There’s still time to enjoy Chimney Rock National Monument this summer. Guided tours and monthly special programs bring this beautiful site to life so you can visualize what it might have been like to live here 1,000 years ago.
Full Moon Program and Early Tour
The Full Moon Program will take place on August 30 this month against the backdrop of the Great House Pueblo at the top of Chimney Rock Mesa.
Beginning about an hour before moonrise, an informative lecture on topics specific to the Chimney Rock site (ancestral Puebloan culture, archaeoastronomy theories, area geology, etc.) is followed by the music of Charles Martinez’s Native American flute as the full moon rises. You’ll be torn between looking west to see the spectacular sunset and focusing on the eastern mountain range to see the first sliver of moon.
The program lasts approximately three hours including check-in, driving to the mesa top (2.5 miles up a winding dirt road with 20 mph speed limit — allow 15 minutes each way), and hiking to the Great House Pueblo. Please keep in mind that the lecture before the moon rises is approximately 30 minutes in length and the hike back down the high mesa occurs after dark. This program is recommended for ages 8 and up.
On August 30, guests must arrive for check-in between 5 and 5:15pm. Tickets are $20 plus a booking fee and are considered a nonrefundable, nontransferable donation. Guests are also offered the opportunity to take a tour on the Mesa Village Trail before the Full Moon Program begins with the Early Tour Full Moon Package. The cost for this program is $25 plus a booking fee. Guests must arrive between 6:30 and 6:40pm for the early tour.
Guided Great House Tour
The Guided Great House Tour takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This guided tour takes visitors 1/3 of a mile up the Great Pueblo Trail and makes several stops along the way to enjoy the ancient Puebloan structures built more than 1,000 years ago. Hear the archaeological details that connect this civilization to the Chaco culture located 90 miles southwest of this spot.
At the end of the trail, visitors will enjoy the 360-degree view from atop the mountain ridge and have the closest view of the two pinnacles: Chimney Rock and Companion Rock. The tour is available by reservation for up to 10 people and walk-ins are allowed if room allows.
This program is recommended for ages 5 and up. Attendees must arrive at the plaza kiosk by 10am; the tour begins at 10:30am. Tickets are $12 (ages 13 and up) and $5 (ages 5-12) plus a booking fee and are nonrefundable. Walk-ins do not pay a booking fee, but the tour may be canceled for insufficient attendees. The USFS daily use fee must be paid (or applicable federal pass used) since this program occurs during the monument’s regular daily open hours.
Art at the Pinnacles
The Art at the Pinnacles class takes place on Tuesdays. This class is part art, part reflection, part nature study and a little bit of a visit to Chimney Rock National Monument — all rolled into one. Together we will find a just perfect spot and get oriented to the site. Our goal will be to become centered at the site and then focus on our art materials.
Please check our website for details on what the emphasis will be for each class. Afterward, there will be a sharing with each other of what we have learned. No art talent is required, just a desire to be open to suggestions and willing to try a hand at self-expression. Materials will be provided to each participant.
Participants must check in at 5pm. The fee is $20 per person (age 8 and up) including all materials and is considered a nonrefundable donation.
Birding at Chimney Rock
Join us on August 19 and 30 for a fun and casual two-hour bird walk led by a knowledgeable birding guide from the Weminuche Audubon Society.
These outings are designed to introduce you to the diverse community of birds that spend their summer at Chimney Rock National Monument. Birders of all skill levels are welcome to participate. Your guide will help you identify various species and explain the unique adaptations that allow these birds to survive here.
Good walking shoes are advised, along with plenty of water and sun protection. Bring binoculars if you have them. It is not recommended for young children. Guests must enter through the Colo. 151 entry gate between 7:45 and 8am. This is a reservations-only program. Tickets are $16 (ages 13 and up), $8 (ages 5-12), under 5 free, and are considered a nonrefundable, nontransferable donation.