One Of America's Most Awe-Inspiring Historical Sites Is A Culturally Rich Southwestern National Park

Where can you find the largest pre-19th-century buildings in North America? You might be surprised to learn that they stand way out in the deserts of New Mexico. Long before skyscrapers and vast industrial sites appeared on the East Coast, Ancestral Puebloans constructed multi-story buildings with hundreds of rooms in Chaco Canyon. Today, Chaco Culture National Historical Park preserves this legacy, offering visitors a chance to visit one of the best ancient sites in the U.S.

Chaco Canyon lies in northwestern New Mexico, about three hours from Albuquerque. The drive across the sweeping plains is a study in austere beauty, and it can be hard to imagine that this remote area was once the center of a thriving civilization. But when you glimpse the monumental scale of the architecture, Chaco's significance becomes obvious. Inhabited between 850 and 1250 A.D., Chaco gives visitors the chance to discover grand, stone-built great houses and centuries-old petroglyphs and provides a glimpse into the ingenuity and culture of the Ancestral Puebloans.

Start your trip to Chaco at the excellent visitor center, where you can learn about the area from park staff and buy a guidebook to learn more. From the visitor center, you can embark on the 9-mile Canyon Loop Drive, which takes you to five major architectural sites. These include the largest of the grand houses, Pueblo Bonito, which the National Park Service (NPS) says is "the most important site in the canyon and a must for all visitors." The vast complex was built over a 300-year period from 850 to 1150 A.D., had over 350 ground-floor rooms, and reached four stories in parts. You can walk through the atmospheric site and discover what the NPS calls "the center of the Chacoan world."

Chetro Ketl, the second largest of the great houses, sits near Pueblo Bonito. Consider accessing it via the short walking trail along the cliff face that leads past some well-preserved petroglyphs. Covering more than three acres, Chetro Ketl features a plaza raised 12 feet above the canyon floor.

If you want to stretch your legs, head out on one of the park's four backcountry hiking trails. The most popular is the 5.5-mile Pueblo Alto loop, which offers spectacular views of Pueblo Bonito from above, as well as Chetro Ketl and the San Juan Basin. The longest trail is a 7.5-mile trek to an unexcavated great house at Peñasco Blanco. Hikers on AllTrails love this route for its solitude and views of the petroglyphs.

To truly enjoy everything Chaco has to offer, stay overnight at Gallo Campground. The sites are surrounded by a cliff dwelling and petroglyphs and offer magnificent views of the landscape. One Google reviewer called the campground "unique and magical," while another described it as "remote and wonderful." Sites cost $20 per night and can be reserved at recreation.gov.

One of the best things about staying overnight is the opportunity to stargaze under some top-ranked star-lit skies. Chaco is a designated Dark Sky Park, recognized for its low light pollution and fabulous celestial views. The Chaco Night Sky Program offers visitors the chance to connect with Chaco culture, blending ancient interpretations of the stars with modern approaches.

If exploring Chaco Culture National Historical Park leaves you wanting to see more in the area, consider a trip to the Valley of Dreams, where a hiking trail allows you to discover stunning hoodoos rising from the earth. One Google reviewer calls the Valley of Dreams trail "one of the most spectacular hikes in New Mexico." The trailhead is just 40 minutes from the visitor center at Chaco, and the breathtaking natural landscape provides the perfect complement to the human-made structures at Chaco.