Hungo Pavi is the first Chacoan great house you will come across on the Canyon Loop Drive. The only other option I could find out of albq was just renting a regular vehicle and either bringing you camping gear or renting from the albq rei and my traveling companions weren't up to sleep on the ground so. There are thirteen miles of dirt roads to drive before getting to Chaco Canyon, and the last four miles are considered by the park service to be very rough. This area of New Mexico is home to a fantastic network of pueblo ruins built by ancient Anasazi people that date back to AD 850. The noise didnt die down until after 10pm. Turn right on county road 7950. If you dont want to camp, the closest town to Chaco Culture National Historical Park is Farmington. Best time to visit:Avoid the winter due to snow and ice. The lightning and thunder were intense, but it did not seem to be moving in my direction. It turns out that there are people in the southwest that consider themselves ancestors of the Ancient ones, and they arent fond of the term Anasazi, because of its negative connotations in the Navajo language, and perhaps also because its a Navajo word and the Navajo arent regarded as descendant from these ancient people. Plan your upcoming visit to Chaco Canyon. When itdries, it's as hard as rock and all the ruts and washboards remain until the next rain. /* It's some years ago and I checked my notes but it took almost all day from SF to drive, visit and drive from there to Durango a visit to Aztec Ruins (also recommended) included. We want to go into Chaco Canyon with a truck and 19' camping trailer that has average ground clearance. However we were glad we had rented a Jeep. Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness listed amongst best trips 2019 . I put on my raincoat and used my rain cover for my bag to cover my camera. It was a beautifully PAVED road! So is there somewhere else we should go to? To see photos and get more info on Chaco, visit http://www.nps.gov and go to CHaco. Roads can be messy in the rainy season (July - Sept.). After about 150 yards I absolutely HAD to stop. All eyes were on the wall of the once-enclosed Kiva. It is also possible to see the wood timbers that helped frame the structure. When itrains, it turns to grease. I was certain that I would ruin my truck or trailer or both! For that reason, experts in the field have started using the term Ancient Pueblo Peoples out of courtesy to the present day Puebloans, and, quite truthfully, because we have no idea what they originally called themselves. A trip here is perfect for both history enthusiasts and outdoor buffs. Turn left on county road 7900, follow this road for 5 miles. There is a maximum of 6 people, 2 tents, and 2 cars per campsite. When we were there last, the road was in pretty good shape. It has 49 regular campsites and 2 group sites that can accommodate between 10 and 30 people. Preferably something small like a VW Westphalia or small class B RV. With such an enticing name, its hard to resist the pull. Call Wayne at 505 486 3319 to reserve a spot. There is no shade. Generators are allowed between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, but only for one hour at a time. I instantly felt like I was back at Machu Picchu walking through elaborately built Inca ruins. Original Vigas at Pueblo BonitaOriginal wood is still found in some of the buildings at Pueblo Bonita. You really need a whole day. Some areas havelots of things to do within walking distance, but the hotels may be more expensive. A small square of light appeared and began to move from left to right before reaching the final resting place on a niche in Casa Rinconada. It involves driving on a rough, bumpy, "wash board," dirt road for 13 miles, once you make the turn off from paved road CR 7900. Those with a passenger car or a light SUV with softer suspension will have a much easier time. Due to HVAC issues, the artifacts are missing from the lonely museum exhibit. The communal stone buildings were built between the mid-800s and 1100 AD by Ancient Pueblo Peoples (Anasazi) whose descendants are modern Southwest Indians. Compare similar trips and tour companies to find your perfect vacation at the perfect price Chaco Canyon Day Tour Chaco Canyon Day Tour Offered Every Saturday, March - November | 4 ppl min & 10 ppl max $325 per person + tax | Hotel Chaco guests $299 Tour Price per person & Hotel Chaco Packaged Room Rate $189 Rate, tax plus fees A few sites to look out for: Una Vida Ruins - One of the earliest Great Houses. Chetro Ketl A large great house an possible ceremonial center dating to 900 AD. Have fun!!! And I don't really understand why you'd need a full day at Monument Valley: the formations are very pretty but they're pretty distant and there's not much to the whole experience. I guess it just depends on how much time you have. Hi there. Chaco Canyon is located inside Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Whether exploring ancient ruins, shopping for silver and turquoise jewelry or just enjoying the ever-changing colors of the sky at sunset, New Mexico casts its charm on every visitor. They're just so different. Thanks. Farmington is your best bet for a place to stay and still allow most of a day in Chaco. The good news, the water at the visitor center fill point is really good. Absolutely the best way to visit Chaco Canyon is to camp there 2-3 nights, hiking in daytime. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The remaining 34 campsites can also accommodate RVs up to 35. