{"id":"nps-chcu","slug":"chaco-culture-national-historical-park","name":"Chaco Culture National Historical Park","designation":"National Historical Park","category":"historic-site","categoryLabel":"Historic Site and Historical Park","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"CHCU","designation":"National Historical Park","sourceId":"nps-chcu"}],"states":["NM"],"stateNames":["New Mexico"],"location":{"lat":36.03963414,"lon":-107.9560076},"bbox":[-108.1519,35.6673,-107.6746,36.0892],"acres":{"value":34454,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"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.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[{"id":"ppl-m-chaco-canyon","type":"protected","label":"Protected by T.R.","date":"1907-03-11","then":"Chaco Canyon National Monument","thenKind":"national monument","text":"As President, Theodore Roosevelt set aside Chaco Canyon National Monument (1907-03-11).","note":"Great houses like Pueblo Bonito made this canyon the center of the Ancestral Puebloan world. Today it is Chaco Culture National Historical Park.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-740-setting-aside-chaco-canyon-national-monument-new-mexico","name":"presidency.ucsb.edu"},{"url":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200214180323/https://www.nps.gov/archeology/sites/antiquities/monumentslist.htm","name":"web.archive.org"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/articles/lee-story-proclamation.htm","name":"nps.gov"},{"name":"Roosevelt’s Public Lands","url":"https://publiclands.labs.trlibrary.com/#place=m-chaco-canyon"}],"dataset":"publiclands","reviewed":true},{"id":"ea-proc-740","type":"executive-action","label":"Traces to a T.R. proclamation or order","date":"1907-03-11","document":"Proclamation 740","title":"Setting Aside Chaco Canyon National Monument, New Mexico","relation":"absorbed into it","text":"Proclamation 740 (1907-03-11): “Setting Aside Chaco Canyon National Monument, New Mexico.” Today’s site absorbed into it.","note":"The monument was abolished and the park established in its place in 1980; about 33,960 acres today.","sources":[{"name":"Proclamation 740 in Theodore Roosevelt’s Executive Orders and Proclamations","url":"https://executiveactions.labs.trlibrary.com/document.html?id=proc-740"},{"name":"Pub. L. 96-550, 94 Stat. 3227; NPS Land Resources Division"}],"dataset":"executiveactions","reviewed":true}],"trTypes":["protected","executive-action"],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=36.0892&b_tl_lng=-108.1519&b_br_lat=35.6673&b_br_lng=-107.6746","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Chaco%20Culture%20National%20Historical%20Park","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/chcu/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/67485E91-9831-CBE2-DFD63F0452FF69AA.jpg","title":"Fajada Butte","alt":"Fajada Butte's silhoutte shown under a timelapse image of stars appearing in a vibrant circle above.","caption":"Chaco Culture National Historical Park is an International Dark Sky Park.","credit":"B Davis","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/673CF0D6-EA75-AEA3-CB481CFFAB834618.jpg","title":"Chaco Culture NHP Entrance Sign","alt":"The entrance sign to Chaco Culture made out of sandstone and showing Fajada Butte through a window.","caption":"Welcome to Chaco Culture National Historical Park!","credit":"M Murphy","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/67551208-A835-AB5A-2ABD2016B28F7A54.jpg","title":"Sandstone Walls","alt":"Colorful sandstone walls with two open sections in the middle that look like doorways.","caption":"Most walls seen at Chaco Culture NHP are close to 1,000 years old.","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/675E5281-B66A-01FD-71F8C6B5243955BC.jpg","title":"Raven","alt":"A raven perched on the side of a canyon wall.","caption":"Observe many ravens while visiting Chaco Culture NHP.","credit":"M Murphy","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/6766D5AC-B66E-C5E8-8FF614CA62DB2C24.jpg","title":"Pueblo Bonito","alt":"An aerial view of the Pueblo Bonito great house showing many rooms and circular kivas.","caption":"Pueblo Bonito is the largest great house within Chaco Canyon.","credit":"Andrew Kearns","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/6777EF3D-C5A3-6C5A-828FDECDAE1A1D89.jpg","title":"Chacoan Jars","alt":"A series of 4 Chacoan jars replicated in the same black on white style that was excavated long ago.","caption":"Chaco Culture National Historical Park is home to impressive pottery built by the ancestral Pueblo people.","credit":"NPS.","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Astronomy","Camping","Guided Tours","Hiking","Junior Ranger Program"],"topics":["Archeology","Ruins","Night Sky"],"fees":[{"title":"Entrance - Private Vehicle","cost":"25.00","description":"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."},{"title":"Entrance - Per Person","cost":"15.00","description":"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."},{"title":"Entrance - Motorcycle","cost":"20.00","description":"Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers."