Winter Solstice at Aztec Ruins National Monument

Join us at Aztec Ruins National Monument for a special Winter Solstice observation on Monday, December 22!

Visitors will meet at the Visitor Center by 4:30 pm, then be escorted by NPS rangers and volunteers to witness the ancestral solar alignment of the Great House at sunset. This remarkable architectural feature was designed nearly 900 years ago by ancestral Pueblo people, aligning the northwest wall with the position of the winter solstice sunset.

Event Details
✨ Monday, Dec 22
✨ Meet at 4:30 pm at the Visitor Center
✨ Free — no reservations required
✨ Guided walk and sunset observation
✨ Dress warmly and wear good walking shoes

As long as skies are clear, visitors will see the sunset reach its southernmost point on the horizon – a moment ancient architects planned with stunning precision.

We’re grateful to partner with Aztec Ruins National Monument and celebrate the deep history and living connections of this extraordinary site.