chaco canyon question
 

I would appreciate if someone could tell me how long it generally takes to see most of the important sites. Also of the six sites, are there any which we definitely should walk around? Thank you Sabbin

We have only been there once. We arrived in the afternoon and got a quick walk through of Pueblo Bonito and then visited Casa Rinconada. We camped overnight and got up early to visit Pueblo Alto and hike the Pueblo Alto loop that overlooks the canyon and several of the great houses. You'll also get to see the fascinating Jackson Staircase on this loop. We then visited the visitors center and took a tour of Chetro Ketl and a last visit to Pueblo Bonito before returning to the campground for another night. We left the next morning. We never hiked out the Penasco Blanco trail.

In retrospect, I'd have given Chaco 2 days minimum and more would be fun. Others with less interest in the Ancestral Puebloans would find one day enough.

Must sees? Pueblo Bonito. The Pueblo Alto Loop for the overlook as well as walking out the Great North Road past Pueblo Alto (yes, it is still there after 1000 years) and the Jackson Staircase.

I hope to return someday to finish what I started during my first visit.

Here's my pictures form the visit starting on this page:

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/co_and_nm_05&page=6

There's lots of information on Chaco on the web but, this is one website I enjoy a lot.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/co_and_nm_05&page=6

I can't wait to return...have a wonderful visit.

Oops! the second link was supposed to be this:

http://www.exploratorium.edu/chaco/HTML/canyon.html

peterboy Thank you very much Sabbin

I think you could see quite a bit in a single day. Keep in mind it is very hot there in the summer, there is NO shade and virtually no facilities or services outside of the small visitor center.

Might I suggest after Chaco, drive another 2 hours and visit Mesa Verde National Park while in the "neighborhood" if you have never been there.

It is very different than Chaco, with cliff dwellings instead of above ground houses.

2 days at Mesa Verde would allow you to see the major sites, including Wetherhill Mesa [only open between Memorial Day and Labor Day]. Most visitors miss the sites there and it is a wonderful look at some of the dwellings from inside the dwelling [Long House].

Deb

Second the recommendation to visit Mesa Verde! If you are interested enough to visit Chaco, you'll want to see the cliff dwellings.

Deb, We do have plans to spend 2 days there as we are staying at the Far View lodge. If we get there early in the morning in early June will we be able to get tickets for the three ranger tours[ Cliff Palace, Long House and Balcony house? Thank you Jim

Visiting Mesa Verde after Chaco Canyon will also give you some historic perspective as well. Mesa Verde is where the Chacoans migrated (fled) to after the 'great paranoia' caused them to abandon Chaco Canyon. An attempt by the Mesa Verdans to return to Chaco Canyon and there is evidence that they tried to restore Pueblo Bonito. Then, they too abandoned Chaco for the last time. It is all quite mysterious and compelling. Chaco and Mesa Verde are much more interesting if you learn as much as you can about them before you visit. The biggest mystery is; where are the 300,000 to 500,000 bodies that this civilization should've left behind? Very few have been found so far.

It will be hard to try and do Wetherill Mesa and the 3 other "popular" cliff dwellings in 1 day; I would advise against it.

It take 45 minutes to get to Wetherill Mesa from Visitor Center [the visitor center is very close to Far View Lodge]. You will want to spend a couple of hours at Wetherill.

You will then want to do Cliff Palace, Spruce Tree House and Balcony House which take several hours to do, with time to get from one to another. These 3 can usually be done in 1 day.

Will you want to hike at all? Figure some time for that too.

I would do Wetherill your first day when arrive. Less than 10% of park visitors ever go there, according the what rangers have told us. You need ticket/tour for Long House, the rest [Step and Badger] are self-paced and free.

You can buy tour tickets the day you arrive in late afternoon, for the next day's ranger led tours [for Cliff, Balcony -- Spruce is self-guided and free in summer] so that helps.

There are also drives around: the mesa top loop, and other things to see {Cedar Tree Tower, Far View]

We live just outside Mesa Verde and go there often, if I can answer any Q's just ask!

For some pictures of Mesa Verde in Winter, which many visitors never see:

http://picasaweb.google.com/DebitNM/MesaVerdeInWinter

and some of Chaco:

http://picasaweb.google.com/DebitNM/ChacoCanyon

Deb

If you want another stop for comparison of the architecture of the ancients, make a short stop at Aztec Ruins in Aztec, NM. If you happen to be heading on toward Grand Canyon, stop at Tusayan Ruins in the park too. Much different architecture here.

Thank you to all - Deb, if I get there early on a weekday next week could I get the tickets for Cliff Palace, and Balcony House for that day and Long house the next day? Tx Sabbin

That should work out well.

You can get the tickets for Cliff Palace and Balcony house first thing when you get into the park [keep in mind it is about a 30 - 40 minute drive to the actual Visitor Center --and Far View Lodge-- once you pass thru the entrance to park!!] They will space the tickets far enough apart to allow you to get from one site to another.

FYI - Balcony House has some high ladders to climb up and also a pretty small area you have to crawl through. There is a mock up the crawl area outside of Visitor Center. Cliff Palace has a bit of rocky scramble to climb to get out.

Then I would buy the ticket for Long House for the next day, at The Morefield Camp Grounds

<i>Morefield Ranger Station:
Open (Closes early August)
Tour tickets sold here from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm</i>

It has been pretty chilly here this week, 70 during day, and 40's at night. Dress in layers, and the winds are blowing as is typical at this time of year.

Are you wanting to hike?

Deb

Any hikes that you recommend not missing? Tx Sabbin

Note that both Pueblo Bonito at Chaco Canyon and Balcony House in Mesa Verde are divided near the center with a wall. This is not the case with other ruins at Chaco and MV. According to the ranger who led us through Balcony House, the people on one side of the wall ate very well while the people on the other ate and lived very poorly. Pueblo Bonito was the first Great House constructed in Chaco. Was there a relationship between the First People and the Made People at Pueblo Bonito that carried on through the hundreds of years even through the migration from Chaco to Mesa Verde? So many questions...

Balcony House in 2005 as shot by me:

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/50016041

Balcony House circa 1962 with me in the foreground.

In both cases the photographer's back was to the dividing wall
facing into the 'poor' side of the dwelling.

Balcony House circa 1962 with me in the foreground.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/50088558

We have enjoyed Prater Ridge Trail, Knife Edge Trail, Point Lookout Trail [which has a SPECTACULAR view of the entire area, can see 18o degrees!

http://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/hiking.htm

Take you time hiking, and bring LOTS of water and sunscreen [high sfp]and lipbalm with spf. Hats are a must.Hiking boots nice, no sandals, but sneakers ok.

Deb

Thank you all Sabbin