Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Chaco Culture National Historical Park preserves one of America's richest and most facinating cultural and historic areas.

Chaco Canyon was a major center of ancestral Puebloan culture between A.D. 850 and 1250. It was a hub of ceremony, trade, and government for the prehistoric Four Corners area - and a phenomenon unlike anything before or since.

Chaco is remarkable for its monumental and ceremonial buildings, and its distinctive architecture. To construct the buildings, along with the associated Chacoan roads, ramps, dams, and mounds, required a great deal of well organized and skillful planning, designing, resource gathering, and construction. The Chacoan people combined pre-planned architectural designs, astronomical alignments, geometry, landscaping, and engineering to create an ancient urban center of spectacular public architecture - one that still amazes and inspires us a thousand years later.

The Chacoan cultural sites are fragile and irreplaceable and represent a significant part of America's cultural heritage. The sites are part of the sacred homeland of Pueblo Indian peoples of New Mexico, the Hopi Indians of Arizona, and the Navajo Indians of the Southwest, all of whom continue to respect and honor them.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a very special place. Remote and isolated, it offers few amenities, so come prepared. You will find that the rewards are unlimited.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park
PO Box 220
Nageezi, NM 87037-0220
505-786-7014 - Headquarters

By Car
Chaco Canyon is located in northwestern New Mexico. The preferred and recommended access route to the park is from the north via Hwy 44/550.

From the north, turn off Hwy 44/550 at County Road 7900--three miles southeast of Nageezi and approximately 50 miles west of Cuba (at mile 112.5). This route is clearly signed from Hwy 44/550 to the park boundary (21 miles). The route includes five miles of paved road (CR 7900) and 16 miles of dirt (CR 7950/7985).

Two roads access Chaco from the south. These roads can vary in condition from very rough to impassable. If you are traveling from the south, please call ahead for the latest conditions.

Both roads access the park from Highway 9, which runs between Crownpoint, Pueblo Pintado, and Cuba. Signs direct travelers to the park via Pueblo Pintado. At the community of Pueblo Pintado, turn north on Navajo 46 for 10 miles (rough dirt). Yurn left on County Road 7900 for 7 miles (rough dirt). Turn left on County Road 7950, and follow the signs for 16 miles (dirt) tot he park entrance.

Anoth access road (Highway 57) turns north from Highway 9 at the abandoned Seven Lakes Trading Post (21 miles of rough dirt).

Both the northern and southern routes include 16, 21, and 33 of dirt roads. Sections of these roads can become extremely rough or impassable during inclement weather. Call the park (505-786-7014) for current road conditions.

By Plane
There is no public transportation to the park.

The weather in Chaco Canyon is inconsistent and unpredictable. Temperatures can fluctuate over 60 degrees during a twenty-four hour period.

Summer highs are typically in the 80's. Summer thunderstorms can produce heavy localized downpours and sudden dramatic drops in temperatures. Hypothermia, lightning, and flash floods are real concerns.

When you hike 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. Take your time adjusting to the altitude and don't overdo.

If you plan to camp in the winter, prepare for nighttime temperatures to drop into the teens or lower.

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Biking
• Camping
• Educational Programs
• Hiking
• Nature Walks

Recommended Activities
Your first stop should be the Visitor Center, which includes a museum, information desk, book store, and gift shop. From there, the paved loop road accesses five self-guiding trails through the major Chacoan sites. Walking time for each is about an hour.

Sites and trails are open from sunrise to sunset. The Wijiji and Kin Klizhin trails may be used for Biking