It is official!! Yep, I have located the worst dirt roads in New Mexico and it lead us straight to Chaco Culture National Historical Park!!
After 21 miles of the worst dirt roads I have ever driven, this hidden National Park seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
The ruins were visible and impressive from the road, but the less known trails called my name!
I set our course on the Pueblo Alto Trail!
This trail took us vertical! We left the valley floor, rock scrambled up and through a slot canyon, and landed on the cliffs edge.
From the top, a birds eye view of the treasured ruins stole the show!
Cairns led the way from here as we passed a few overlooks before heading further inland.
The further we got away from the canyons edge, the easier it was to forget the views we left behind. We soon stumbled upon the ruins that gave this trail its name!
The Pueblo Alto ruins stand tall, hidden from view above the valley floor. Broken pottery was scattered along the trail and gave a glimpse of life 1000 years ago.
After exploring the ruins and taking a moment to rest, the trail led us back to the canyons edge and more amazing overlooks!
But before we could reach the overlooks, we had to scramble between the smallest “fat man’s squeeze” we have ever seen to reach the ridge line below! It was so small, Watson had to be carried because his shoulders were too wide.
Once at the bottom though, the views of the ruins were breathtaking!
Each set of ruins displayed unique characteristics and each was as awesome as the last! Pictures do little justice to this view including how high we stood above it all.
To fully appreciate the Chaco Ruins, this vantage point is a must!
After 6 long miles viewing the ruins from above, it was time to see them up close and a whole new appreciation came into view!
Using the rocks found along the canyon wall, these buildings were erected with precision and are an engineering marvel! Standing for over One Thousand Years, these structures were built to last.
One of the largest structure units we saw was Chetro Keti.
But, my favorite was the Pueblo Bonito!
Chaco Culture National Historical Park was an indescribable experience that was worth every step of our 8+ mile journey.
With every week that passes, this crazy amazing Travel Nursing adventure gets better and better! Continue to follow along, every Sunday, as I continue to chase the trails and capture my adventures along the way!
