Chaco Canyon is not an easy place to reach. It is between Farmington and Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the middle of barren desert. Your only choice to stay nearby is that of camping in the park in a rather rustic campground--best done in a camper. We stayed in Farmington and drove the almost two hours to reach the park, ending the drive on a mostly flat dirt road in barren desert country. And suddenly there were canyon walls. Driving in, before we saw any ruins, we felt the spiritual force of the place. For me Chaco Canyon was much more about the energy of the place than about the ruins though the ruins were large and easier to see and spend time in and around than those in Mesa Verde (about which I'll write another time).
A fellow Daughter of the King, an international prayer order whose cross that I wear identified me, was a ranger there and our guide for a two-hour tour of Pablo Bonita, the largest ruin in Chaco Canyon, pictured from a distance below. It was four-five stories at the back walls and had over 600 rooms. Our guide spoke of how the people there must have lived, pointed out the detailed rock work, and we noticed that even the storage rooms were done with care. This entire canyon was filled with astonishing structures around AD 1020 - 1120.
Unprepared for a rocky hike!
Our guide, wanting to be sure we were having an enjoyable time, followed us to the next ruin on the loop and introduced us to the Navajo man who had been the master of restoration in the park for a number of years. He told us he was the only Navajo (a Hopi reservation adjoins the park) and also a medicine man. He said those working there needed his healing services frequently.
And the canyon itself--we could have spent many more hours there, but did take time for a brief walk/hike. It appeared that we wouldn't be going up the hillside--just a little walk around some small ruins. When the trail turned up a rocky slope, it was impossible to stop. The feel of the space and reaching a height where we could survey the area was enticing. The photos give you only a tiny sense of the grandeur of Chaco Canyon. I would love to return, stay overnight and hike the trails.
PS: I've been trying to post this for about a week. Hope it happens today!
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