Chaco Culture

The Center of an Ancient World

Today the massive buildings of the Ancestral Puebloan people still testify to the organizational and engineering abilities not seen anywhere else in the American Southwest. For a deeper contact with the canyon that was central to thousands of people between 850 and 1250 A.D., come and explore Chaco through guided tours, hiking & biking trails, evening campfire talks, and night sky programs.

International Dark Sky Park

On August 19, 2013 Chaco Culture was officially designated an International Dark Sky Park.

Carlsbad Caverns

Beauty and Wonder; Above and Below

High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus, and desert wildlife—treasures above the ground in the Chihuahuan Desert. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves—formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes.

Reservations Required to Enter Cavern

First-Time Visitors

Important information for first-time visitors to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Plan Your Visit

Directions, hours, fees, things to do, and more.

Plan Like a Park Ranger

Top-10 tips for visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Download the NPS App

Learn About the Park

Nature, history, culture, photos, publications, and more.

Gift Shop, Eating, and Sleeping

A variety of options are available.

Bookstore

The bookstore is operated by our non-profit

Aztec Ruins

Footprint of Ancestral Pueblo Society

Pueblo people describe this site as part of their migration journey. Today you can follow their ancient passageways to a distant time. Explore a 900-year old ancestral Pueblo Great House of over 400 masonry rooms. Look up and see original timbers holding up the roof. Search for the fingerprints of ancient workers in the mortar. Listen for an echo of ritual drums in the reconstructed Great Kiva.

Explore the Aztec West Trail

Walk the half-mile trail through Aztec Ruins. Discover T-shaped doorways, intact ancestral Pueblo rooms, and a reconstructed Great Kiva!

Wupatki

Walnut Canyon

Remarkable Rocks and Ancient Cliff Dwellings

Come gaze across curved canyon walls. Among the remarkable geological formations of the canyon itself, the former homes of ancient inhabitants are easily evident. Along the trails you can imagine life within Walnut Canyon, while visiting actual pueblos and walking in the steps of those who came before.

View Cliff Dwellings on the Island Trail

The one mile round-trip Island Trail provides access to 25 cliff dwellings.

Sunset Crater Volcano

The Destruction and Rebirth of a Landscape

The cinder cone volcano’s rim is the dusky red of sunset, but the crater is only part of the story. Around 1085 the ground began to shake, and lava spewed high into the air. When the eruption finished, it had changed both the landscape and the people who lived here. Today, it teaches how nature and humankind affect each other—and how rebirth and renewal happen in the wake of disaster.

Fee Free Days

While the entry fee for Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is usually $25 per vehicle, here are days when you can visit for free!

Petrified Forest

Many people don’t realize how much there is to do at Petrified Forest National Park! There is something to interest everyone here. Be sure to check our Calendar to see if something special is happening the day you will be here. Right now some things are limited due to safety considerations.

Plan Like a Park Ranger
A little trip planning can ensure that your only surprises are happy ones. To help everyone have a great experience, National Park Service rangers share their top 10 insider tips to #PlanLikeAParkRanger.

Hit the Road
A good starting point is a drive through the park, stopping at some of the overlooks.

Hit the Trail
There are maintained trails in the park that highlight topics like archeology, natural environments, and the famous petrified logs.

Hiking
The adventurous hiker will love wandering off trail in the Petrified Forest. For those that want guidance we have Off the Beaten Path routes as well.

Backpacking
Hiking and camping in the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area is a great opportunity for solitude and adventure. Enjoy colorful sunsets, the incredible night sky, and inspiring sunrises.

Bicycling
The park road is great for exploring, but there are a few other routes you can take by bike.

Horseback Riding
Play cowboy! Enjoy a ride in the park–BYOH (bring your own horse!)

Geocaching

This worldwide game—or other similar pastimes—of hiding and seeking treasure can be played in some national parks, including Petrified Forest!

Guided Tours
Join a ranger—or scientist, volunteer, cultural demonstrator, reenactor, or other field expert—for a guided activity.

Dogs and Other Critters
Enjoy the park with your furry (feathered, scaled or…) friend or family member!

Visitor Centers and Exhibits
Stop at Painted Desert Visitor Center and the Rainbow Forest Museum to plan your visit, ask questions, get your Junior Ranger booklet, and discover exhibits.

Navajo

The Canyons that Have Been Occupied for Centuries

The Hopi, San Juan Southern Paiute, Zuni, and Navajo are tribes that have inhabited the canyons for centuries. Springs fed into farming land on the canyon floor and homes were built in the natural sandstone alcoves. The cliff dwellings of Betatakin, Keet Seel, and Inscription House were last physically occupied around 1300 AD but the villages have a spiritual presence that can still be felt today.

Generation to Generation

Learn more about the ancestral ways of life of the alcove dwellers and how modern tribal members have kept that heritage alive.

Park is Open with Limited Services

Limited Services are currently available. Find out what is offered at the park at this time. The park is free and open year-round.

Guided Cliff Dwelling Tours

Guided Cliff Dwelling Tours to Betatakin and Keet Seel are CLOSED until further notice due to COVID-19 related park closures.

Montezuma Castle

Window Into The Past

Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff, tells a story of ingenuity, survival and ultimately, prosperity in an unforgiving desert landscape.

Archaeology at Montezuma Castle

Explore artifacts from the Sinagua People

Montezuma Well

Explore the geology, plants, and animals.

Natural Resources at Montezuma Castle

Explore the wildlife and plants of Montezuma Castle.

Become a Junior Ranger!

Do you have what it takes to learn about Montezuma Castle?

Your Field Trip Starts Here!

Find out how to apply for an educational fee waiver.

Filming and Still Photography

Interested In Commercial Filming Or Still Photography? Check Out Our Rules And Regulations Before Visiting

Protecting The Night

Protecting Our Dark Skies

Nearby Attractions

Check Out Other Locations In The Verde Valley

Lake Mead

Discover Lake Mead

Lake Mead, America’s largest reservoir, was created by the construction of the Hoover Dam. With more than 750 miles of shoreline, you can enjoy a day at the beach, take a boat out and disappear for hours or nestle into a cove to try to catch a big one.

VIsitor Center

Start your day at the Lake Mead Visitor Center where rangers will help you plan your adventure.

Hemenway Harbor

From here, you can launch your own boat, rent one for the day or just a few hours or take a cruise to the Hoover Dam.

Boulder Beach

Located just minutes from Las Vegas, Boulder Beach stretches more than a mile along the shoreline of the Boulder Basin of Lake Mead.

Boulder Harbor

Boulder Harbor is where locals like to launch. It’s only minutes from the Las Vegas Valley.

Las Vegas Bay

The perfect mix between frontcountry and backcountry. Just minutes from amenities, but secluded enough to enjoy a campout under the stars.

Callville Bay

Adventure awaits at Callville Bay. Bring your own watercraft, or rent personal watercraft, ski boats, pontoons and even houseboats.

Echo Bay

Welcome to fisherman’s paradise. Gas up, grab some snacks and hit the open waters of Lake Mead along the peaceful Overton Arm.

Temple Bar

This is where boaters go when they want to getaway from the city and relax on the blue waters of Lake Mead surrounded by colorful desert.

South Cove

This is where the Colorado River exits the Grand Canyon and starts to form Lake Mead. Located on the eastern edge of the park.

Parks