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Chaco Culture National Historical Park, located in northwest New Mexico, protects several Ancestral Puebloan great houses populated between 850 and 1250. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Getting There
Chaco Culture is a remote park that can only be accessed down very rough unpaved roads. The roads are unmaintained and can be impassable after bad weather. GPS often leads cars astray down dangerous roads, so it’s best to follow directions from the official website. The nearest major city is Farmington (74 miles), while Albuquerque and Santa Fe are about three hours away each.
Entrance Fees
The park charges a US$25 entrance fee per carload (as of October 2023) which is good for seven days. The entry point is cashless, so you’ll need a debit or credit card to pay the fee. Holders of an interagency pass are admitted free of charge. Archaeological sites are open daily from 7am to sunset.
Visitor Center
The visitor center is open daily from 9am to 5pm. It contains information, a museum, and a small store. Trail guides for each archaeological site in the park are available for purchase as well.
Camping
The Gallo Campground costs US$20 per night (as of October 2023). It has 32 reservable sites and is located about a mile east of the visitor center. Reservations are recommended. We chose not to camp there. Instead, we drove in from Farmington, spent a half day at the park, and slept in Jemez Springs about 2 ½ hours away.
Archaeological Sites
There are five archaeological sites located along the nine-mile loop road in Chaco Canyon. Others are located along backcountry hiking trails requiring a free permit. Permits are available at the visitor center or trailheads. We only visited the sites along the loop road.
Safety
The most important thing you can do at Chaco Culture is bring enough water. Heat and high altitude can be a deadly combination. Potable water is available at the visitor center. Also, watch out for rattlesnakes along the trails and wear appropriate footwear for hiking.