},{"title":"Commercial Entrance - Van","cost":"40.00","description":"This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle."},{"title":"Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach","cost":"100.00","description":"This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle."},{"title":"Entrance - Non-commercial Groups","cost":"25.00","description":"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."},{"title":"Entrance - Education/Academic Groups","cost":"0.00","description":"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."},{"title":"Commercial Entrance - Sedan","cost":"40.00","description":"This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle."},{"title":"Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus","cost":"40.00","description":"This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle."}],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Chaco Culture National Historical Park","description":"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.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"7:00AM - 9:00PM","monday":"7:00AM - 9:00PM","thursday":"7:00AM - 9:00PM","sunday":"7:00AM - 9:00PM","tuesday":"7:00AM - 9:00PM","friday":"7:00AM - 9:00PM","saturday":"7:00AM - 9:00PM"},"exceptions":[{"name":"Spring Operating Hours","start":"2027-03-01","end":"2027-04-30","hours":{"wednesday":"7:00AM - 7:00PM","monday":"7:00AM - 7:00PM","thursday":"7:00AM - 7:00PM","sunday":"7:00AM - 7:00PM","tuesday":"7:00AM - 7:00PM","friday":"7:00AM - 7:00PM","saturday":"7:00AM - 7:00PM"}},{"name":"Winter Operating Hours","start":"2026-11-01","end":"2027-02-28","hours":{"wednesday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM","monday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM","thursday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM","sunday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM","tuesday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM","friday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM","saturday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM"}},{"name":"Thanksgiving Holiday Closure","start":"2026-11-26","end":"2026-11-26","hours":{"thursday":"Closed"}},{"name":"December 25th Holiday Closure","start":"2026-12-25","end":"2026-12-25","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"Closed","sunday":"Closed","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"Closed","saturday":"Closed"}},{"name":"New Year's Day Holiday Closure","start":"2027-01-01","end":"2027-01-01","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"Closed","sunday":"Closed","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"Closed","saturday":"Closed"}}]}],"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.","weatherInfo":"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.","contacts":{"phone":"5057867014","email":"chcu_information@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Chaco Culture National Historical Park Visitor Center","description":"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.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/chcu/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm","lat":36.0303253935,"lon":-107.910589584}],"campgrounds":[{"name":"Gallo Campground","description":"Gallo Campground, located one mile (1.6 km) east of the visitor center, is open year-round. The campground has 24 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. Hook-ups are not available. The campground is closed 6 nights throughout the year: the day before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving night, Christmas eve, Christmas night, New Year's Eve, and New Year's night.","url":"","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/2628","sites":24}],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"aztec-ruins-national-monument","km":89},{"slug":"santa-fe-national-forest","km":116},{"slug":"el-morro-national-monument","km":117},{"slug":"jemez-national-recreation-area","km":118},{"slug":"canyon-de-chelly-national-monument","km":125},{"slug":"el-malpais-national-monument","km":129}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=chcu"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.609Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Danger","title":"Road conditions 11/8/26","text":"The north road remains impassable. After some clear skies the last few days, the south road is drying but is still wet in places and is extremely rough and rutted in others. Experience driving in rough/muddy conditions, high clearance, and AWD are all recommended at this time. Some GPS units are saying the south road (57/14) is closed but that is NOT true! It just may be impassable for certain vehicle types. Please call for any additional questions or concerns: 505-786-7014.","url":null,"updated":"2026-11-08 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-F5246D11-FD40-49C0-8DBA-B1DB8605E05C"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/chaco-culture-national-historical-park/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/chaco-culture-national-historical-park.geojson"}