It's about 3 hours (161 miles) northwest of Albuquerque, or 90 minutes (75 miles) southeast from Farmington. Car camping is allowed. There is one campsite, and reservations are recommended. The best part is the path winds through the site and offers various vantage points. Note: Some of the camping sites are closed because of the danger of rockfalls. The following are the Chaco Culture National Historical Park highlights. Turn left on County Road 7900 for 7 miles (some rough dirt). Please ride single file. Via Pueblo Pintado: At the community of Pueblo Pintado, turn north on Navajo 46 for 10 miles (rough dirt). There are two backcountry options: biking to Wijiji Trail or Casa Chiquita . Definitely not a good idea to take my Audi on that drive - it may have four wheel drive, but is not high enough to be good for the roads you see here . The main entrance into the park is from US Highway 550. Best Camping in and Near Chaco Culture National Historic Park Besides watching the sky on your own, the park features a small observatory near the visitor center. Via Hwy 57(Hwy 14 on some maps): This turnoff is located on Highway 9, 13 miles east of Highway 371, at the former Seven Lakes Trading Post. Cuba (69 miles, an hour and a half) Glancing behind us through the mirror on the passengers side of the car, I watched as a plume of dust rose into the air, enshrouding the rear of the vehicle in a veil of tan and brown. RVs up to 35 feet can fit in the campground, but theres no water at the sites, no power, and no sewer, although there is a dump station in the campground. 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! Customized day or overnight trips are available on other dates. At about 10 miles on Road 7900/7950 you hit the end of pavement. Bloomfield, Aztec and Farmington, New Mexico, are the closest towns to Chaco Canyon National Historical Park's main north road. Check the parks website for times and availability. There is no public transportation to the park, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. There are no hotels near Chaco Canyon and its dirt road access makes it difficult-although not impossible-to do a simple day visit. Please use our directions below to avoid getting lost or stuck. Chaco Canyon is not situated near any major city; the closest city is Albuquerque, which is between 2.5 and 3 hours away. The nearest gas station to the south is located in Crownpoint (39 miles south of the park off HWY 371). Besides TravelAwaits, you can find her travel articles in Lonely Planet, Roadtrippers Magazine, Matador Network, and GoNOMAD, among other publications. Mystical. And due to COVID restrictions, you need to reserve the campground beforehand . Outside the structure, explore the maze of kivas, proving the ceremonial importance of the site. Day trips are available every Saturday, from March through November, and overnight glamping excursions coincide with the spring and fall equinoxes in March and September. The route includes 8 miles of paved road and 13 miles of dirt road. Where do you recommend staying to visit Chaco - Tripadvisor Where Did Chaco Canyon's Timber Come From? You May Like: Grand Canyon North Rim Camping. For those reasons, and for many more, Chaco Canyon is a worthy destination in the USAs Southwest and a perfect place to visit if you want to unlock the secrets of the native people who called some of the countrys most vivid landscapes home. Another example of a large great house is Hungo Pavi, which is a bit isolated from many structures at Chaco Canyon. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.more. Originally the home of the Anasazi, the community who lived in the region were mostly nomadic and were called the Basketmakers because they crafted baskets to preserve the food they gathered. Use Search above to see rates for your dates. The least amount of time you should plan on spending here is about an hour. The Chaco Canyon area was first inhabited in the middle of the ninth century and reached its peak importance about 200 years later, by which time the population reached 4,000 and over a hundred satellite villages had been constructed across north New Mexico. It's, How hard police look for missing children depends, Is that Twitter account real? Hungo Pavi is the first Chacoan great house you will come across on the Canyon Loop Drive. Plan to spend at least 45 minutes here. It is a large space that featured plenty of seating and was somewhat deeply entrenched in the ground, placing it a bit below the surface of the ground within the community. It's located in the northwestern corner of New Mexico. Plan to stay until closing time for some of the best views and photo opportunities. There are around 37 hotel/motelsranging in price from around $35-115. From 800 A.D. to 1100 A.D., Chaco Canyon hosted the multiple-story great pueblos of the ancient Anasazi people. The elevation is over 6,200 feet so plan on warm camping gear, especially in the winter. One place that weve enjoyed visiting in the past is Chaco Canyon. Day trip participants enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch prepared by Hotel Chacos chefs. While you would be right that nothing else can even come close, the Casa Rinconada trail leads to the largest kiva at the site. Visiting this park in an RV might be a good reason to upgrade your rig with solar panels. Chaco is an amazing cultural gem. Each site has an adjacent parking lot and an available guide - you can either . Check the box below to confirm you would like to receive our monthly email newsletter, then subscribe: You can learn more