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a website or blog at WordPress.com, Cochise Stronghold: The Last Great ApacheHideout, The Wild West at Empire Ranch and LasCienegas, The Complete Guide to Exploring ChacoCanyon, Visiting Nogales, Mexico: What You Need to Know, All the Reasons Why I Love and Hate Sedona, Your Guide to the Epic Mayan Ruins of Coba, What Happens When You Unplug and Connect With Nature, Tulum Ruins: How to Have an Awesome Visit, A Journey to the Spanish Missions of the Pimera Alta, Coronavirus Chronicles: A Broken Tooth and an Unplanned Trip to Mexico. Perhaps one day I will walk these roads in the footsteps of the ancient ones. Since theres nothing I love to photograph more than ruins (except for ruins with alpacas! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If youre coming from Colorado, you can go through Durango, down to Farmington, and on to Chaco Canyon. Why are the roads to Chaco Canyon so bad? Follow the cairns back towards Pueblo Bonito until you reach the lookout. less than 30 days prior to the program start date. 100 % of order total. up to 30 days prior to program start date. Other times, we found the road just as you describe here. My first tip is DO NOT attempt to use GPS. The best way to explore the canyon is with a knowledgeable guide. The Chaco Canyon NHP ranger-led tours offer fantastic insights into Chacoan history and life, along with their interest in astronomy. Plan your upcoming visit to Chaco Canyon. You may notice that we keep calling the folks who lived here the Ancient Pueblo Peoples, and not Anasazi as they have been called in the past. Be prepared. To top it all off, the canyon setting is beautiful. The light of the pre-dawn sun was soon replaced with a dramatic light and shadow show. More cars appeared in my rearview mirror trying to beat the storm. No Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Chaco Canyon National Historic Park & Where to Stay In Your RV (505)327-1671 If you're a first time visitor to Chaco Canyon, you mightprefer a more touristy area, but if you're a solo traveler, a smaller hotel could be more interesting. April through October, night sky programs and telescope viewing of the spectacular dark night sky are offered. After an hour and a half, the first park rangers begin to appear. 6-1/2"L x 2-11/16"W; fits 5-1/2" to 6" wrist. New Mexico required that visitors in the state self-quarantine for 14 days when they arrived due to COVID (we arrived at the end of January 2021), so after completing those two weeks at our Airbnb we ventured down to Chaco Culture National Historical Park. November through February is on a first come, first served basis. Here you can appreciate what the building looks like without excavation. It seems that the word Anasazi is actually a Navajo word that means Ancient enemy. But its more than that. var a = new RegExp('/' + window.location.host + '/'); The Gallo Campground has no shade throughout the year, and checkout time is 11 am. We were going to stay four nights, which gives us three full days since the first and last won't count. Another concern is what is actually AT Chaco? With no allocation for potty or snack breaks, you should allow for right at three hours from Albuquerque. Last time I drove from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Hitting the smooth black asphalt at the entrance to the park after 21 miles of rough road is extremely satisfying. Chaco Canyon. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. When Janelle Ortega's cousin from Mexico is found brutally murdered at a remote petroglyph site in Saguaro National Park, she and her husband, archaeologist Chuck Bender, are drawn deep into a threatening web of hostility and deceit stretching . the dirt road wasn't too bad and the Park wasn't crowded so you can enjoy walking around the site and appreciate all of its wonder. Find out everything you need to know for your visit! If you are short on time, this is the place to spend it. How to get there: There are two roads to Chaco Culture National Historical Park. All in all, we had a blast and enjoyed having the full kitchen and bathroom in the rv, learning to use all the crazy features, and even the dump station (we spend our first and last night on the outskirts of albq at Coronado Campground, which is adjacent to an ancient/late prehistoric pueblo that we enjoyed visting too. Admission is $25 per vehicle, but we strongly suggest buying the America the Beautiful National Park annual pass for $80. The first thing you see is Gallo Campground. Both the Chacoans and the Incas were master builders. I slowed to about 5 mph in 1st gear to try to minimize the shaking. Pierced with clutch backs. I was in ABQ for work a few years ago, and I had a Saturday to kill. Cancel Fee: fee will be applied if you do not call road scholar participant services at least one business day prior to the program start date. Product Description. Early Spanish explorers named the massive great house Pueblo Bonito because it resembled a 'pretty village.'. Chaco Canyon holds one of the largest collection of prehistoric buildings on the continent. The largest and most impressive Chacoan great house is Pueblo Bonito. Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, May through October 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, November through April Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day Entrance Fees: The following fees are current as of October 21st 2018: