In accordance with regulations and the delegated authority provided in Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations ("36 CFR"), Chapter 1, Parts 1-7, authorized by Title 16 United States Code, Section 3, the following provisions apply to all lands and waters administered by the National Park Service, within the boundaries of Aztec Ruins National Monument. Unless otherwise stated, these regulatory provisions apply in addition to the requirements contained in 36 CFR, Chapter 1, Parts 1-6.
Written determinations, which explain the reasoning behind the Superintendent's use of discretionary authority, as required by Section 1.5(c), appear in this document identified by italicized print.
I have determined these actions are necessary for the maintenance of public health and safety, protection of environmental or scenic values, protection of natural or cultural resources, aid to scientific research, implementation of management responsibilities, equitable allocation and use of facilities, or the avoidance of conflict among visitor use activities.
Approved:
/s/ Denise Robertson, Superintendent, May 15, 2024
I. VISITING HOURS, PUBLIC USE LIMITS, CLOSURES, AND AREA DESIGNATIONS FOR SPECIFIC USE OR ACTIVITIES
36 CFR §1.5 -CLOSURES AND PUBLIC USE LIMITS
(a)(1) Establish, for all or a portion of a park area, a reasonable schedule of visiting hours, impose public use limits, or close all or a portion of a park area to all public use or to a specific use or activity.
Visiting Hours:
Park Hours:
Aztec Ruins National Monument is open to the public from 7:00am-5:00pm.
This includes the parking areas, archeological sites, picnic areas, and trails.
During hours in which the park is closed, closure is designated by the park vehicle gate across the road and chains across parking lots and trails.
Visitor Center hours are posted on the park's website, https://www.nps.gov/azru/planyourvisitlhours.htm
Aztec Ruins National Monument is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Visiting Hours do not take into account special use permits signed by the Superintendent, or parksponsored events that may take place after designated public visitation hours.
Access granted pursuit to E.O. 13007 Indian Sacred Sites shall not be infringed to the extent practicable within law.
Determining Factors: The hours of operation are set to provide maximum visitor satisfaction during hours when staff is on-duty. All areas in the park are closed after established hours to deter vandalism and theft of natural, cultural and archaeological resources.
Public Use Limits
Park Wide
Public Use is restricted to established trails, roads, parking areas, and the visitor center.
RV or vehicle idling should not exceed 5 minutes in parking areas.
Passenger buses are subject to the following conditions/restrictions on all park roads/parking areas within Aztec Ruins NM:
Buses must shut down their engines when not underway; idling should not exceed 5 minutes.
Buses will use the designated unloading zone immediately outside the main Visitor Center parking lot when dropping off visitors but then must park in the oversized vehicle parking spots west of the Visitor Center.
Determining Factors: Diesel fumes are toxic, and the noise associated with idling passenger vehicles and buses adversely impact the visitor experience and disturb wildlife.
Backcountry
Definition: Areas of the park outside and/or away from developed areas, i.e., those areas of the park where paved roads, paved trails, parking areas, and developments do not exist.
Presence in all backcountry areas without prior approval and/or a special use permit from the Superintendent is prohibited.
Closures
Park Wide
Overnight camping/parking is not allowed.
East Ruins and North Ruins are open only when accompanied by a park employee or through a special use permit from the Superintendent.
The following National Park Service buildings and facilities are closed to the public without permission of the Superintendent or his/her designee:
Park residential areas.
Park administrative offices, shops, and other work areas.
National Park Service maintenance yards and associated buildings.
Water treatment facilities.
Sewage treatment facilities.
Construction zones.
Any other administrative roads, so designated by signs and/or locked gates, or barricaded with logs and /or boulders.
Determining Factors: All park buildings, facilities, and locations are administrative sites used by the National Park Service in the management and administration of the park. Visitor entry or use of these sites without pennission would interfere with the protection of government property, create potentially hazardous conditions for visitors, and interfere with park operations.
The following roads and trails are closed to use by public vehicles, but are open for park administrative use:
The administrative road west of the Visitor Center used to access the irrigation ditch.
The administrative road on North Mesa.
Old Spanish Trail.
Park buildings and parking lots are subject to a temporary closure at any time for visitor safety.
Determining Factors: Stonns, floods, repairs or construction activities, or other unforeseen events may require temporary closure of facilities to protect public and employee safety. Facility closures will be posted to the park website.
All areas of the park are closed to the use of elk bugles, wildlife calls, audio attractants or other artificial or natural means of attracting or disturbing wildlife (including rattling antlers and verbal bugling imitations) except as otherwise authorized by permit as part of an approved research or resource management activity or tribal activity.
Determining Factors: This closure is established to protect wildlife from harassment and is the minimum restriction necessary to achieve such protection.
Park dumpsters are closed to the removing or sorting of refuse already in them.
Unmanned Aircraft:
Definition: The term "unmanned aircraft" means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the device, and the associated operational elements and components that are required for the pilot or system operator in command to operate or control the device (such as cameras, sensors, communication links). This term includes all types of devices that meet this definition (e.g., model airplanes, quad copters, and drones) that are used for any purpose, including for recreation or commerce.
Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Aztec Ruins National Monument is prohibited except as approved in writing by the Superintendent.
Determining Factors: The public drives and hikes on designated roads and trails within the park. Any recreational use of a UA Vin these areas will pose a hazard issue for the public if a UA V has a mechanical failure or weather-related event that brought this UA V down unexpectedly. The UA V could fall upon an archaeological site, private vehicle(s), or park structure located along the designated roads and trails. The backcountry areas of Aztec Ruins National Monument are prohibited for visitor use, and only park administrative duties are permitted in these other areas.
Segways and Motorized Scooters:
Segways and motorized scooters are prohibited from all areas within the park including all park roads, trails, and sidewalks. However, any park visitor with a disability is permitted to use Segways and motorized scooters in parking lots and trails, when such devices are used for the sole purpose of mobility assistance. Use of any mobility assistive device, as outlined above, must also adhere to the following:
A person shall operate any assistive mobility device in a safe and responsible manner, and maximum speeds will not exceed more than 8 M.P.H., so as not to endanger one's self or any other park visitor.
A person riding any mobility assistive device upon the parking lots or trails will remain on the trail at all times and shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances, except that the mobility assistive device operator must always yield to pedestrians (park visitors).
Determining Factors: These restrictions are intended to protect fragile archaeological sites, native vegetation, and wildlife.
(a)(2) Designate areas for a specific use or activity or impose conditions or restrictions on a use or activity. (This authority allows superintendents to impose restrictions on activities within park areas for the maintenance of public health and safety).
Current Public Health Standards as directed by Department of the Interior (DOI), National Park Service(NPS) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) will be followed. At "High" levels of transmission the following will be implemented.
Regardless of vaccination status or local community transmission levels, all individuals over the age of two must wear masks, except when actively eating or drinking, in all common areas and shared workspaces in federally owned buildings administered by the National Park Service and in office space leased by the National Park Service.
'Federally owned buildings administered by the National Park Service' include, but are not limited to, visitor centers, administrative offices, maintenance facilities, and shared government quarters; buildings assigned to concessioners or other park partners; and buildings leased for commercial purposes to individuals or entities other than the National Park Service.
All individuals over the age of two, regardless of vaccination status or local community transmission levels, must wear masks in the following outdoor areas when others are present, except when actively eating or drinking, where the superintendent has determined that physical distancing (staying at least six feet apart) cannot reasonably be maintained:
Outdoor areas adjacent to the visitor center; including sidewalks, shade shelters, and patios.
Visitors gather to read material provided by the park outside the visitor center as they prepare for their visit and staying six feet apart may not be reasonable. Sidewalks and the visitor entrance are too narrow to allow for visitors to be further than six feet apart while allowing for two-way traffic.
Parking lots and common areas in campgrounds.
Parking spaces are within six feet of each other. It is not possible to maintain six feet physical distancing when parking lots and spaces are full.
Archeological site (ancient buildings) trails.
Trails leading to, in and through the archeological sites are narrow and prohibit maintaining six feet physical distancing. Due to the many small rooms, small doorways and narrow passages, visitors would not be able to see if rooms are occupied to maintain proper distance.
All outdoor Interpretive programs.
Interpretive programs draw large crowds and may be conducted in locations not allowing six feet physical distancing.
Masks must cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face. Masks not designed to be protective, masks with ventilation valves, and face shields do not meet the requirement.
Regardless of vaccination status, all individuals must comply with all orders regarding masks issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
II. ACTIVITIES THAT REQUIRE A PERMIT
36 CFR §1.6 -PERMITS
(f) The following is a compilation of those activities for which a permit from the Superintendent is required:
§2.4(e) Carry or possess a weapon, trap or net under the following circumstances:
(e)(1) -When necessary to support research activities conducted in accordance with §2.5.
(e)(3) -For employees, agents or cooperating officials in the performance of their official duties.
§2.5 Research specimens.
§2.10(a) Camping.
§2.12 Audio Disturbances:
(a)(2) Operating a power saw in developed areas.
(a)(3) Operating any type of portable motor or engine, or device powered by a portable motor or engine in non-developed areas.
(a)(4) Operating a public address system in connection with a public gathering or special event for which a permit has been issued pursuant to §2.50 or §2.51.
§2.17 Aircraft & Air Delivery:
(a)(3) Delivery or retrieval of a person or object by parachute, helicopter or other airborne means.
(c)(1) Removal of a downed aircraft or parts.
§2.23 Recreation Fees:
Waiving fees for educational or scientific visits (pursuant to part 71.13(c) and 71.13(d)).
Waiving fees for park employees or residents (pursuant to part 71.13(c) and 71.13(d)).
§2.37 Soliciting or demanding gifts, money, goods or services (pursuant to the terms and conditions of a permit issued under §2.50, §2.51, or §2.52.
§2.38 Explosives:
Using, possessing, storing or transporting explosives or blasting agents.
Using or possessing fireworks.
§2.50(a) Conduct a sports event, pageant, regatta, public spectator attraction, entertainment, ceremony, or similar event.
§2.51(b) Public assemblies, meetings, gatherings, demonstrations, parades and other public expressions of views involving more than 25 people (small group permit exception).
§2.52(b) Sale or distribution of printed matter involving more than 25 people (small group permit exception).
§2.60(b) Livestock use.
§2.61(a) Residing on federal lands.
§2.62 Memorialization:
(a) Erection of monuments (requires approval from Regional Director).
(b) Scattering human ashes from cremation.
§4.11(a) Exceeding established vehicle load, weight and size limits.
§5.1 Advertising (displaying, posting or distributing).
§5.3 Engaging in or soliciting any business (requires a permit, contract or other written agreement with the United States, or must be pursuant to special regulations).
§5.4 Commercial transportation of passengers by motor vehicles.
§5.5 Commercial Photography/Filming (See 54 U.S.C. 100905) and Department and NPS regulations (43 CFR Part 5 and 36 CFR 5.5):
All commercial filming requires a permit and is subject to a location fee and cost recovery. Commercial filming is defined as digital or film recording of a visual image or sound recording by a person, business, or other entity for a market audience, such as for a documentary, television or feature film, advertisement, or similar project; it does not include news coverage or visitor use. All commercial filming, including filming exterior locations within the park and filming within park buildings, requires a written permit.
Still photography activities require a permit ONLY if it:
Involves the use of a model, set, or prop; or
Requires entry into a closed area.
§5.6(c) Using commercial vehicles on park area roads (the Superintendent shall issue a permit to access private lands within or adjacent to the park when access is otherwise not available).
36 CFR §2.1 -PRESERVATION OF NATURAL, CULTURAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES
(a)(4) Collection of any wood is prohibited.
(a)(5) The following conditions are in effect for walking, climbing. entering, ascending, or traversing the listed archaeological or cultural resource, monuments, or statues:
Entering sites without designated trails, walking on, or disturbing archeological sites in Aztec Ruins National Monument is prohibited.
(c)(1) Collecting any plant material or vegetative products, including berries, is prohibited.
Determining Factors: Nominal quantities of these resources are in the Park, and therefore public gathering will affect the propagatiorJ of the species and deprive the natural wildlife of sustainable browse. Plant gathering activities by Native American tribes for traditional use must be conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions of a special use permit issued by the Superintendent.
36 CFR §2.2 -WILDLIFE PROTECTION
(d) The transporting of lawfully taken wildlife through the park is permitted under the following conditions and procedures:
Aztec Ruins National Monument consists of a visitor center area and parking lots with no through roads in which a hunter would be driving across the monument with a legally tagged carcass. Legally taken game temporarily stored in a vehicle is not allowed within the monument.
