The Golden Circle

Ancestral Puebloan sites are many and varied. Massive pueblos, extraordinary great kivas, spectacular cliff dwellings, and  dramatic towers perched atop shifting boulders characterize some sites. Others feature humble unit pueblos and scattered images carved in stone. Many popular sites have stabilized walls along with paved walkways and attentive docents. Other, more remote sites are left in states of natural decay with sand paths and published visitors' guides of uneven quality. A few spots can be visited only with qualified Native American guides, but many others have ranger-guided walks. The majority offer minimal assistance and encourage visitors to explore on their own. 

This variety complicates trip planning, but the Golden Circle is a good starting point. With 13 important sites in four states centered on the four corners monument, the Golden Circle displays nearly a thousand years of Ancestral Puebloan occupation. It is also a good start for more expansive excursions.

The "Golden Circle Tour" is detailed in Chapter 9 of  the Anasazi Guide with complete directions and descriptions of the major sites.

Move your cursor over the red or blue dots to see the park's name and click on the dot to bring up more information.