Chaco Culture National Historic Park is noted for its remote location and spectacular great pueblos. Reaching the park requires a 17-mile drive on an unpaved road; rough but passable in all but the worst weather.

Within the Park, a well-paved 9-mile loop drive takes visitors to the most important sites: an enormous great kiva, a few exposed unit pueblos, and five great pueblos. Pueblo Bonito is the largest of the five and there are ranger-guided tours during the summer. Self guided tour booklets are available for the major sites, but several are out of date. The Pueblo Bonito guide is over a decade old, and a more informative brochure is available commercially.

In addition to sites along the main loop, four back country trails lead to another half dozen great houses, and maps at the Visitors’ Center provide directions to outlying great houses. Bicycling is permitted throughout the park, and a map detailing longer routes is available at the Visitors’ Center.

There are no food services in the Park and lodging is limited to the campground. Camp sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis and the campground fills up quickly during summer months. More services are available in Bloomfield about 50 miles to the north and Cuba, about 70 miles to the south on Highway 550.

The Anasazi Guide is loaded with information that will make your visit even more enjoyable. Chapter 9 lists "must see" attractions and provides complete driving directions. Chapter 10 summarizes the Anasazi occupation and important archeological research as well as tips for making the most of your visit. 

Many viewers have heard "horror stories" about the road into Chaco Canyon. Here is how I answered one question about visiting the Park.

I'd really like to visit Chaco Canyon, but I'm put off by what I've read about the road. Is it as bad as everyone says?

Yes, and no! That answer depends on your driving experience. If you've spent most of your life on well-paved city streets, the road into Chaco will seem like a nightmare. On the other hand, if you have spent a little time on dirt roads, you will find it to be something you can handle easily.

Anticipate a 17-mile stretch of graded dirt that is frequently heavily washboarded. I've driven it countless times without difficulty--driving everything from a Ford F 250, occasionally pulling a trailer, to a Corvette! In the five months I volunteered there, only one visitor had a problem. He was driving too fast and ran off the road. Within minutes, he was pulled out of the ditch by another visitor with no damage to either vehicle. 

In a standard, two-wheel drive passenger car you probably should avoid making the drive immediately after a severe thunderstorm or heavy snow fall. You can always call the park headquarters for information about the road conditions.

One tip that many visitors appreciated: driving too slow is as bad as driving too fast. Below about 15  mph, your wheels dip into each depression and the ride becomes much rougher than otherwise. Pick a speed that keeps your wheels on the top of the bumps, but is within your comfort level. In my Ford, the ideal speed was 37 mph, but every vehicle is different and you may have to experiment a bit.