After a couple days in Los Alamos described here we have about a half day in the Aztec Area to explore the National Monument and the public lands around it. It is an area we haven’t visited before and we chose it specifically due to the National Monument. There are not many hotels here and the one we have chosen seems to be used more for long rentals by some interesting characters, we are happy that we don’t have to stay more nights here.
After breakfast we start with Aztec National Monument a relatively small national park that protects a sizable Anasazi ruin. We are happy that we are able to find a parking spot and soon are inside to visit the small museum.
While small the museum is worth the while as it gives us a lay of the land and also exhibits some of the findings at the site.
It is comprised of a few rooms of artifacts inside the old cabin that belonged to the settlers that discovered the site. It is interesting to see how much of the old cabin has been preserved and what has been added afterwards.
Some information is quite interesting especially the one that shows other sites in the area and how Aztec was connected to them and to Chaco, the major site in the area.
As we go outside we are surprised at the size of the monument which we still don’t grasp completely. The first time we get an actual idea how big it is, is when we climb to an overlook point and we get an ensemble view of the site.
We follow the recommended trail through the ruins that takes us first to the reconstructed kiva, it is the first big kiva that we are seeing reconstructed in this much detail.
You can enter it and it is painted with wooden roofs and we have to wonder how much of this is known and how much is artistic licence? Either way it is impressive to us so likely it would have been also impressive to the old Puebloan people.
From here we continue to the next kiva, this one is not fully constructed but still quite impressive. Likely the whole site had a ceremonial function given the number of kivas we observe.
Now only rock squirrels live here and they are quite feisty, a few calling next to us give us quite a scare.
In specific sections you can wander through the rooms, we find it interesting how multiple rooms are strung together with only one exit. Likely some rooms were storage and maybe multiple family housing?
We continue on the trail that takes us up another section of the ruins. From here we can see a few more kivas, not even sure how many there are in total. And then we descend through another section of the wall and just when we thing we are out the trail turns left…
…into another series of rooms. Here we pass one room after the other with small windows on each side, it is quite claustrophobic but fun.
There is a short side trail that goes to a kiva located outside of the pueblo. It is less visited with some nice views of fall colors and quite a few birds.
We especially like the robins and the white-crowned sparrows which look quite grumpy. Maybe they are part of the 6 old soreheads advertised by Aztec?
After leaving the National Monument we still have time for a few more stops close but outside of Aztec. One thing that really got us interested was that supposedly there was also an alien crash nearby and even though it is likely a hoax we decide to explore the site. It is easy driving on dirt roads to a parking lot mostly for bikers and from there we follow the topically named trails towards the site.
There are some nice views of the valley that we have droven in and as we approach the site we even find UFO representations on the ground, funny.
The plaque seems relatively new and we read all the information which states matter of factly that there was a crash here and then we explore a bit the area, maybe we find a piece of the UFO?
The only thing that we find is an alien built also out of stones and after finishing our exploration we return to the car while keeping an eye on the trucks passing in the valley below towards the many drilling sites in the area.
Last stop of the day is Arch Rock. It is really close, less than 1 mile, from where we parked but driving on roads it is probably 3 miles with one mile out of it on some very bad road. Of course right next to the Arch to road is in its best shape, what can you do? The Arch is impressive even from a distance so we decide to explore the area around it a bit and also find a cache.
You can actually go from one side to the other even though it doesn’t seem possible, you just have to trust the road to take you there. We do especially as we enjoy the different views of the arch from different vantage points.
When we get to the best vantage point in our opinion we sit down, find the cache and eat our picnic lunch. We stay for a while enjoying the sun and the views and then it is time to return to the car. And with the car it is time to return to Aztec and then Gallup and finally Phoenix, another almost ten hour drive. We arrive late at night after an interesting long weekend in New Mexico, hopefully we can get here again soon as there is lots left to explore.
