The trail to Pueblo Alto ruins is one of the more popular trails in Chaco Canyon.  The reason why this trail is so popular is because you will pass by many different ruins, see old Chacoan roads, see some Chacoan Stairs, ancient fossils, and have the opportunity to see an amazing overlook to Pueblo Bonito.  You will also pass through a mini slot canyon, see some original holes carved in the sandstone to catch water and then pass by a stone circle – what more could you want!  Many people just hike to Pueblo Alto and then hike back down.  I chose to do the entire full loop.

The trail begins near Pueblo Arroyo.   There is ample parking for multiple vehicles, but keep in mind there is no drinking fountain or outhouse at the parking area.  The outhouse is just to the south of Yellow House. Make sure you have a gallon of water, meals and snacks, hat, sunglasses, and good sturdy shoes for this adventure. There is a kiosk for permits at the trailhead.  Make sure to fill one out before departing.  The permits are free.

From the parking, you will be hiking on a wide dirt road (Navajo Service Route 14) for a little ways until Yellow House.  The trail is flat and easy to these impressive ruins.  Yellow House has about 55 rooms and several kivas.  If you haven’t already done so, be sure to study up-close the masonry.  The Chacoans took care when they placed every rock and brick and their hard work has lasted to this exact moment during your visit.  Please do not climb on the ruins and just enjoy them by taking lots of pictures.  I really enjoyed the ruins at Yellow House.

There are some petroglyphs on the rock walls behind Yellow House!

The trail continues on up through the small slot canyon behind Yellow House.  This was a very fun area and it wasn’t tight by any means.  It’s just a little tricky since you will be hiking on large and small rocks through this part.  You are walking on the same trail that the Chacoans used to access to top of the mesa.  From here you will be hiking on the mesa above on easy trails.

Be watching for signs along the way.  You will come to a dry wash where you will find a few “pecked basins”.  These were used to catch rain water as came down this wash.  I love the idea of the pecked basins because I could imagine ancient Jeff creating a bunch of these to store water while I was elsewhere. 

Another point of interest near the pecked basins is a stone circle.  You will also see some terraces that were used to catch water and also for farming.

Before the trail heads directly north to Pueblo Alto, use my GPS coordinates to get to an incredible overlook to Pueblo Bonito.  This was one of my favorite views of Pueblo Bonito and absolutely worth the 2 minute detour.  This is also where the loop trail will meet up again.

Pay attention to the ground as you are walking near ancient shrimp burrows!  You could also see fossils in the rock!  Thank you Park Service for pointing out all these great points-of-interest!

Check out our full Trek for Pueblo Bonito!

From here, you will see evidence of old Chacoan roads.  Many of these roads are near perfectly straight and go for many miles.  Some of these roads eventually disappear in the open desert and we aren’t sure where they go.   Some lead to other ruins and cities.  Once you are near the bluff you will see some Chacoan steps.

New Alto

The trail doesn’t go on top of these steps, but will go up a different way.  Pretty soon you will see some ruins in the distance.  It isn’t much farther but you will see two different sets of ruins.  The one on the left is called New Alto.  These ruins are much smaller than Pueblo Alto, but I think are more significant.  There are more standing walls at New Alto than at Pueblo Alto.  These were really neat to see and it was fun comparing the masonry at Yellow House to the masonry at the ruins here.  You’re allowed to walk through some parts of these ruins, just don’t touch the walls or pick up anything.  I wouldn’t walk under any of the old doorways because if you accidentally hit one with your head or shoulder, they may crumble.

I seriously was so fascinated by the masonry!  Each part is unique and different, yet it has a place in the entire structure.

In the picture below you can see New Alto on the left and the mound where Pueblo Alto is on the right.

Pueblo Alto

Pueblo Alto is located just a little ways to the east from New Alto.  You can easily see that Pueblo Alto had many more buildings including kivas.  I saw broken pottery and some other interesting things.  Remember not to disturb these sites or pick up any of the pottery shards.  It’s illegal to take any artifact and even disturb them too.  Pueblo Alto is believed to have been created about 1,000 years ago.  There are about 85 rooms at Pueblo Alto.  The Chacoan roads go through Pueblo Alto and then north into the desert.

Pueblo Alto has seen considerable weathering over the years.  Mostly what’s left are some foundations with short wall structures remaining.   Please do not walk on top of the ruins.

From here the trail goes east to the Jackson Stairway.  The trail is still pretty easy and won’t lose much in elevation.  I enjoyed the open desert hiking and imagining Chaco Canyon full of thousands of people.  In reality, this would be a very busy place full of daily life, ceremonies, trade of goods, and the trade of ideas – the Chacoan Culture way of life.

The Chacoans had buildings all over in the canyon and on top of the canyon.  They needed a way to access to upper mesa areas so they created these stairways, including the Jackson Stairway.

The Jackson Stairway is one of the more impressive stairways to the mesa.  Chacoans carved the stairs right in the rock!  You can even see the old handholds on the sides of the stairs.  The most dramatic view is from the front, but I enjoyed seeing it directly from above on the other side.  The trail goes right around it.

The trail will cut south then west again until you come to some overlooks of Chetro Ketl.  Chetro Ketl is a very large ruin located to the east of Pueblo Alto.  You can get some amazing views of it as the trail goes on top of the cliffs.

In the above picture you can see a sign that says “Ramp View”.  This was another way, created by the Chacoans, to access the upper mesa.

Eventually the trail will meet up at about the same place as the overlook for Pueblo Bonito.  I took some more pictures at the overlook and came back down through the slot canyon, hiked by Yellow House and then ended at the parking. 

What a great trail!  I loved this one and know that you will enjoy it too!  On this particular visit, I only saw a handful of people.