Embarking on a road trip is the perfect way to spend a weekend. If you are looking for a route that will show you a taste of what makes New Mexico the Land of Enchantment, you’ll want to try out one of the state’s finest scenic drives: Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway. It’s one of the best scenic drives in New Mexico, and once you embark, you’ll see why pretty fast. Check it out:
This spectacular drive takes you on a 340-mile journey across the northwestern portion of the state.
Mary Madigan/Flickr On the Trail of the Ancients, you will have the chance to learn about and explore some prime examples of New Mexico’s archaeological and geological history dating back millennia.
The start of this drive begins at Chaco Culture National Historical Park, one of New Mexico’s premiere historical sites.
mksfca/Flickr A UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Dark Sky Park, and an important cultural site for local tribes, the history and beauty found at this park illustrates why Trail of the Ancients begins here.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park is made up of a collection of timeworn buildings constructed by Ancient Puebloans and is spread across more than 33,000 acres.
Ron Frazier/Flickr Pueblo homes and ceremonial kivas dating back to 850 A.D. make up the majority of the remains of buildings found here.
These buildings were massive at their peak; Pueblo Pintado is estimated to have stood four stories tall with approximately 650 rooms.
John Fowler/Flickr Other buildings ranged in size from 200 to 700 rooms, while some kivas could hold up to 400 people.
What remains, however, is a stark contrast to how the site must have looked at the end of its occupation around 1250 A.D.
Gary Todd/Flickr Pieces of pottery and jewelry, as well as pictographs lining walls are just a taste of the wonders found here. The on-site museum and visitor center contain even more information about the Ancestral Puebloans who called this location home.
When special tours and events are operating under a normal schedule, there is an amazing number of ways to experience Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
KrisNM/Flickr Drive through to see the ancient dwellings, take a hike on one of the trails to tour the pueblo remnants up close, or check out the park’s astronomical programs for a combination of science and history.
Have you had a chance to visit Chaco Culture National Historic Park?
Jasperdo/Flickr Let us know what makes this park a must-see location by leaving a comment or on our Facebook page!
Chaco Culture National Historical Park is located approximately 95 miles east of Gallup via NM-371 and NM-57, as part of the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway.
Google Maps
The park is typically open year-round, except for major holidays. For additional information about the park, visit the National Park Service website.
Mary Madigan/Flickr
On the Trail of the Ancients, you will have the chance to learn about and explore some prime examples of New Mexico’s archaeological and geological history dating back millennia.
mksfca/Flickr
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Dark Sky Park, and an important cultural site for local tribes, the history and beauty found at this park illustrates why Trail of the Ancients begins here.
Ron Frazier/Flickr
Pueblo homes and ceremonial kivas dating back to 850 A.D. make up the majority of the remains of buildings found here.
John Fowler/Flickr
Other buildings ranged in size from 200 to 700 rooms, while some kivas could hold up to 400 people.
Gary Todd/Flickr
Pieces of pottery and jewelry, as well as pictographs lining walls are just a taste of the wonders found here. The on-site museum and visitor center contain even more information about the Ancestral Puebloans who called this location home.
KrisNM/Flickr
Drive through to see the ancient dwellings, take a hike on one of the trails to tour the pueblo remnants up close, or check out the park’s astronomical programs for a combination of science and history.
Jasperdo/Flickr
Let us know what makes this park a must-see location by leaving a comment or on our Facebook page!