Tracking wounded wildlife into the Park, which was lawfully wounded outside of Park boundaries, is prohibited unless accompanied by a Park law enforcement ranger (VRP Ranger). The VRP Ranger on-site may terminate the search if the animal is not located within a reasonable amount of time, as determined by the VRP Ranger.
Determining Factors: Since hunting is not allowed within the park, the Superintendent has determined it is prohibited to transport legally taken wildlife within the park. For the safety of park visitors and staff and the protection of park resources, the Superintendent has authorized the retrieval of wildlife wounded legally outside the park which subsequently enters into the park only if the hunter who wounded the animal is accompanied by a park law enforcement ranger.
(e) The entire park is closed to the viewing of wildlife with artificial light (spotlighting, including redirection of headlights). Night vision devices are not artificial lights, however, infrared lighting/beams are.
Determining Factors: These regulations help to protect against the unlawful taking of wildlife within the Park.
36 CFR §2.3 - FISHING
(a) Except in designated areas or as provided in this section, fishing shall be in accordance with the laws and regulations of the State within whose exterior boundaries a park area is located. Nonconflicting State laws are adopted as a part of these regulations.
36 CFR §2.4 -WEAPONS, TRAPS, AND NETS
(e) The possession of firearms within the boundaries of Chaco Culture National Historical Park is allowed pursuant to New Mexico State Law. Under Section 512 of Public Law 111-24, people can legally possess firearms under federal and state law in the state in which the national park is located. The Superintendent may issue a permit to carry a weapon, trap or net under the following conditions:
When necessary to support approved/permitted research activities.
For employees, law enforcement officers, agents or cooperating officials for official duty.
When providing access for lawfully taken wildlife as stated in §2.2(d) of this document.
(g) Within the park, the following buildings are designated as "federal facilities" and shall be -signed to indicate that firearms are prohibited inside these buildings in accordance with 18 USC 930:
Visitor Center
Park Headquarters/Administrative office
Maintenance office and garage
Cultural Resources offices
Determining Factors: Federal facilities are buildings or parts thereof owned or leased by the Federal Government, where Federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing official duties. 18 USC 930 is Federal law that supersedes Section 512 of Public Law 111-24 and prohibits the possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility unless specifically authorized.
36 CFR §2.5 -RESEARCH SPECIMENS
(a) Taking plants, fish, wildlife, rocks or minerals except in accordance with other regulations in this chapter or pursuant to the terms and conditions of a specimen collections permit, is prohibited.
Qualifying researchers must be in compliance with the General Condition for Scientific Research and Collecting Permit as described under the National Park Service Research Permit and Reporting System.
36 CFR §2.10 -CAMPING and FOOD STORAGE
(a) The sites and areas listed below have been designated for camping activities as noted.
Camping is not allowed in Aztec Ruins National Monument.
d) Conditions for the storage of food, garbage and equipment used to cook or store food are in effect as follows:
Food must be kept out of the reach of wildlife at all times.
When not being used for meal preparation, food must be stored in vehicles, trailers or a latchable container/cooler.
Garbage and recyclables must be placed in park provided containers, dumpsters or collection stations.
Determining Factors: Food storage restrictions are necessary to prevent wildlife habituation due to food or garbage attractants. Drawing wildlife into areas frequented by people creates public safety hazards, sanitation problems and endangers wildlife.
36 CFR §2.13 -FIRES
(a)(1) The lighting or maintaining of fires is generally prohibited, except as provided for in the following designated areas and/or receptacles, and under conditions noted:
Fires are permitted in the following designated areas or receptacles:
Metal fire grills provided in the picnic areas.
As a condition of a permit or for administrative activities.
At the discretion of the Superintendent, fires may be prohibited during some periods and at specified locations during extreme fire conditions or when poor air quality conditions exist.
Established Conditions for Fires:
Fires may only be lighted in grills, fire rings, cook stoves or barbeque grills.
(b) Fires must be extinguished according to the following conditions:
All fires must be completely extinguished with no burning material remaining.
Fires will be considered out when all burnable materials are cold to the touch.
Charcoal must be fully extinguished with water and removed from the park or disposed of in a garbage receptacle when cold.