about our newsletter and see a preview of a past edition here. During our visit to Chaco Culture National Historical Park, we werent aware that Chaco Canyon camping was an option. While, the closest options overall are from the north in Bloomfield, approximately 60 miles from the park. Chaco Canyon is located inside Chaco Culture National Historical Park. You wont have a lot of choices when it comes to lodging, especially at the park itself: aside from camping, the closest town will be Farmington, New Mexico, which is 90 minutes north and has several hotel choices. Visiting Chaco Canyon - Hidden Mesa Camping in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico - CancerRoadTrip From Chetro Ketl, you can drive to your next stop, but it is worth walking the short Petroglyph Trail, connecting the site to Pueblo Bonito. Bloomfield (61 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). The regular sites are most appropriate for tent camping, and most of them have a tent pad. Warning: Some of the local roads recommended by map publishers and GPS devices are unsafe for passenger cars. Chaco Culture National Historical Park really is the place to be. Places To Go - Chaco Culture National - National Park Service Here are some of the most recommended hotels near Chaco Canyon. To give you a starting pointfor your trip research, we looked at what people say about hotels near Chaco Canyon. There is one campground in the park, near the visitors center, called the Gallo Campground. I want to visit and explore the Chaco Canyon area in New Mexico and am looking for advice for a good base location for day trips. This is a must see when at Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The visitors center is staffed year round and is a starting place for your adventure here. 4 ways to help you, Lifesavers: Your iPhone or Apple Watch can, Todays top money market account rate roundup, 14 things banned at Disney World that you may not be aware of, How herring fishermen may get SCOTUS to reel in Washington's power, Sophie Turner says video of daughter on Instagram was an accident, 'Devastated': Army names 3 soldiers killed in Alaska helicopter crash, DeSantis OKs death penalty for child rape, defying US Supreme Court, First Republic Bank seized, sold to JPMorgan Chase: What to know, Snoop Dogg emerges as member of group interested in buying NHL team, Who is Karl Lagerfeld? From the south, two routes access Chaco from Highway 9, which runs between Crownpoint, Pueblo Pintado, and Cuba. Dont miss the Museum of Chaco Culture, where you can see artifacts from the site and learn about the Ancestral Puebloans who built it. There is a limit of six people, two tents, and two vehicles at each campsite. What is the closest town to Chaco Canyon? - KnowledgeBurrow This will give you a chance to walk through all the rooms and explore the kivas. var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0]; One way to explore Chaco Culture National Historical Park is to bike. 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. Chaco Canyon Camping & What You Need to Know - DIY Travel HQ Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Culture National Historical ParkPueblo Bonito a Chacoan Great House at Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The closest cities are Farmington, NM (72 miles north) and Albuquerque, NM (170 miles south). 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. You then return the same way. However, once youre within the parks boundaries, youll be back on a paved road. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Over the years, we learned a few things that make our visits easier and more enjoyable. There are a total of 48 Gallo campsites, 14 of which are exclusive to tents. About a mile away from many other locations of interest, Hungo Pavis ruins feature more than 70 rooms. It is also a perfect place to watch the sunset over the Chacoan world. Where To Stay Near Chaco Canyon - CanyonLoveClub.com Your last stop along the loop is Pueblo del Arroyo, showcasing another Chacoan great house built between 1025 and 1125. If camping is not your idea of fun, the closest towns where youll find a variety of hotels are Aztec (69 miles), Farmington (74 miles), or Gallup (94 miles). ', Drinking apple cider vinegar can be good for you, Can apple cider vinegar help with weight loss? Best Camping in and Near Chaco Culture National Historic Park Show Maps 1 - 30 of 647 New Mexico Chaco Culture National Historic Park View 25 photos Chaco Culture National Historic Park Share 98% Recommended +16 Temperature unknown Official website (505) 786-7014 Camping types: Reservable campsites. The park is home to many prehistoric, multistory buildings called great houses. You can try broadening your search by changing some of the filters or move and zoom-out into the map to show more results. Generators are allowed between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, but only for one hour at a time. Bloomfield, Aztec and Farmington, New Mexico, are the closest towns to Chaco Canyon National Historical Parks main north road. If youre coming from Colorado, you can go through Durango, down to Farmington, and on to Chaco Canyon. It would be more than 600 years later when, in 1823, Chaco Canyon would be documented as part of an expedition through the region led by New Mexican governor Jos Antonio Vizcarra. If rain, snow, or thunderstorms are in the forecast simply call the visitor center or visit their website for road conditions and park closures. Places like Mesa Verde come immediately to mind, but the area is scattered with many more out of the way places that can really make an adventure to the southwest something special. You dont need a four-wheel drive to get through it, but a high-clearance vehicle is helpful. 