Chaco Culture NHP is located about 60 miles north of Gallup, New Mexico on the Navalo Reservation. The last 20+ miles of ths route is very rough and rutted dirt. If it has rained recently, the road may be impassable to regular passenger vehicles.

The ruins are at about eleavtion 6200 feet. There no other towns or villages within 20+ miles.

It would seem that this location would be a very unlikely place for one of the most important Ancestral Puebloan cultural centers. The center began before 800 ce (current era) and thrived until about the mid 1200's, when its influence shifted to other centers.

Many of today's Southwest Indian people, who claim to be descendents of Chaco, consider Chaco as a spiritual place to he honored and respected.

The largest of the great houses, Pueblo Bonito, was considered to be the center of Chacoan culture. At its peak, Pueblo Bonito had more than 600 rooms and 40 kivas.

In our opinion, there is a "feeling" about this location that makes if different from many of the other National Parks.

We believe that if you have the time, a trip to Chaco Culture NHP will be very rewarding. Perhaps when you take in the surroundings, and imagine the activity that went on there in 100ce, you too, may "feel" something spiritual.