Determining Factors: While the Park seeks to provide opportunities for fire grills in the Park, another goal is to prevent wild/and fires to reduce the potential for other resource damage.
36 CFR §2.14 -SANITATION and REFUSE
(a)(2) Conditions for using government refuse receptacles or other refuse facilities:
The dumping of commercial, household, or industrial refuse, brought in from private or municipal property, in government receptacles is prohibited.
36 CFR §2.15 -PETS
(a)(1) The following structures and/or areas are closed to the possession of pets:
Visitor Center
Public restrooms
All archeological sites throughout the park
Specific areas as designated by posted signs
Off trail, except the picnic areas
Service animals are exempt from the regulation and locations described above, except off trail.
Definition: Service animals are defined in 28 CFR 36.104 as, "any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items."
(a)(1) The following structures and/or areas are open to the possession of pets:
When on a leash, no longer than six feet; picnic shelters, paved road, parking lots, paved sidewalks/trails.
(a)(3) Designated areas and conditions for leaving a pet unattended and tied to an object:
No designated areas. No conditions established. Leaving a pet unattended and tied to an object is prohibited.
(a)(5) Pet excrement must be disposed of in accordance with the following conditions:
Pet excrement must be removed immediately and disposed of in waste receptacles.
Determining Factors: Pets are concentrated in the public areas of Aztec Ruins National Monument, therefore excrement must be removed to prevent health hazards to people. Pets are allowed on certain paved trails, therefore excrement must be removed to lessen negative impacts on wildlife. Consistent with public health and safety, protection of natural resources and avoidance of conflict among visitor use activities, pets must be restricted. It is recognized that pets are a common possession of park visitors, and provisions are made for them where they do not jeopardize basic park values.
36 CFR §2.16 -HORSES AND PACK ANIMALS
(a) The following animals are designated as pack animals for the purposes of transporting equipment:
Horses, mules, burros, goats and llamas
(b) The use of horses or pack animals outside of trails, routes or areas designated for their use:
No trails, routes or areas within the Park are designated for pack animal use.
36 CFR §2.17 -AIRCRAFT AND AIR DELIVERY
(c)(1) The removal of a downed aircraft, components, or parts thereof is subject to procedures
established by the Superintendent through written authorization.
36 CFR §2.19 -WINTER ACTIVITIES
(c) Skiing and snowshoeing are not permitted in archaeological sites.
36 CFR §2.20 -SKATING. SKATEBOARDS AND SIMILAR DEVICES
Using roller skates, skateboards, roller ski's, coasting vehicles, or similar devices is prohibited, except in designated areas:
Paved roads only.
36 CFR §2.21 -SMOKING
(c) The following portions of the park, or all portions of buildings, structures or facilities are closed to smoking:
Definition: Smoking is defined as the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes and the use of all E-Cigarettes and vapor cigarettes or similar devices
Smoking is prohibited in all government buildings, structures or facilities and vehicles.
Smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of the entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes that serve enclosed areas where smoking is prohibited (buildings).
Smoking while traveling on trails is prohibited. Persons who wish to smoke must stop and remain in one location until they have extinguished their smoking material. Limit smoking to parking lots and picnic areas only (Prohibit on Aztec West Trail) except for Indigenous ceremonial purposes.
Smoking may be prohibited in all areas of the Park, except in designated areas when, at the discretion of the Superintendent such prohibition is necessary during periods of high fire danger. Notice of such prohibition will be posted at the Visitor Center and trailheads.
Determining Factors: The prohibition is necessary to reduce the risk of fire in historic public use buildings, reduce the health hazards of secondhand smoke or other harmful substances to visitors prevent conflicts among visitor use activities. Prohibition is necessary within archeological sites to protect sensitive archeological resources from fire damage or contamination.
36 CFR §2.22 -PROPERTY
(a)(2) Property may be left unattended for periods longer than 24 hours in the following areas and under the following conditions:
Any motor vehicle that is immobile because it is not capable of moving under its own power due to mechanical malfunction, or any vehicle which is inoperable because it cannot be legally operated on public roads because it is unlicensed or unregistered, may be impounded by the Superintendent through the following process.
