LOVED THIS PARK. Visited February 2022. The drive in is time consuming, but so worth it. We made the drive carefully but easily in our 2wd minivan (we came in one dirt road and left the on the other). In the summer I would call ahead to check the road conditions before visiting. Be prepared, there are no services in the park. Bring everything you need. We chose to enjoy the park on our bikes, which I highly recommend. The loop is not long (8 miles), and there are bike racks at nearly every stop. Walking through the ruins was a spectacular experience that was thoroughly enhanced by the trail guides (for purchase at the visitor center). 1 day is sufficient to see the "big sites" in the park and get your fill, but two days would allow you to see and experience all the sites. A stop at the visitor center is worth it. The exhibit isn't totally outfitted (they have a full exhibit but most artifacts are not on display), but the park film is interesting and the rangers are very helpful in suggesting what to do. They have a big 3D wall map of the park that is really helpful in seeing the terrain. Don't miss the petroglyph trail. We stayed at Gallo Campground and I recommend that as well.

To reach this park you have to drive down a pretty bumpy road, but it’s totally worth it! I highly recommend watching the 30 minute video in the visitors center before exploring the sites because it really gives you a deep appreciation for what you’re seeing. I also encourage some hiking if you can but make sure to bring plenty of water and sun protection! Solid footwear with ankle support recommended.

Let's talk about the dirt road, to get to this site. Its HORRID. Its not just a typical dirt road, its grooved with lines that make it extra bumpy. The whole time, you feel like your car is going to be shaken apart. I'm not entirely sure my car did make it out unscathed, it rattles now. It was nerve wracking and I did think about turning around. For the love of man, please pave this road. Now that that's out of the way. The site is huge. There is sooo much to explore and I doubt I even came close to 1/2 of it. Bring tons of extra water, especially if it's hot. I recommend coming during cooler months so that it is more enjoyable. They do have campsites here and if you want to see everything, you could definitely get a site. I imagine you would need a full day to see all of it, but as I said, I only saw about half. Make sure you stop at the visitor center to get a map.

Not easy to get to....20 + miles of washboard dirt roads at a speed of maybe 15-20 Mph, but so worth it when you come upon this immense area of ancestral pueblo ruins....amazing architecture. No services at Chaco...no gas, food, lodging other than basic campground facilities....bathrooms. Excellent visitor center with good selection of books and usual National Park sundries. Arrive early in the morning to see most of the ruins....ruins close at Sunset....no light on the roads out of there when it gets dark......come prepared with water...snacks...good tires....cell service sketchy at best.....If you are a student of ancestral pueblo cultures, don't miss a chance to go there. It's an adventure!

Chaco Canyon was awesome. Went in September. Not too hot and nobody there. We spent 2 days in the park. Hiked to the Supernova Pictograph and ran into 2 other people the entire way. Scambled up to the top of Pueblo Alto and saw nobody else. Love the 1☆ reviews complaining about the roads. That's the reason we had the place to ourselves. I hope they never fix that road. Go. It's well worth it.

Haven't been to Chaco Canyon over 25years, sites are unbelievably unique, hiking up to pueblo alto was a good hike. Seen elk, deer as well, park rangers are nice. Only bad part of this trip was the 14miles of "washboard" dirt road 'to & from' the park.

If you and your vehicle survives the 12-mile long washboard dirt road into the Park (one way), you’ll be rewarded with a sense of awe and wonder you’ve never experienced before. Reserve a campsite at Gallo Campground inside the Park so you can take your time exploring numerous Chacoan “Great Houses”, and buy a few of the $2.00 self-guided tour books so you know what you’re looking at. You won’t be bored or disappointed!

Pretty cool place to check out. $25 per vehicle or 10 per person. A few sites right off the road but a few hikes you can do. You could spend a few days here but 1 day is sufficient. It was fairly empty when we came at 10 AM on a Sunday. Your ticket is good for a week so you can come back. Note there is no gas for 20 miles so make sure to come prepared. Restrooms and water are available at the visitors center. Don’t forget a hat and sun screen!

Amazing experience! We went for a day trip and it was plenty of time to explore the main road round trip inside the park as well as the trails that led around the park! Very maintained park and visitor center was very informational! Only problem we had is that we saw number markers at different spots on the trail but none of the paperwork we had identified what the numbers meant! Overall, well worth the drive. Restrooms at each stop as well!

Only had a short time we could visit here, 2 hours was not enough!! Will return with more time. We were only able to walk one of the trails, but had a blast. Enjoyed being able to walk in the ruins and even crawl through some of the rooms. Carry water, is a must.

