pueblo bonito

TeddynTula

Talk about solid construction, and these folks must have been fairly serious about their religion too with all the kivas! It was a nice hike too. I liked how they created easy paths for visitors to hike around and see what was there.

815debp

It has awesome energy and the construction is amazing to admire. Take the guided tour to really learn about the location.

Feuerspatz

Pueblo bonito was for me the most impressive of all precolumbian settlements in Chaco Canyon metropolis. Although little is known about culture and daily living of its inhabitants, it is a wonderful place for imagination. Do not miss one of the free guided tours done by enthusiastic rangers with profund knowledge about actual research status. For the trip to Chaco canyon, see separate reviews for the General canyon.

868karris

I wish that I could have stayed the night in a room there. The place is so vast and special. I love it there, it is just kind of hard to get there, it is a true American adventure.

Bunmaster2014

The site was originally inhabited around 828 AD. Those ancestral pueblo people abandoned this site in 1126 AD. There are some 800 rooms here. The inhabitants apparently traded with natives in Mexico. My wife and I spent over an hour walking around and through these ruins. We wore hiking shoes and hats with a wide brim.

180deboraha

Want to get a feel for what it was like living in these magnificint buildings? Be sure to attend a Ranger-led tour through this ruin.

hankwill

This pueblo has the best explanations and is an easy walk from the parking lot. Stop at the visitor's center and see the video before you visit the ruins.

LRRabbits

Washboard road in and out was difficult in a rental car.History and architecture rolled into one adventure. This whole area is magnificent.

VivienneH_12

The craftsmanship and beauty of this buildings is incredible. Because of the size and the many structures of Chaco Canyon you can get a real glimpse of what life could have been like. I was blown away by the beauty and stillness of this place. You can get inside and see just how many rooms go off each other and the doorways stretch on and on. And the size of this pueblo is awe-inspiring. You could easily spend time here camping and exploring. I was here for just one day and would love to return.

Brumul

This site is a must see when visiting Chaco Canyon. Best times to visit are in early spring or fall when it is much cooler,

BillinMidMO

The site is amazing and the ranger does not have the time to thoroughly explain the site in terms of paleoastronomy. There were 45 people on our tour...a bit unwieldy...but worth it. It would be a good idea to watch the Robert Redford film prior to going on the tour.

mjrg59

This huge site allows you access to peruse each area within it and learn about kivas as well as accommodations. It is superb and not overly visited so plan on spending time here.

Citallwic

Seeing Pueblo Bonito at long last held special meaning for Colorado Jim and me. We’ve been keenly interested in Ancestral Puebloan culture ever since we toured Mesa Verde National Park and the Lion Canyon area of the adjacent Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation during our first buddy trip back in 2009. On subsequent trips to the southwest we’ve visited cliff dwellings and related ruins at Hovenweep National Monument, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, and several other sites.We’d been eager to have a look at Chaco Canyon and its Bonito Pueblo complex ever since learning that this place might very well have functioned for several centuries as the trade, ceremonial, and administrative capital of the Four Corners area of the Ancestral Puebloan realm. Now that we’ve seen the Great House ruins, it’s easy to understand why scientists have been so fascinated with the distinctive architecture and spectacular character of these ancient public and ceremonial buildings. Very high in Wow! Factor, and definitely recommended.

ctfamof4

Taking the Park Ranger tour was well worth it. First - it's free! And you get a wealth of information about the dwelling and the known history of the area!

travelpanthers

It's hard to understand the scale without standing there your self. We were lucky enough to actually get it to ourselves just before the sun went down. Amazing!