Explore the monumental structures and breathtaking landscape at Chaco, a thriving regional center for the ancestral Pueblo people from 850 to 1250 CE (Common Era), through hiking & biking trails, ranger guided tours & programs, and more. Chaco Canyon is a sacred and deeply personal place for many Indigenous peoples throughout the Southwest. Please visit with respect.
Make your first stop the Visitor Center. From there, a 9-mile loop road accesses five major Chacoan sites, including Pueblo Bonito. Guidebooks for these sites can be purchased at the park store inside the visitor center. Pets are not permitted on these front country trails.
HIKING
There are four backcountry hiking trails in Chaco Culture National Historical Park: Wijiji Trail, South Mesa Trail, Pueblo Alto Trail, and Peñasco Blanco Trail. Wijiji Trail is the shortest at 3.8 miles (6.1 km) round-trip. The South Mesa Trail is approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) - this loop leaves from the Casa Rinconada parking area. The Pueblo Alto Trail is a 5.5 mile (8.9 km) loop - this is the most popular hiking trail due to the mesa-top aerial view of Pueblo Bonito. The Peñasco Blanco Trail is the longest backcountry hike at 7.5 miles (12 km) round-trip. Please talk to a park ranger at the visitor center for more information about each of these hikes.
Backcountry hiking trails require each group to sign in; these sign-in sheets are available at each trailhead. Trails are open during standard park hours; please leave enough time to complete your hike before the loop road closes each night.
BICYCLING AT CHACO
Bicycling is a great way to visit many of the Chacoan sites and to experience the canyon, its wildlife, its solitude, and the ever-changing environment. Below are the bicycling options to consider.
The Canyon Loop Drive
Bicycling the 9-mile paved Canyon Loop Drive is an excellent way to begin. The road is nearly level, and open from 7:00am-9:00pm (the front gate closes at 8:30pm daily). Bike racks are located at the Visitor Center and the parking areas at the Chacoan sites: Hungo Pavi, Pueblo Bonito and Cheto Ketl, Pueblo del Arroye, and Casa Rinconada. The drive begins just beyond the Visitor Center. Please remember that the road is one way. Be alert for traffic. Please stay on the road and designated bike trails.
CAMPING
The Gallo Campground within Chaco Culture has 26 individual sites and 2 group sites. We recommend making a reservation on www.recreation.gov to ensure a camping or RV space on the dates you plan to visit.
All unreserved campsites will become available on a first-come, first-served basis; please inquire for availability at the visitor center when you arrive. The group campsites are available for reservations. The group leader must check-in at the visitor center before setting up camp.
Guided tours and evening programs will be offered depending on staff availability.
Individual sites are $20/night. Senior and Access passes offer a discount for camping. Group sites are a flat rate of $60/night. Visit www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777.
OPEN YEAR-ROUND
Open all year. Closed 6 nights: the night before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, December 24th, December 25th, December 31st and January 1st.
Gallo Campground, located one mile (1.6 km) east of the visitor center, is open year-round. Tucked among the fallen boulders and cliffs of Gallo Wash, the campground offers camping in a rugged environment, surrounded by petroglyphs, a cliff dwelling, inscriptions, and a high desert landscape. There is no shade. The campsites are available by reservation. Reservations will be open on recreation.gov three months prior to the date. Camping is limited to 30 days in a calendar year, and 14 consecutive days at a time. Group campsites may be reserved for no longer than 7 consecutive days at a time. As a reminder, if you are not here by the second day of your reservation, you do forfeit the remainder of your reservation and the campsite will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis for the rest of the reservation. For more details on camping regulations within the park, see the Superintendent's Compendium.
GET AN ENTRANCE PASS
America the Beautiful Pass $250
For Vehicles
If you enter the park in a motorized vehicle, your entrance pass covers both you and your passengers. Your passengers do not need a separate pass.
Costs for vehicles with more than 15 passengers are listed below:
Private Vehicle $25
Motorcycle $30
For Individuals without a Vehicle
If you enter the park on a bicycle or on foot and are at least 16 years old, you need your own entrance pass. Children under the age of 16 don't need an entrance pass.
Per Person $15
PARK HOURS
Current Hours (Spring Operating Hours)March 1–April 30
Every Day:7:00 AM–7:00 PM
All hiking trails and archaeological sites are open from 7:00am until 7:00pm from Mar 1-Apr 30. At 7:00 PM, you must be leaving or if you are camping, you need to be back in the campground.
Winter Operating Hours
November 1–February 28
Every Day:7:00 AM–5:00 PM
All hiking trails and archaeological sites are open from 7:00am until 5:00pm from Nov 1-Feb 28. At 5:00 PM, you must be leaving or if you are camping, you need to be back in the campground.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park Visitor Center
This is Chaco Culture's only visitor center. The hours of operation are 9:00am-5:00pm every day. Please stop in before heading into the park. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Visitor Center Hours: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
