In northern New Mexico there are remains that everyone should visit, even for just a few hours. This place is called Aztec Ruins National Monument and the archaeological site here is incredible.
Upon entering the archeological site, you’ll instantly understand why! The Great House has over 400 rooms and 30 Kivas. On the walking tour you are even given the opportunity to walk through some of the rooms.
Typically sites of this nature and size are viewed from behind a rope. But being able to walk where the Puebloan people once walked is an incredible experience! So let’s dive into everything you need to know to have a great visit here.
Aztec Ruins National Monument is located in Aztec, New Mexico. Just 45 minutes south of Durango, CO, 3 hours north of Albuquerque, NM and 1.5 hours east of the Four Corners Monument.
If you live anywhere near the Four Corners region (Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah), you’ll easily be able to spend a half day at Aztec Ruins.
Address: 725 Ruins Rd, Aztec, NM 87410
How Much? – Fees
Nearly all National Parks (including monuments, seashore, etc.) charge an entrance fee. A way around this is to have an annual pass.
However, Aztec Ruins National Monument is FREE to enter!
Aztec Ruins is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
When To Go – Hours
The ruins, trails, picnic areas, restrooms and parking lot is open to the public from 7am – 5pm.
The Aztec Ruins Visitor Center is open from 9am – 5pm each day.
Where to Park
Right at the entrance (address: 725 Ruins Rd, Aztec, NM 87410) you will find about 20 parking spots. And across the street you will find plenty of oversized parking spots.
Aztec Ruins is not as busy as some national parks, so you shouldn’t have any issues finding a parking spot. We went on a Sunday and there was plenty of parking when we arrived at 9:30am AND when we left.
Visitor Center
Once you have parked, head into the visitor center. Inside you will find the typical gift shop, maps and souvenirs. There will also be a park ranger who is more than willing to answer questions.
Additionally, there is a small but informative museum. With diagrams, models, artifacts, and even a 15-minute video you can watch, there is so much to learn about these ancestral Puebloans.
The artifacts here were all found in the Aztec Ruins. And the diagrams are all quite informative as to what the rooms in the Great House were used for.
And even though this area was abandoned by 1300 A.D., the people didn’t just disappear without a trace. They relocated to other areas when the resources dried up, and there are over 75,000 Puebloan people still living today.
The paved walking path in Aztec Ruins National Monument
2 Minute History
This incredible site was once inhabited by an estimated 200 – 300 Puebloan people. They built this incredible location between 1000 and 1200 A.D. along the Animas River.
In addition to the Great House, there is a reconstructed Kiva that you can walk through. But what is a Kiva?
A Kiva was used for ceremonial purposes and was typically a round room that was dug into the ground. A large Kiva, like what you can walk through, was probably used for a larger community ceremony. But the smaller Kivas (seen around the site) each belonged to an individual family, where family gatherings could happen.
Why Is it Called “Aztec Ruins” Anyway?
Now wait a minute…if Puebloan people lived here, why is it called Aztec Ruins National Monument!?
When these ruins were uncovered, early settlers assumed the incredible buildings were built by the Aztec Empire. They named the site “Aztec” and that inaccurate name has persists to this day.
The Self-Guided Tour
Once you have had your fill of the visitor center, you’ll want to ask for a map. The map will guide you along the self-guided tour. This path is partially paved and is a 0.5 mile loop.
A Quick Note: there are no information signs along this path. So if you want some information and/or to know what you are looking at, there is a free audio tour you can listen to. Simply scan the QR code in the visitor center (a ranger can help you with this) and you’ll have the audio on your phone. You’ll then be able to listen to the information next to the corresponding number (1 – 18 along the path).
From the National Parks Website – Follow The Black Walking Path
While on the self-guided tour, you will get to see what remains of the Great House. What once stood up to 3 stories tall and had over 400 rooms, is now reduced to the incredible remains. There is also incredible preservation to look for, such as some original wooden roofs and original mortar still intact.
And don’t miss walking through the reconstructed Kiva that is 40 feet in diameter! This is the largest and oldest reconstructed building of its kind.
Our Experience
In just a few hours, my husband and I were able to explore the grounds and the museum of Aztec Ruins National Monument. This incredible archaeological site was one of a kind and we were amazed by how much we could explore while we were there.
Exploring Aztec Ruins National Monument
Not only were we able to walk around a reconstructed Kiva, but we were also able to follow the walking path through part of the actual site! Typically these places are seen from afar or from behind a rope. But at Aztec Ruins you can walk through and explore the incredible structure that remains.
Another part of this park that we loved was the free audio tour you could listen to. When you enter the visitor center, you can scan a QR code to have the audio downloaded to your phone. At each number along the paved path you can stop and listen to the audio.
After we had our fill of Aztec Ruins, we headed over to Hovenweep National Monument and explored those beautiful ruins. Follow this link and check out the incredible things we saw there!
Conclusion
Taking a half day trip to Aztec Ruins National Monument is not only historical and educational, it is also quite awe-inspiring! A structure this large and this well preserved is incredible to see with your own eyes.
But don’t let the name fool you, it was Puebloan Native Americans who built this incredible structure over 800 years ago. So head to northern New Mexico soon and walk around this ancient structure!
Avid hiker and traveler around the US. I've been hiking consistently since I was 18 and I can't wait to teach you my tips, tricks and hiking hacks! Travel and hike with me and my camera.
