Written by Kyle
We took a drive down to the remote area of Negeezi, New Mexico to visit Chaco Culture National Historical Park. We knew the area had no cell signal, no restaurants, or places to stay within hours of the park except the camp sites on location… so why go? To put it simply it is one of the largest concentrations of pre-Columbian indigenous pueblo ruins anywhere and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From Creede it was about a four-hour drive through the gorgeous Southern Colorado mountains and the Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation. After the last 7 miles of gravel road we arrived at the park. (We had read it was a much more treacherous road…..but maybe the people writing that had never driven forest roads before?)
We stopped at the visitor center to get our vehicle pass ($25 per vehicle or no charge with a National Park Pass!) and talked to the ranger to see where our time would be best spent. It turns out the five major sites are easily accessible from the 9 mile loop access road running through the park. We chose to purchase some additional guidebooks and do a self guided tour rather than wait for a ranger-led program.
This weather this time of year was perfect, about 68 degrees out, sunny, and barely any other visitors at the park. We drove in, said hi to a couple coyotes, and parked at the lot for the Chetro Ketl and Pueblo Bonito sites.
Immediately we were surprised at how large and tall the ruins were. After seeing Pueblos at nearby Mesa Verde National Park and Chimney Rock National Monument we did not expect to see such a large complex. These ruins were constructed between 850 and 1250 CE, so it is amazing how much is still standing.
We started at the smaller site Chetro Ketl and examined the ruins and the masonry techniques outlined in the guidebooks, then made our way to the largest complex in the park, Pueblo Bonito via the petroglyph trail.
The Pueblo was stunning, walls remain over 2 stories tall, and the Great Kiva (a large, typically circular, subterranean or semi-subterranean structure used by Ancestral Puebloans for major community ceremonies, political meetings, and social gatherings) was the largest and best preserved we have ever seen. The guidebook was easily worth the $3.00 as it took you through the complex, pointing out the different sections and techniques used through hundreds of years of planned building, and highlighting features unique to this park.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park was one of the largest pueblo complexes we have visited, allowing the most access through the buildings themselves. We would absolutely recommend a detour to this park in you are in Northern New Mexico, it is worth the detour for sure!
Ramble Around 