Fajada Butte's silhoutte shown under a timelapse image of stars appearing in a vibrant circle above.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

National Historical Park ยท New Mexico

B Davis

๐Ÿ“ StateNew Mexico
๐Ÿ›๏ธ TypeNational Historical Park
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Entry$25
๐Ÿƒ Activities5
Official NPS Website โ†’
Chaco Culture National Historical Park

U.S. national park in New Mexico

Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park in the American Southwest hosting a large concentration of pre-Columbian indigenous ruins of pueblos. The park is in northwestern New Mexico, between Albuquerque and Farmington, in a remote canyon cut by the Chaco Wash. Containing the most sweeping collection of ancient ruins north of Mexico, the park preserves one of the most important cultural and historical areas in the United States.

WikipediaWikidataSource: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

About Chaco Culture National Historical Park

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.

Park Photos

Fajada Butte's silhoutte shown under a timelapse image of stars appearing in a vibrant circle above.
The entrance sign to Chaco Culture made out of sandstone and showing Fajada Butte through a window.
Colorful sandstone walls with two open sections in the middle that look like doorways.
A raven perched on the side of a canyon wall.
An aerial view of the Pueblo Bonito great house showing many rooms and circular kivas.
A series of 4 Chacoan jars replicated in the same black on white style that was excavated long ago.

Activities

Operating Hours

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

All hiking trails and archaeological sites are open from 7am until 9:00pm from May 1-October 31. The visitor center is open from 9:00am-5:00pm daily. At 8:30 PM, you must be leaving or if you are camping, you need to be back in the campground.

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7:00AM - 9:00PM7:00AM - 9:00PM7:00AM - 9:00PM7:00AM - 9:00PM7:00AM - 9:00PM7:00AM - 9:00PM7:00AM - 9:00PM

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to enter Chaco Culture National Historical Park?

Entrance - Private Vehicle: $25.00. This fee allows all persons traveling in one private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van) to enter the park to visit for up to 7 days from the date of purchase. Entrance - Per Person: $15.00. This fee allows a single individual traveling on foot, bicycle, or as individuals traveling together in a vehicle as a non-commercial, organized group to enter the park to visit for up to 7 days from the date of purchase. Entrance - Motorcycle: $20.00. Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Commercial Entrance - Van: $40.00. This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle. Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach: $100.00. This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle. Entrance - Non-commercial Groups: $25.00. Non-commercial groups are charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle. For vehicles with a seating capacity of 15 or fewer, the fee is $25. For vehicles with a seating capacity of 16 or more, the fee is $15/person up to the commercial fee rate. Interagency passes may be used for entry in lieu of the $15/person fee. Entrance - Education/Academic Groups: $0.00. If you represent an academic institution, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. Download and complete the Academic Fee Waiver and mail it to the park at least two weeks prior to your intended visit. We will notify you of the approval or disapproval of your application before your arrival. Please call 505-786-7014 for any additional questions about this process. Commercial Entrance - Sedan: $40.00. This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle. Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus: $40.00. This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle.

What are the best activities at Chaco Culture National Historical Park?

Popular activities at Chaco Culture National Historical Park include: Astronomy, Camping, Guided Tours, Hiking, Junior Ranger Program.

What is the weather like at Chaco Culture National Historical Park?

Summer highs are typically in the 80s to mid-90s. Thunderstorms can produce heavy localized downpours and sudden dramatic drops in temperatures. Winter temperatures will drop to well below freezing most nights. If you plan to camp in the winter, prepare for nighttime temperatures in the teens or lower. Spring and fall are great times to visit with more moderate temperatures, but unexpected storms can change things dramatically. Monitor local weather forecasts.

How do I get to Chaco Culture National Historical Park?

Your journey into Chaco Canyon will take you through private tribal lands. Please be respectful of our tribal neighbors and their livestock and leave no trace of your journey on their lands. Chaco Canyon is located in northwestern New Mexico. The park can only be accessed by driving on dirt roads. Road conditions can be rough or impassable. Please call in advance for updates.

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle$25

This fee allows all persons traveling in one private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van) to enter the park to visit for up to 7 days from the date of purchase.

Entrance - Per Person$15

This fee allows a single individual traveling on foot, bicycle, or as individuals traveling together in a vehicle as a non-commercial, organized group to enter the park to visit for up to 7 days from the date of purchase.

Entrance - Motorcycle$20

Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.

Commercial Entrance - Van$40

This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle.

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach$100

This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle.

Entrance - Non-commercial Groups$25

Non-commercial groups are charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle. For vehicles with a seating capacity of 15 or fewer, the fee is $25. For vehicles with a seating capacity of 16 or more, the fee is $15/person up to the commercial fee rate. Interagency passes may be used for entry in lieu of the $15/person fee.

Entrance - Education/Academic GroupsFree

If you represent an academic institution, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. Download and complete the Academic Fee Waiver and mail it to the park at least two weeks prior to your intended visit. We will notify you of the approval or disapproval of your application before your arrival. Please call 505-786-7014 for any additional questions about this process.

Commercial Entrance - Sedan$40

This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle.

Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus$40

This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle.

Weather

Summer highs are typically in the 80s to mid-90s. Thunderstorms can produce heavy localized downpours and sudden dramatic drops in temperatures. Winter temperatures will drop to well below freezing most nights. If you plan to camp in the winter, prepare for nighttime temperatures in the teens or lower. Spring and fall are great times to visit with more moderate temperatures, but unexpected storms can change things dramatically. Monitor local weather forecasts.

Directions

Your journey into Chaco Canyon will take you through private tribal lands. Please be respectful of our tribal neighbors and their livestock and leave no trace of your journey on their lands. Chaco Canyon is located in northwestern New Mexico. The park can only be accessed by driving on dirt roads. Road conditions can be rough or impassable. Please call in advance for updates.

๐Ÿ“ View on Google Maps โ†’

Location

Coordinates36.0396, -107.9560

Official Resources

NPS Official Website