Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
Location: The Park is located in northwestern New Mexico. From the north, turn off New Mexico 44 at Nageezi and follow San Juan County road 7800 for 11 miles to New . Mexico 57. The visitor center 15 miles ahead. From the south, turn north onto New. Mexico 57 from I-40 at Thoreau and go 44 miles on the paved road. Two miles north of Crownpoint, New Mexico 57 turns to the right. Continue east on New Mexico 57 to a marked turn-off. From here a 20-mile stretch of unpaved road leads north to the visitor center. Inquire locally or call the park (505-786-7014) about road conditions. The 24-hour emergency number is 505-786-7060.
Fees: Vehicle: $8.00 per 7 days - Person: $4.00 per 7 days
Preparation: In summer, Chaco is a hot and arid environment. Be prepared with plenty of water, comfortable walking shoes and sun blocking clothing. In the winter, temperatures can vary greatly from day to day.
General Information:
No lodging, gasoline, repair services, or food are available at the park. The nearest town is 60 miles away. On weekdays, staples can usually be purchased at trading posts on N. Mex. 44. The NPS operates a campground a mile from the visitor center. Tables, fireplaces, and central toilets are provided. Water is only available at the visitor center; no firewood is available in the park.. Camping is limited to 7 days.
The best way to see the ruins is to go on a conducted walk with a ranger. For information on these tours and the evening campfire programs, inquire at the visitor center. Groups desiring special services should schedule them in advance with the superintendent. Begin your sightseeing at the visitor center. The exhibits will help you understand Chaco and its people. Rangers will answer your questions and help you make the most of your time.
The ruins closest to the visitor center are Una Vida, which can be reached by trail from the parking lot. Only partially excavated, it looks much as it did when Lt. James H. Simpson of the U.S. Army described it in 1849. Construction was underway by AD 930 and continued until late in the next century. There are 5 kivas and about 150 rooms in the structure.
The core of this Anasazi complex lay farther down the canyon. The largest and best known of the great houses is Pueblo Bonito, which was occupied from the early 900s to about 1200. Built in stages, this pueblo in its final form contained some 600 rooms and 40 kivas and rose four stories high. The pueblo was first excavated at the turn of the century and again intensively in the 1920s. It is considered the ``type'' site for the Classic Bonito Phase (AD 1020 to 1120) of Chacoan culture.
Chetro Ketl was begun about 1020. Completed in most respects by 1054, it was remodeled and enlarged in the early 1100s. It holds an estimated 500 rooms and 16 kivas. The enclosed plaza is a typical feature of great houses from this period.
Pueblo del Arroyo was built in stages over a relatively short time. The central part was started about 1075; north and south wings were added between 1095 and 1105; the plaza and the tri-walled structure were constructed about 1110. The building had about 280 rooms and more than 20 kivas.
Kin Kletso seems to have been built in two stages. The first one dates from about 1125, the second from 1130 or later. This pueblo had about 100 rooms and 5 enclosed kivas and may have risen three stories on the north side.
Casa Rinconada on the south side of the canyon is the largest ``great kiva'' in the park. The trail leading to this ruin passes by several villages contemporary with it and continues up the mesa to the great house Tsin Kletsin, with its panoramic view.
Hiking trails, as indicated on the map, lead to a number of other ruins. Pueblo Alto, on top of the mesa, is important as the junction of several prehistoric roads. Casa Chiquita and Peñasco Blanco can be reached by hiking from the central canyon. Wijiji, built in a single state in the early 1100s, is notable for its symmetrical layout and rooms of uniform size.
Chaco Canyon was an important Anasazi (ancient Native American) cultural center from about 900 through 1130 AD. About 30 ancient masonry buildings, containing hundreds of rooms each, attest to Chaco's importance. Some structures are thought to serve as astronomical observatories or calendars. Archaeologists discovered jewelry made from Mexican and Californian materials in ancient trash heaps. Large well-constructed roadways thought to be built for pilgrims, subjects, or traders, lead from sites 50 miles away to the center of Chaco Canyon. In a very real sense, all roads lead to Chaco.
These cultural assets are now preserved in the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, administered by the National Park Service. Chaco is located in the northwest quadrant of New Mexico, surrounded by Navajo and near Zuni and Hopi reservations. While we appreciate most US National Parks for their present beauty, we appreciate Chaco for its past
There is no written record of the Chacoans. Most of what we know about them relies on inference and circumstantial evidence. Almost everything about Chaco is shrouded in mystery: its structures are huge and its former importance is clear, but we know little about it. Archaeology and speculation rule here. Chaco is a park for the mind.
The park office phone number is (505) 786-7014.