Although the Chaco Culture National Historical Park is harder to get to than many of the popular road trip destinations, the journey is definitely well worth it for visitors who are interested in ancient North American cultures.
This fantastic UNESCO World Heritage Site features arguably the best collection of ancient ruins north of Mexico, and is located between the cities of Albuquerque and Farmington in northwest New Mexico. Being a little way out from civilization you may want to plan to stay a night if you’re in an RV, though campsites are restricted to vehicles of less than 30 feet. Be aware also that the campground here is fairly basic. Visitors coming by car, or in larger RVs, will need to head back to Farmington or Bloomfield for a hotel, unless you plan on pitching a tent!
The main ruins here in the Chaco Cultural Park can be accessed by car or RV on the short loop road. You can actually see some of the ruins from the car, but to get up close and personal it’s better to leave your vehicle and take the short hikes to
get a much closer look. There are some more remote sites too that can be reached by a longer hike, or try the trip on a bicycle as these are also permitted within the park.
The Chaco Canyon was a major center of culture for the Ancient Pueblo Peoples between the years 900 and 1150AD. It’s thought that from 1130AD they started to abandon the area because of climate change and a terrible 50 year drought.
Quick Facts:
--- Up until the 19th century the buildings that stood here were actually the largest in North America!
--- Because there’s no light pollution out here you get to see some of the most spectacular night skies. Rangers often host a star party for visitors staying within the campground.
