New Mexico's Pueblo Bonito to Cetro Ketl Trail
Chaco Culture National Historic Park Trail Shows Pueblo Great House
Feb 12, 2009
New Mexico's Pueblo Bonito to Cetro Ketl trail loop at Chaco Culture National Historic Park offers visitors some of the finest examples of Pueblo architecture and petroglyphs in the Southwest. Hikers who venture within the walls of Pueblo Bonito will be impressed by the sophistication of its construction.
History of Chaco Canyon
Chaco Canyon was inhabited for more than 7,000 years at various times by the Pueblo, Hopi, Navajo and their ancestors. While Europe was deep into the Middle Ages from 850 to 1250, the canyon was a major hub of Pueblo culture in the Four Corners area. Great houses like Pueblo Bonito and Cetro Ketl were multistoried facilities built out of quarried stone for public use. Each great house included at least one large kiva, a subterranean room used for spiritual ceremonies.
After Mesa Verde was excavated in 1888 interest in Chaco also grew, and in 1907 the Chaco Canyon National Monument was established. Chaco continues to be studied by researchers.
Trail Route
The trail is located off the park’s Canyon Loop Drive about four miles from the visitor center. Visitors park within sight of Pueblo Bonito and Cheto Ketl and choose which to visit first. The cliff face trail linking the two sites is filled with petroglyphs.
The combination trail is about a mile long and takes about an hour and a half or more to hike. It’s a slow hike because visitors typically stop at various points along the way to take a closer look at petroglyphs and other archeological features. Those who want a shorter hike can opt to visit just one of the great houses and part of the Petroglyph Trail.
The trail is easily self-guided and trail guides can be purchased at the visitor center or trailhead. Rangers lead tours of Pueblo Bonito at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily from May to October.
Trail Tips
- Summer temperatures in the semi-arid desert park can climb into the mid-90s. Fall and spring offer the best weather for hiking.
- Be sure to bring water, raingear, sunscreen, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. Bring binoculars for viewing petroglyphs high up on the cliff face.
- Consider the altitude before embarking on longer hikes or overdoing it on multiple short ones.
Nearby Trails
The park features four other short hikes to archeological sites along Canyon Loop Drive. The Una Vida, Hungo Pavi, Pueblo del Arroyo and Casa Rinconada great-house sites are well worth exploring.
Four backcountry trails are also available at the park, but visitors must obtain free hiking permits from the visitor center or trailhead. The hikes range from the three-mile roundtrip Wijiji Trail to the seven-mile Penasco Blanco Trail.
Park Location and Directions
Located within the northwest corner of New Mexico on the southeast corner of the Colorado Plateau, the park ranges from 6,000 to 6,800 feet in elevation. Although it’s within two hours driving distance of Farmington, the park is fairly isolated. The final 13 miles to the park is along a rough dirt road.
It’s best to approach the park from US Highway 550 as other routes take visitors down roads that are often impassable. Exit US 550 at County Road 7900, three miles southeast of Nageezi. The 21-mile route to the park from the CR 7900 turnoff is clearly marked by signs.
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