Google Maps
Website: National Park Service Byway Details: Ancients Scenic Byway Phone: 505-786-7014
Looking for another lovely panoramic drive to take through New Mexico? We bet you will fall in love with the views and history found on Billy the Kid Scenic Byway. Read more in Roll Down The Windows And Take A Drive Down Billy The Kid Scenic Byway In New Mexico.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Chaco Culture National Historical Park Visitor Center, 1808 County Road 7950, Nageezi, NM 87037, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Scenic Drives in New Mexico March 31, 2022 Tori Jane Where can I find some of the best views in New Mexico? New Mexico is a far more scenic state than most folks tend to give it credit for, and we find that pretty unfair. After all, locals know just how magical it is to get out and explore New Mexico. It’s home to almost everything you could think of, from rivers and lakes to caves, mountains, gorges, volcanoes, hot springs, and more. If you’re a fan of awesome views, New Mexico is great for those, too! Check out the El Malpais National Monument for some really cool vistas and overlooks that feel like they’re in the middle of nowhere (the nearest town is 40 miles from there). Then, pay a visit to the Tularosa Basin, which surrounds White Sands National Park in southern New Mexico. It’s lush and green, so it’s a strange contrast to the stark whites of the dunes below. Finally, be sure to look into the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, in Las Cruces. It’s one of our newer national monuments and it’s famous thanks to its surreal natural beauty. Anyone looking for great scenic views in New Mexico will want to explore these options ASAP! What are some of the prettiest places in New Mexico? Well, you mean other than all of it? Seriously – what is it about New Mexico that’s so majestic? We don’t know, but we can’t get enough, either. Some of our picks for the prettiest places in New Mexico include Carlsbad Caverns, which are so outrageously awesome that they’re world-famous. They feature nearly 120 hidden underground caves, including some worldwide record-holders. It’s one of those unreal places that needs to be experienced to really be understood. The Bisti Badlands is another beautiful place in New Mexico; about 70 million years ago, the area was beneath a seaway, which eroded the rocks and created the unique landscape (and fossils) visible today. Of course, no visit to New Mexico is complete without a run to White Sands National Park, which is 275 incredible square miles of the world’s purest gypsum dunes – the largest on earth! Finally, you can’t miss the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa; it’s 80 feet deep and a popular spot for swimming and diving. Its stunning blue color makes it amazingly photogenic.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Scenic Drives in New Mexico
March 31, 2022
Tori Jane
Where can I find some of the best views in New Mexico? New Mexico is a far more scenic state than most folks tend to give it credit for, and we find that pretty unfair. After all, locals know just how magical it is to get out and explore New Mexico. It’s home to almost everything you could think of, from rivers and lakes to caves, mountains, gorges, volcanoes, hot springs, and more. If you’re a fan of awesome views, New Mexico is great for those, too! Check out the El Malpais National Monument for some really cool vistas and overlooks that feel like they’re in the middle of nowhere (the nearest town is 40 miles from there). Then, pay a visit to the Tularosa Basin, which surrounds White Sands National Park in southern New Mexico. It’s lush and green, so it’s a strange contrast to the stark whites of the dunes below. Finally, be sure to look into the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, in Las Cruces. It’s one of our newer national monuments and it’s famous thanks to its surreal natural beauty. Anyone looking for great scenic views in New Mexico will want to explore these options ASAP! What are some of the prettiest places in New Mexico? Well, you mean other than all of it? Seriously – what is it about New Mexico that’s so majestic? We don’t know, but we can’t get enough, either. Some of our picks for the prettiest places in New Mexico include Carlsbad Caverns, which are so outrageously awesome that they’re world-famous. They feature nearly 120 hidden underground caves, including some worldwide record-holders. It’s one of those unreal places that needs to be experienced to really be understood. The Bisti Badlands is another beautiful place in New Mexico; about 70 million years ago, the area was beneath a seaway, which eroded the rocks and created the unique landscape (and fossils) visible today. Of course, no visit to New Mexico is complete without a run to White Sands National Park, which is 275 incredible square miles of the world’s purest gypsum dunes – the largest on earth! Finally, you can’t miss the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa; it’s 80 feet deep and a popular spot for swimming and diving. Its stunning blue color makes it amazingly photogenic.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
New Mexico is a far more scenic state than most folks tend to give it credit for, and we find that pretty unfair. After all, locals know just how magical it is to get out and explore New Mexico. It’s home to almost everything you could think of, from rivers and lakes to caves, mountains, gorges, volcanoes, hot springs, and more. If you’re a fan of awesome views, New Mexico is great for those, too! Check out the El Malpais National Monument for some really cool vistas and overlooks that feel like they’re in the middle of nowhere (the nearest town is 40 miles from there). Then, pay a visit to the Tularosa Basin, which surrounds White Sands National Park in southern New Mexico. It’s lush and green, so it’s a strange contrast to the stark whites of the dunes below. Finally, be sure to look into the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, in Las Cruces. It’s one of our newer national monuments and it’s famous thanks to its surreal natural beauty. Anyone looking for great scenic views in New Mexico will want to explore these options ASAP!
What are some of the prettiest places in New Mexico?
Well, you mean other than all of it? Seriously – what is it about New Mexico that’s so majestic? We don’t know, but we can’t get enough, either. Some of our picks for the prettiest places in New Mexico include Carlsbad Caverns, which are so outrageously awesome that they’re world-famous. They feature nearly 120 hidden underground caves, including some worldwide record-holders. It’s one of those unreal places that needs to be experienced to really be understood. The Bisti Badlands is another beautiful place in New Mexico; about 70 million years ago, the area was beneath a seaway, which eroded the rocks and created the unique landscape (and fossils) visible today. Of course, no visit to New Mexico is complete without a run to White Sands National Park, which is 275 incredible square miles of the world’s purest gypsum dunes – the largest on earth! Finally, you can’t miss the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa; it’s 80 feet deep and a popular spot for swimming and diving. Its stunning blue color makes it amazingly photogenic.
