Chaco Canyon 4-11-12 to 4-14-12
- Thread starter ttora4runner
- Start date
cnynrat
Expedition Leader
Great report - Thanks for posting!
The main road into the park from US 550 is a maintained county road that includes about 13 miles of dirt. In dry conditions it can be driven in a passenger car, but when wet it can be quite slick. We were there this past November, and left early one morning after a night of steady rain. We made it out without problem, but there were a few places where we were doing a little side to side drifting while driving down a straight section of the road at about 10 mph. It would be easy to get a little careless and end up in the ditch.
The main road into the park from US 550 is a maintained county road that includes about 13 miles of dirt. In dry conditions it can be driven in a passenger car, but when wet it can be quite slick. We were there this past November, and left early one morning after a night of steady rain. We made it out without problem, but there were a few places where we were doing a little side to side drifting while driving down a straight section of the road at about 10 mph. It would be easy to get a little careless and end up in the ditch.
ttora4runner
Expedition Leader
Gald I could help.
ttora4runner
Expedition Leader
Kin Ya'a 12-20-12
A little over 8 months I paid a visit to Chaco Canyon and within the timeframe that I had was able to visit the ruins witin the park and the outliners with the exception of Kin Ya'a. I wasn't quite sure when or if I'd be able to make it back but a few months later I decided that I would make the drive from Colorado Springs, Co back to Phoenix, Arizona to visit my family for Christmas and take the chance to visit the ruin. My original plan was to visit Kin Ya'a but also Guadalupe Ruin just outside of Alberque, New Mexico but due to a lack of sleep (due to work) and road conditions coming down (roads between Pueblo, Co and Rantan, NM were bad) I made the call to skip it and just head to Kin Ya'a. When I arrived at the road that lead back to the ruin I found the gate closed and a 'private property' sign up. Not wanting to tresspass I gave the park service a call at Chaco Canyon to verify that the road back was still open and that I could open the gate. After chatting with them for a few moments I undid the rope latch and headed on back.
Kin Ya'a ruin
A little over 8 months I paid a visit to Chaco Canyon and within the timeframe that I had was able to visit the ruins witin the park and the outliners with the exception of Kin Ya'a. I wasn't quite sure when or if I'd be able to make it back but a few months later I decided that I would make the drive from Colorado Springs, Co back to Phoenix, Arizona to visit my family for Christmas and take the chance to visit the ruin. My original plan was to visit Kin Ya'a but also Guadalupe Ruin just outside of Alberque, New Mexico but due to a lack of sleep (due to work) and road conditions coming down (roads between Pueblo, Co and Rantan, NM were bad) I made the call to skip it and just head to Kin Ya'a. When I arrived at the road that lead back to the ruin I found the gate closed and a 'private property' sign up. Not wanting to tresspass I gave the park service a call at Chaco Canyon to verify that the road back was still open and that I could open the gate. After chatting with them for a few moments I undid the rope latch and headed on back.
Kin Ya'a ruin
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NM-Frontier
Explorer
Can't wait to see the pics, that is the one part of the park I'v never been out to. How was the weather up there?
ttora4runner
Expedition Leader
Despite the being tried from the long drive the visit to the site was very much welcomed and kind of rejuvenated me a bit.
ttora4runner
Expedition Leader
Cold. If I remember right the temperature gauge in my car was showing 23*F but it didn't feel like it.
NM-Frontier
Explorer
Those are great pics! Looks good with a bit of snow. Its been "cold" down here figured it was really cold up there. :sombrero:
EdwinThomp
New member
Wow
Wow! Chaco Canyon, New Mexico is a must visit place. I really enjoy watching the pics. They are really cool
Wow! Chaco Canyon, New Mexico is a must visit place. I really enjoy watching the pics. They are really cool