Chaco Pueblos

We drove 2 1/2 hours out into the desert to visit these ancient ruins, the drive there was through dramatic landscapes and breathtaking. The seemingly endless last 19 miles were gravel roads. Just when we started to really question the whole thing, the road went from bad to worse, the final 2 miles was the WORST road we have ever traveled on any where in the world. After fording a small river ( which was fortunately not deep) , the dirt track became badly rutted and wash boarded, I crept along at 5 miles and hour, The dusty road was littered with occasional hub caps and miscellaneous car parts shaken loose by fools driving too fast. We finally made it.

The ruins are vast, the Indians

, who were Master stone masons, abandoned this site almost a thousand years ago during a prolonged drought. There were hundreds of Petroglyphs (ancient graffiti) on a nearby cliff base.

There were perhaps 40 tourists wandering around , the tough access keeps the crowds away. Chaco is considered one of the best preserved sites in the South West. A worthy bucket list candidate.

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