Pueblo Alto Trail
The Pueblo Alto Trail is one of my favorite trails of all time. It’s a 5.1 mile loop that takes you above the beautiful ruin filled canyon and lets you experience the history of the place from a bird’s eye view. To get to the trail you have to park at the Pueblo del Arroyo parking lot before walking for .3 miles on the old jeep trail towards Kin Kletso where you can wander around the high walled ruins.
Then in the back of the ruins against the vertical canyon wall the trail takes you up the naturally and human carved little slot canyon towards the rim.
Once on the rim, the trail morphs into an exciting and unforgettable walk as you follow the rim above the ruins. Across the canyon and the road is the Pueblo del Arroyo which sits just above the arroyo.
After the split in the trail which brings you back from the Pueblo Alto Complex, Pueblo Bonito comes into view and its massive ruins are so exciting to see from this vantage point. The high walls, kivas, ceremonial spaces, and big houses are an incredible feat by the Anasazi / Ancestral Puebloans.
Chetro Ketl is next and is equally as awe inspiring with its long straight walls.
If you get at the right vantage point, a line of ruins is visible to the northwest from the cliff’s rim.
But from here the trail ventures away from the canyon’s massive ruins of big houses and kivas and heads north up onto the open mesa top for about a half mile before turning west.
Eventually the distant Chuska Mountains can be seen with the ruins of the Pueblo Alto Complex which you can usually explore in solitude.
From the Pueblo Alto Complex it’s another .6 miles south towards the canyon rim again and then .7 miles back to Kin Kletso. When you’re back at your vehicle you’ll wish you could immediately do the hike again… at least I did.
If you’re interested in the unique and exciting history of Chaco Culture National Historical Park and the surrounding Four Corners Area, listen to my history podcast which details in depth, the people, their culture, and the landscape. I have an entire series, starting with the Ice Age and going right up to the Spanish which covers the Anasazi, Ancestral Puebloans, Mesa Verdeans, Mogollon, Hohokam, and of course, the Chacoans.