Southwest Highways February 2013 | Page 27

The Visitors Center explains much of the history of the area, and is open except for a few holidays. The park itself is open year

-round from 7:00 a.m.to sunset.

Camping is permitted at Chaco

for both tents and small RVs in sin-

gle and two group campsites. There

is one handicapped site. The camp-

ground is near a mesa cliff that

bears petroglyphs and lets you ima-

gine being part of that ancient hist-

ory. The facilities are limited for

camping, so you need to come well

prepared. There are no hook-ups

and no drinkable water. You can

make a fire but you have to bring

your own firewood in from outside

the camp, as there is none available

there. There are restrooms without

showers, but there is no food, ice, or

gasoline at the park, so bring in what

you need. Drinking water is available at the Visitor’s Center.

If you are lucky you will get a campsite, which fill quickly on weekends on a first come, first serve basis only (you can reserve the group sites). If you are luckier still you will get to sit around a common bonfire at dusk hearing the tales of a Navajo ranger that bring the history alive. Luckier still and you will get to watch a thunder storm in the distance, booming and

flashing in the darkening

sky as the stories of the

old people begin to crawl

up your spine. You will

never feel closer to the

past than here at Chaco.

-Susan Decker

February 2013 26

Gallo Campground

-Russ Bodnar

Casa Rinconada

-Dr. Tyler Nordgren