Chaco Canyon Boondock

[baron1953]

A long anticipated trip to Chaco Canyon was recently realized. The quietness and isolation of Chaco Canyon proved to be a great place for self reflection and focused study of an amazing culture that peaked over 800 years ago.

"As examples of primitive architectural skill the 18 major ruins of Chaco Canyon National Monument, N. Mex., are without equal in the United States."





Chaco Canyon Gallery:

http://casitaadventures.smugmug.com/Casita-Adventures/130907-Chaco-Canyon/31726194_HC8TBL

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

I'm not sure you need to make reservations.

Obviously there is a need for reservations from some people going to the campground, or they would not be doing implementing that system.

When I want to go to a government park (COE is my most common type of federal park) - I look at the recreation.gov web site and look at open sites at the park for my size unit and needs. If it looks like less than 10% of the campsites are open - I will call the campground/ ranger station and ask about usage.

I might make a reservation 5 days or so before arrival. I'll usually reserve for 2 or 3 days.

For campgrounds not busy - I just show up.

I've never had any problem extending my stay - if the site was not reserved by someone else - out to the maximum permitted for that campground. When I arrive and ask for a site - I always ask if the individual site is reserved for any period in the next two weeks. I try to get a site which is open for two weeks. That can change over night - so be aware.

I have no idea about the usage percentage for the Chaco campground. Outside of holidays like Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends - I would not expect the campground to be full / booked.

I'm hoping to be there either in mid-May or late September/ early October 2014. I'll find out if I'm completely wrong about the usage.

[pnichols]

Thanks for the campground info and links!

Drycamping in the desert is no problem for us (we're rockhounds). However having to make reservations for that campground sure takes some of the spontaneity away ... which is a bummer way out there as to you can't estimate how many days you might want to stay until you get out there and wind up having more fun than you thought you would.

Once you're out there in that campground and your reservation(s) run out, do you automatically have first dibs at signing up for more days - locally at the campground (using an iron ranger) - to extend the time in your campsite that you originally reserved?

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

The Fee at Chaco Canyon is going up to $15 per night and it will be a reservation campground - starting Jan 8, 2014.

Chaco Canyon Camping

Your rig needs to be under 35 feet.

You cannot make a reservation yet - that will start on Jan 8 - but recreation.gov has the campground information, site listings, map, etc up and viewable.

[Windwalker55]

pnichols wrote:
trikepilot,

Would you clarify something for me ... after driving miles and miles back into Chaco Canyon to explore and photograph ... do you have to drive back out of it in the afternoon to camp?

In other words, are there any spots way back in there where you are allowed stay and drycamp overnight so you can continue the next day without another long drive in?

Chaco Canyon has a campground. It has no services so it is for dry camping only.

The fee is $10 per night and it is a first come first serve campground. If you get there and the campground is full then, yes I guess you would need to drive back out that night. I'm not sure if they have any overflow camping or not. It probably wouldn't hurt to call ahead just to see if there are openings at the campground and if they do have overflow camping.

Here is a link: Chaco Canyon

[bka0721]

trikepilot wrote:
Yes the road into Chaco Canyon is not the best. We travel with a motor-glider on a trailer behind the RV and get photos like the one here of Pueblo Bonita.Great place to visit even if the road in sucks.

What a great photo! Always love to see the parks from so many different perspectives.

I do have a question, for trikepilot; "Do you verify what the air restrictions and minimum flight altitudes are for the different National Parks are before taking flight? With the McCain law, noise level restrictions and now being researched, restrictions on Drone Flights, for our National Parks and Monuments, I thought you might be more familiar with these rules and could shed some light on the subject.

Thanks!

b

[Roy_Lynne]

Chaco Canyon is on my bucket list. Hope I make it.

[garyhaupt]

Phil...I have spent a lot of time in the area and I cannot think of any place that I would have boondocked. The geography appears to be pretty bleak and empty but that is far from the truth. There are lots of hogans spread out and sheep pens. Plus that is all Navajo Reservation and one needs to be careful not offend.I would recommend driving in and taking a camp site for a couple nights. depending on the time of year, a person might need water or just a quiet place. And the fear of flash flooding isn't a concern in the Park itself. I want to add too...that being out there in the Park at night is pretty spectacular.


Gary Haupt

[pnichols]

trikepilot,

Would you clarify something for me ... after driving miles and miles back into Chaco Canyon to explore and photograph ... do you have to drive back out of it in the afternoon to camp?

In other words, are there any spots way back in there where you are allowed stay and drycamp overnight so you can continue the next day without another long drive in?

[trikepilot]

Yes the road into Chaco Canyon is not the best. We travel with a motor-glider on a trailer behind the RV and get photos like the one here of Pueblo Bonita.Great place to visit even if the road in sucks.

[pnichols]

Gary, thanks much.

We like visiting Native American sites in the West. We even camped in our Class C on a reservation once just outside the Badlands and paid a tribal member to drive us around the reservation to see where and how she and her friends lived on the reservation. Very interesting and informative.

The longest and worst offroad drive we've been on has been the one out of Plush, Oregon going to/from the Sunstone sites. This was about 25 miles each way at 7-10 MPH because of extreme washboarding. Our next worst drive has been on the "RVs Not Recommended" route within Monument Valley - no washboards but several whoop-dee-doops, ruts, and side-slanted road surfaces.

You are right-on with the key being to go slow! Most posters in the forums don't consider a Class C as basically indeed "a truck" and capable of going to/through the same kind of situations that a pickup truck is. Ours has the same ground clearance as most stock 2WD pickup trucks and run-of-the-mill stock SUVs do. However, pickups and SUVs do have a much better rear departure angle than even a short Class C has.

[garyhaupt]

pnichols wrote:
Are the Chaco Canyon roads that so many say are so rough CR7950 and CR7980?

Phil..I have been into Chaco 4 times. There is a shorter route from Crown Point Agency...Chaco Canyon Road off of Navajo Service Road 9. Google Crown Point and follow it in. I liked this route better than 7950..shorter. But..not for low clearance 'C's if there has been rain. Mighty ditches. 7950 is well traveled and has only one 'watch-out' spot. It's a wide spot subject to flash floods. It has soft sand in it..so, you'll be fine. Really, the key to Chaco is to go slow. The road is 25 miles of washboard. If a person just drifts along, looking around and playing some music...all is great. If, on the other hand, a person has to high-ball? then they won't be happy.

My last run in I did at night...when I had oncoming, both times I just stopped and let them go by. It is narrow and soft shoulders. What drives in, has to be towed out.

It's a very cool place if a person has a spiritual side to them. There's some very cool mysteries and unknowns. If, on the other hand, a person doesn't have that side...well, it's just a bunch of ruins.


Gary Haupt

[pnichols]

Are the Chaco Canyon roads that so many say are so rough CR7950 and CR7980?

[Windwalker55]

I spent about 5 days there a couple of years ago. Had originally planned to spend 2 days. It is fascinating. Plenty of hiking and some good programs kept me there. It is a rough drive in but that keeps the weak of heart out and maintains a quiet quality.

[garyhaupt]

Avalie wrote:
Thanks for the fabulous photos and the interesting comments. We are planning on visiting Chaco near the end of December 2013.

I would be interested in any information on the nearest place to camp with full hookups.

I am guessing the nearest is out in Bloomfield. That'd be a long drive to go in just for a day trip, but..others have done it.

Is there a reason you can't drive in and overnight at least for one, better two nights?


Gary Haupt