A remote and fascinating location for experiencing ancient cultural sites in New Mexico. A long gravel and unimproved road is used to access the park, but (at least in dry conditions) easily accommodates standard autos (20-30 mph). Once in the park, most sites are easily accessible from pull-off parking areas. Trails are available for those who want a more immersive desert experience with the pueblo ruins. Well organized by NPS. I did not use the campground but am certain the nights are fantastic for sky viewing in some of the darkest skies in the US.

Amazing North American site. Lots to see. Hiking or no hiking up to you. I don’t think it’s very handicap accessible. From Farmington or Albq the entrance off the highway is 22 miles further. It’s 8 miles paved, 7 miles dirt county maintained road, 5 miles of badly rutted, washboard, dips an dives then your at the entrance to the park which is a 9 mile paved loop. Don’t recommend trailers or rvs on this road. Could do damage. Overnight camping by reservation is available. No fires allowed though. Worth the trip if you’re interested in Anasazi culture. Fall visit early morning before it gets hot.

This place is beautiful, from the architectural history to the hike you can do to get onto the mesa. Also make sure to spot and appreciate the petroglyphs. Reflecting on my experience, I wonder how the southwest could've looked like had the Spanish/ colonialism not brought diseases and destruction with them.

Last 6 miles was very bumpy road. Staff at center very knowledgeable. Walked through sites. So interesting. Plan to go again and camp there.

What an amazing place. To finally come back after 50 years and bringing my wife was so exciting. The Chaco Culture National Historical Park Visitor Center was an important first stop. The rangers were friendly and very informative. We purchased several great books are the archeology and history of the pueblos and Chaoans. We did Hungo Pavi, Chetro Ketl, Pueblo Bonito, Kin Kletso and did the hike/scramble to the Pueblo Bonito Overlook. Unfortunately, the sun and heat became an issue, so we did not continue on to Pueblo Alto. I was pleased to see the park so well staffed and maintained. Definitely worth the time and effort to visit. A great point to start your journey to the other pueblo outliers.

First, stop by the visitor center. They are all super nice and know the area well. We always appreciate staff who are as excited about the area as we are. It’s a very simple place. You can drive the loop and see everything from your car if you want. Lots of hiking areas. If you only have 2-4 hours, stop and walk at Pueblo Bonito. There’s a loop you can walk to the right or if you’re in a hurry walk to the left. It’s the bigger of the two ruins, you can walk through it and see inside. It’s probably one of the bigger ruins sites we seen.

This place was well worth the drive (the unpaved road was not fun but you'll be glad you made the trip). The historical sites were amazing. It was definitely a glimpse of how the Chacoans lived and what their culture was like. It was a good walk with several sites to visit. Come prepared with water, good walking shoes, and wear a hat.

This is a nice walk for most. It is not handicap or wheelchair accessible. The path is clear and can't even be written on with a bike. It's definitely worth the trip out there, even on the on maintained roads. Give yourself plenty of time. Some of the hikes are long and to bring a lunch and plenty to drink.

This was much more amazing than expected. Much more remote to get to as well. You'll definitely want a capable vehicle to come visit. Lots to see and experience. If you want to go for a hike or even 4x4 off roading there are opportunities for that as well. Easily a full days worth of activities and things to see.

An amazingly preserved series of ruins that are seen from a 9-mile loop, after 20 miles in a rough dirt road. It takes about 45 minutes on the dirt road to get to the visitor center but it is worth it. You’re able to walk amongst the Great House ruins, that is at the farthest point on the loop. We were also about to see a small herd of elk on the loop. Masks are required at the visitor center and this park has a fee, or you need a pass.

One of the best chacoan culture sites . Chaco canyon has self-guided tours of chacoan culture. Well laid out and marked pathways and roadways to visit the ancient attractions. Well maintained restrooms and several walking trails to various ruins and petroglyphs. Can be a bit dicey if the weather is wet. Always advisable to check current road conditions into chaco canyon. On the day we went as the natives call it monsoon conditions existed. We were able to visit the park and take a 6 mi walk to visit ruins and the diverse plant life.

One of the few unesco sites in the west of the states. The park consists several building complexes of ancient Pueblo people. Amazing history and architecture and beautiful scenery. However, the road to the site is quite bumpy.

Worth the effort to see. Ranger talks were a big help to understanding the history of the site. Only drawback was there were no exhibits on display in the visitor center which was disappointing. County maintained dirt road from 550 was not bad. The last section of roughly 4 miles that is not county maintained was a little rough but passable with no problem.

We came on a cool cloudy day and that was perfect for a long day of hiking and exploring at a phenomenal location. The history was excellent and we took full advantage of our yearly National Park pass which has paid for itself 5x now.