As you begin to plan your road trips and National Park adventures for the year, the Chaco Culture Conservancy would like to take a moment to remind you to Visit With Respect.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Aztec Ruins National Monument are home to precious cultural and natural resources. As a visitor to these places, it is your job to ensure that they stay pristine and preserved for generations to come. The National Park Service adheres to the Leave No Trace Seven Principals. By following these guidelines, you can visit these archaeological sites with respect!
Here are our tips on how to apply the Leave No Trace Seven Principals at Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Aztec Ruins National Monument:
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
Preparing for a trip to the parks is important to ensuring a successful visit. Always check the website for the site that you’re visiting to check the park opening hours and any weather alerts. If you’re worried about the weather or road conditions when visiting Chaco Culture National Historical Park, we advise calling the park the morning before your visit to check conditions with park staff.
If you plan on hiking or camping during your visit, always prepare by knowing the regulations. Be sure to bring plenty of food and water with you, and ensure that you have adequate sun protection!
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Aztec Ruins National Monument have many trails to explore! As you wander through the ancient buildings and hike across the high desert, staying on the trail helps protect the sacred landscape and ensures your safety as a visitor.
Camping at Chaco Culture National Historical Park is only permitted at Gallo Campground. Visit recreation.gov to make your camping reservation today!
During your visit to these sites, it is also important to avoid touching, leaning on, or climbing the ancient structures. These buildings are often over 1,000 years old and although they are stable, continued visitor use will cause rapid decay. Help us ensure the protection of these sites for generations to come by limiting your contact with the architecture.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
There are plenty of garbage facilities dotted around both parks. Always be sure that you Leave No Trace by cleaning up any garbage or food waste.
4. Leave What you Find
Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Aztec Ruins National Monument encompass ancient archaeological sites. This means that you may come across artifacts on the ground, most commonly pot sherds. Although these artifacts offer a fascinating look into the past, it is important to leave them where they are. Removing artifacts from Federal land is illegal under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act and can negatively impact the story of the landscape. Additionally, pecking or scraping your own images into a rock surface or painting graffiti is considered an act of vandalism, and is a misdemeanor at National Park sites. Vandalism is punishable with up to a $5,000 fine and 6 months in jail.
Admiring rock art is an exciting experience at Chaco Culture NHP, and it is important to keep these resources pristine for other visitors. You wouldn’t touch art in a museum, so refrain from touching petroglyphs and pictographs in their sacred settings. Oil from our hands and repeated touching can weather and damage rock art images. It may seem harmless, but if every visitor that passed by ran their fingers over a piece of rock art, it wouldn’t take long to degrade it.
Natural resources also play an important role in the ecosystem of these places. Removing rocks, plants, and other natural objects can change that ecosystem. Both natural and cultural features play an important role in telling the story of the parks. Everything that you come across should be left as you find them so that others can enjoy the same sense of discovery.
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
Campfires are only permitted at campsites and within fire rings at Gallo Campground. Be sure to check in at the visitor’s center in case of a burn-ban put in place by dry conditions in New Mexico. Also keep in mind that you cannot purchase firewood in the park, and must supply your own.
6. Respect Wildlife
Wildlife is abundant in New Mexico! While exploring the parks you may see a herd of elk, a sunbathing lizard, or a curious raven. These are only a few of the critters you’ll find and it is important to remember to keep wildlife wild! Never feed wildlife and always ensure that your food waste is disposed of properly. Do not approach wildlife and be sure to keep your distance while taking pictures.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Some people visit the parks to learn about the history, some to enjoy a vigorous hike, and some visit to bathe in the ancient and peaceful surroundings. No matter what experience you’re looking for in the parks, be sure to respect the experiences of those around you. Keep your noise to a minimum, be courteous on the trails, and leave your surroundings pristine for fellow visitors.
Learn More About the Leave No Trace Seven Principals
We hope that you will apply these guidelines to your NPS visits to ensure a safe, educational, and respectful trip! As always, the Chaco Culture Conservancy thanks you for being a valued member of our community and for your dedication to preserving these national parks.