7 Fabulous Downtown Austin Restaurants You Need To Try, 9 Amazing Things To Do In Artistic Old Lyme, Connecticut, Everything You Need To Know About Visiting The Ark Encounter, 7 Fascinating Experiences In New Mexicos Hidden-Gem National Monument, How To Spend A Perfect Day In Historic Madrid, New Mexico, 7 Reasons To Add The Zuni Pueblo To Your New Mexico Road Trip, 10 Reasons To Visit This Historic New Mexico Oasis On Route 66, For details on Quillt's privacy and cookie policies, please visit our, 9 Incredible Dark Sky National Parks In The Southwest. If you are planning to visit Chaco Culture National Historic Park, here are a few tips to help you make the most of your visit. Guided tours are offered regularly from May until October each year, and self-guided tours are easily completed based on your speed and interest in the buildings and sites located along the parks Canyon Loop Drive. Look no further as this collection of luxury log cabins is in the heart of all that is beautiful, near the ruins and historic Chaco Culture National Historical Park hotels and has everything you desire. Please note that some roads recommended by Google, map publishers and mapping services using GPS are unsafe for passenger cars. The directions here are from Albuquerque, NM. Chaco Canyon is dry and often has extreme temperaturesespecially during the hot summersso having extra water is a great idea. We often find the best hotel deals using Booking.com, and we recommend it as a great tool to find a hotel near Chaco Canyon. Youll find a large multi-story structure you can explore inside and out as well as several kivas here. Rio Rancho, New Mexico 0 Votes Bloomfield, NM has a very nice Best Western and it is closer than Farmington. If you want some easier walking, many places of interest are right off the Canyon Loop Drive, which is easy to drive and doesnt require a lot of physical effort. over a year ago Reviewed this attraction NMFireHor. Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Canyon Benjamin Oswald (CC BY-NC-SA) Chacoans migrated to surrounding communities to the north, south, and west with less marginal environments, which reflected Chacoan influence during this time. After visiting, we drove up to Farmington for the night and then back down to Bisti Badlands the next morning. There are more kivas surrounding the main plaza than you can shake a stick at. Many of the people who lived there moved on to new parts of the region, ultimately abandoning the settlement. With 160 rooms it is not one of the largest structures constructed by the Anasazi, but it does provide good insight into living conditions for those who called it home. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose. The only structure standing in this area is a long wall the trail follows. Because it is tough to access and requires a bit of a commitment as far as your vacation time is concerned, make the most of your investment by planning to spend as long as possible there. There are also several ruins that are more remote and accessed only by walking, but the trails are open to the public and well marked. An Insider's Guide to the Four Corners Note: Due to COVID-19, the visitor center has limited hours and services. 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. For more ideas on things to do and see in New Mexico have a look at Wander articles by our southwestern travel experts. Stop along the loop at each individual site to explore these structures and their surroundings, a protected natural area in a desolate but gorgeous part of the high deserts. Chaco Culture National Historical Park - American Southwest We were there one night when one of the group sites was occupied by the Albuquerque Astronomical Society; a group of friendly people willing to share their views from their amazing telescopes. For decades, archaeologists remained busy excavating and discovering tens of thousands of artifacts that helped to tell the story of Chaco Canyon, the Anasazi, and the peoples who both lived and connected there. What syndrome is characterized by rapidly worsening muscle weakness? However, once youre within the parks boundaries, youll be back on a paved road. Pueblo Bonito. Another shout out to the Red Mesa Express: we stocked up on water and snacks before departing for Chaco Canyon, a smart move because you wont find restaurants or places to stop for food or drink once you get closer to the park. Dont Miss: Where To Go At The Grand Canyon. Chaco Canyon, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was home to a thriving Pueblo culture between 850-1250 A.D. After walking through the dry barren landscape it may be hard to believe that about 1,000 years ago Chaco Canyon was a lively bustling city. We plan to drive from Santa Fe to Chaco Canyon, visit teh canyon and the following day continue to Albuqureque. More Information: Google Maps Location for Red Mesa Express. Any help will be appreciated. Trail of The Ancients Scenic Byway | New Mexico Drives The park can only be accessed by driving on dirt roads. An unexcavated site, Hungo Pavi is the first stop past the visitor center. Its a four lane freeway running diagonally through the state between Albuquerque and Farmington. Hotels near Chaco Culture National Park Bloomfield, NM Use this simple form to find hotels, motels, and other lodging near Chaco Culture National Historical Park.