Before visiting the park, review these rules of park etiquette with your students.

We want you to have an enjoyable and safe time visiting the park. And we urge you to care for this special place so that other people can have the same experience that you do. Historical and cultural parks are very special places and require that we take extra care to preserve them. Once a cultural site is harmed, it can not be repaired, and we all loose an important part of our history.

1. Wherever you go in the park, walk softly on the earth and leave no trace.

Please walk on the established trails in order to protect the fragile cultural sites, the fragile desert soils, and the desert plants. Getting off trails can trample the soils and plants, and damage the cultural sites. Please do not short-cut trails. This causes erosion. Please hike the trails in small groups so that everyone has room to keep on the trail, and no one gets lost or separated from the group. Take care of your fellow students.

2. Look with your eyes, but not with your fingers.

Sometimes it is tempting to pick up and remove things. The plants, rocks, animals, and artifacts are protected in all national parks and should stay where you see them. If you disturb an artifact, it will destroy the information we may someday gain. Many American Indians believe that artifacts are an important part of their people’s history and belong where they were left centuries before. Why not instead take a photo of the artifact, or sketch the designs?

3. Please respectfully visit this special place.

These sites are part of the history and traditions of the Hopi, the Pueblo peoples of New Mexico, and the Navajo, who continue to respect and honor them. Please treat these sacred places the way you would if you were entering a church, mosque, or synagogue.

4. Running, yelling, and horseplay are not appropriate in a National Park:

You share the park with other citizens of the United States and the world. Quiet, respectful visitation is expected in the park. We want you to have fun and enjoy your visit to Chaco, but remember that Chaco is an outdoor museum, not a playground.

Never throw rocks from the tops of the canyons.

Please do not move rocks around. The Chaco people may have placed them there 900 years ago for a very special reason.

Never write your name on rocks or canyon walls. Please do not touch, chalk, or add to the petroglyphs.

5. Don’t be a rock climber.

The 900-year-old walls of the Chaco buildings are very fragile! Please help preserve the walls by not climbing on them. Some of the rocks are loose, and you can easily fall off—so take care of your own safety, too.

6. Your safety is important to us, and to those who come after you.

Please pay attention to your surroundings, where you are walking, and what you are doing so that you can prevent injury to yourself and others. Lots of the trails are rough and uneven. Always be careful and watchful for holes, rocks, and drop-offs along the trails and paths.

Do not climb around on the boulders. Many are loose and unstable, and you can get seriously hurt.

7. Drink plenty of water and eat snacks

Do not hike or go on a tour on an empty stomach. Be sure to take plenty of water to drink along the way. Fainting and heat exhaustion are our most common medical problems, and lack of food and water is the main cause.

8. Watch the weather – stay away from cliffs and overlooks when there is lightning or thunder

When touring the park, be aware of the weather. Thunderstorms at Chaco can be very dangerous, as they are frequently accompanied by lightning. We don’t want you to get struck by lightning at Chaco! Watch for the dark clouds and seek shelter when a storm is near.

During the rainy season (July to September) carry a raincoat or poncho so that you do not get soaked, chilled, and sick.

Last Updated:08-Jun-04