road 7900. Use caution in wet weather, as the road may become impassable for small vehicles and RVs in some areas.

NM 57
NM Hwy 57 is a 20-mile long dirt road that reaches Chaco Canyon from the south via Navajo Route 9. The turn off on Navajo Route 9 is 13 miles east of NM Hwy 371, at the former Seven Lakes Trading post. Use caution in wet weather, as the road may become impassable for small vehicles and RVs in some areas.

NM Hwy 371
NM Hwy 371, also called the Vietnam Veterans Highway, is a two lane, paved road that provides access to Kin Klizhin, Kin Bineola, and Kin Ya'a. The highway intersects with Navajo Route 9 north of Crownpoint, NM and connects Farmington to I-40 at Thoreau, NM.

Navajo Route 9
Navajo Route 9 is a two lane, paved road that travels east to west. This road accesses NM 57 and Pueblo Pintado. Navajo Route 9 intersects with NM Hwy 371 north of Crownpoint, NM and reaches US Hwy 550 at Cuba via NM Hwy 197.

Navajo Route 46
Navajo Route 46 is a two lane, well maintained dirt road that connects Pueblo Pintado Chapter House to the town of Counselor, NM. This road is the southern access for County Road 7900. Use caution in wet weather, as the road may become impassable for small vehicles and RVs in some areas.

County Road 7059
County Road 7059 is a two lane, well maintained dirt road that is used to access Tsin Kletsin, Kin Bineola, and the Lake Valley Chapter House. Both ends of the road intersect with NM 371. Use caution in wet weather, as the road may become impassable for small vehicles and RVs in some areas.

Outliers

Pueblo Pintado

Pueblo Pintado
Pueblo Pintado was built from 1060-1061 and contains over 135 rooms, 14 to 20 kivas, a great kiva, and a plaza. Some of the rooms reached up to 3 stories high. The great kiva is about 100 feet southeast of the main building, outside of the plaza area and has an estimated diameter of 58 feet.
Pueblo Pintado can be accessed from US Hwy 550 via County Road 7900 to Navajo Route 46 and than west on Navajo Route 9. The turn is immediately west of the Pueblo Pintado Chapter House. From there the road is a 4 wheel drive only road and will become impassable in wet weather.

Pueblo Pintado Access

Pueblo Pintado Outlier Boundary

Kin Klizhin

Kin Klizhin
Kin Klizhin is a small great house located about 7 miles southwest of Chaco Canyon in the Kin Klizhin Wash that was built about 1087. The buildings contain about 14 rooms with 2 enclosed surface kivas and a plaza. A unique feature of the ruin is the tower kiva. It is a 3 or 4 story kiva that may have had a very special ceremonial function. A Chaocan Road connected the great house to Chaco Canyon.
The road to access Kin Klizhin is a 4 wheel drive only road and will become impassable in wet weather. The road is 8.5 miles long from NM Hwy 57 and 5.3 miles long from County Road 7059.

Kin Klizhin Access From Chaco

Kin Klizhin Access From NM 371

4 Wheel Drive Road

Kin Bineola

Kin Bineola
The first stage of building at Kin Bineola was 942-943 with the second stage of building accruing in 1111-1120. This great house is unique in that it is shaped like an “E”. The building contains over 197 rooms with 3 “hallways”, 10 kivas, a great kiva and two plazas. Some of the rooms reached up tot 3 stories. Two of the kivas are elevated above the plaza and the surrounding rooms. The entire building covers over 10,000 square feet.
The road to access Kin Klizhin is a 4 wheel drive only road and will become impassable in wet weather. The road is about 0.6 miles long from County Road 7059 via NM Hwy 371. You must hike about 0.3 miles one way to reach the ruin.

Kin Bineola Trail

Kin Bineola Access

Kin Bineola Outlier Boundary

Kin Ya'a

Kin Ya'a
Kin Ya’a is a small great house that was built between 1101 and 1106. It has about 35 existing rooms, 3 kivas, a tower kiva, and a small plaza. There is evidence that the building had up to 4 stories of rooms around the tower kiva.
The road to access Kin Klizhin is a 4 wheel drive only road and will become impassable in wet weather. The road is about 1 mile long from NM Hwy 371 just south of Crownpoint, NM. The turn is immediately south of the Ikard-Newson Propane yard.

Kin Ya'a Access

Kin Ya'a Outlier Boundary

Lake Valley Chapter House

Pueblo Pintado Chapter House

Becenti Chapter House

Whitehorse Lake Chapter House

Seven Lakes Trading Post