Chaco Canyon New Mexico (part of 23 day road trip): These may not be the best but WHAT A PLACE, first two just informational. We got there 1st of October, just ahead (sorta) of...

ltj123 Loc: NW Wisconsin

These may not be the best but WHAT A PLACE, first two just informational. We got there 1st of October, just ahead (sorta) of hurricane Rosa. For any history buff this is most interesting, but recommend a SUV or Jeep as 14 miles of gravel and unmaintained road, we did in in a Dodge Dart and were sure it was going to loose oil pan or fall apart going to and coming back but very very slow driving went okay.
Of note believe Chaco is central hub of which Trail of the Ancients, Mesa Verde, Gila Cliff Dwellings, Navajo National Monument, Aztec National Monument, and Canyon de Chelly are all kinda spokes, we have not been to Canyon de Chelly yet, but plan to next road trip...

ghill42 Loc: Colorado

Went there many years. Quite desolate so we camped overnight in the park. Fantastic star filled sky but still a little foreboding with the ruins nearby and the coyote's frequent howling in the near distance.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Good work! Thanks for sharing.

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Thanks for the magnificent tour...enjoyed all your images!! You will love Canyon de Chelly; be sure to take the tour down into the canyon.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Nice set.
Thanks for sharing.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

These are great. Chaco Canyon will blow your mind!

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

On my list!! Been trying to get over there for years. Great photos!

ncribble Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Thank you for coming. We've native New Mexican's and Chaco Canyon is a secret treasure so well preserved. You are walking with the ancients. We hope you also visited the Salmon Ruins at Bloomfield, and the Aztec Ruins at Aztec, both are National Monuments in your journey.

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

ncribble wrote:

Thank you for coming. We've native New Mexican's and Chaco Canyon is a secret treasure so well preserved. You are walking with the ancients. We hope you also visited the Salmon Ruins at Bloomfield, and the Aztec Ruins at Aztec, both are National Monuments in your journey.

You are blessed to live in a beautiful area of our country. I go out west every summer, and we usually take road trips to the Gila, Chama, 3 Rivers Petroglyphs, and other areas there. Chama is as close as I got to Chaco, but I will get there soon. I need to get there before I get too old to hike, and carry my photography gear. But I love the area you are from.

ncribble Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Roxiemarty, you'll not need to 'Hike' as it is easy walking and the walks are not of great lengths. A good 16 ~ 35mm or 24 ~ 70mm is all you'll need so you need not overload your self with gear. As TLJ mentioned the Navajo road into Chaco of about 5 ~ 6 miles is terrible and they want it kept that way! So one just mosey in, however once in the National Park the roads are paved.

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

ncribble wrote:

Roxiemarty, you'll not need to 'Hike' as it is easy walking and the walks are not of great lengths. A good 16 ~ 35mm or 24 ~ 70mm is all you'll need so you need not overload your self with gear. As TLJ mentioned the Navajo road into Chaco of about 5 ~ 6 miles is terrible and they want it kept that way! So one just mosey in, however once in the National Park the roads are paved.

Thank you for your reply. I definitely will get there.

ltj123 Loc: NW Wisconsin

ncribble wrote:

Roxiemarty, you'll not need to 'Hike' as it is easy walking and the walks are not of great lengths. A good 16 ~ 35mm or 24 ~ 70mm is all you'll need so you need not overload your self with gear. As TLJ mentioned the Navajo road into Chaco of about 5 ~ 6 miles is terrible and they want it kept that way! So one just mosey in, however once in the National Park the roads are paved.

I agree, with a car we went really slow (walking speed allot for 7 miles of non maintained). Trails to building complexes are easy with parking fairly close to most. I used a 24-105 lense which worked fine, could have used my 17-35 also but never did.

crafterwantabe Loc: Mn

Beautiful, very interesting pictures

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

The hardest part is enduring the road to get there! Chaco is wonderful with so much history and information on ancient culture.

bkijek Loc: Oak Lawn, Illinois

Great photos. They bring back fond memories.

I visited Chaco 40 years ago when I was single. Back then, the road was an adventure. Last month my wife and I were near Chaco (stayed in Bloomfield overnight). We are retired now and I didn’t want to subject her to the unpaved road. I really, really wanted to return, however.😥

I agree with ghill42. Chaco can be spooky (but I would still like to see the star lit sky). When I was I was there so long ago I arrived late in the afternoon. I high tailed out of there as soon as the sun set!