The owner of the vehicle will be notified of pending impoundment. Leaving a notice on or in the vehicle, or at the owner's residence, or issuing a notice directly to the owner, fulfills the notification requirement. Three working days after notification, the vehicle may be impounded.
No unattended property will be left in any public facility by any visitor.
With permission of the Superintendent upon approval of a permit or special use authorization.
Determining Factors: The purpose of this restriction is to protect the natural, cultural, and archaeological resources from damage from geocaching and similar activities and to preserve the landscape in a clear visual condition as possible. Unattended visitor property (packs, packages, equipment) are an unknown security risk to Federal facilities.
36 CFR §2.23 - RECREATION FEES
(a) Recreation fees, and/or a permit, in accordance with 36 CFR part 71, are established for the following entrance fee areas, and/or for the use of the following specialized sites, facilities, equipment or services, or for participation in the following group activity, recreation events or specialized recreation uses:
Aztec Ruins National Monument is a fee free park.
36 CFR §2.35 -ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
(a)3)(i) The following public use areas, portions of public use areas, and/or public facilities within the park are closed to consumption of alcoholic beverages, and/or to the possession of a bottle, can or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage that is open, or has been opened, or whose seal has been broken or the contents of which have been partially removed:
The following areas are closed to consumption of alcoholic beverages:
Visitor center and auditorium, unless a temporary permit to sell and/or consume alcoholic beverages has been issued by the Superintendent.
Amphitheaters and other sites designated for interpretive programs unless a temporary permit to sell and/or consume alcoholic beverages has been issued by the Superintendent.
Archeological sites.
Public trails.
Determining Factors: This restriction is to avoid visitor conflicts, provide for visitot safety in areas heavily used by families and children and help prevent injuries to all park visitors.
36 CFR §2.51 -DEMONSTRATIONS
(b) Demonstrations of more than 25 people are allowed within park areas designated as available under paragraph (c)(2) when the Superintendent has issued a permit for the activity.
Groups of 25 or less meeting all the conditions listed in 36 CFR §2.51 are not required to have a permit.
(c)(2) The following locations are designated as available for demonstrations: See Appendix
The Superintendent will consider request for permits on a case-by-case basis, using the criteria listed in 36 C.F.R. 2.51(c).
36 CFR §2.52 -SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF PRINTED MATTER
(b) The sale or distribution of printed matter by more than 25 people is allowed within park areas designated as available under §2.51(c)(2) (see appendix) when the Superintendent has issued a permit.
Open for the sale/distribution of printed matter for which a permit has been issued is the picnic area east of the Visitor Center parking lot as marked in §2.51(c)(2)- DEMONSTRATIONS.
36 CFR §2.62 -MEMORIALIZATIONS
(b) The scattering of human ashes from cremation in Aztec Ruins National Monument is prohibited.
Determining Factors: The Park was created for preservation and interpretation; and to facilitate research activities associated with these resources. By introducing outside cremated remains, it contaminates park resources, which impacts the ability to conduct research.
36 CFR §4.11 -VEHICLE LOAD, WEIGHT AND SIZE LIMITS
(a) The following load, weight and size limits, which are more restrictive than State law, apply to the roads indicated under the terms and conditions, and/or under permit as noted:
Vehicles operating on park roads may not exceed 40 feet in length (exclusive of towed units), 102 inches in width, or 60,000 lbs. of gross weight without special permission of the Superintendent.
36 CFR §4.21 -SPEED LIMITS
(b) The following speed limits are established for the routes/roads indicated:
No designated speed limit for park road and parking lots.
Per New Mexico State Law, in every event, speed shall be controlled by the driver as may be necessary to avoid colliding with a person, vehicle or other conveyance.
36 CFR §4.30 -BICYCLES
(a) Park roads. The use of a bicycle is permitted on park roads and in parking areas that are otherwise open for motor vehicle use by the general public.
(d) Existing Trails.
The use of a bicycle is permitted on the Old Spanish Trail from the Animas River bridge to the Aztec Ruins National Monument parking lot or picnic areas.
Bicycle use in not permitted on paved or unpaved trails in and around the West Ruins archeological site north of the Visitor Center.
E-bikes:
Definition: The term "e-bike" means a two- or three-wheeled cycle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.).
E-bikes are allowed in Aztec Ruins National Monument where traditional bicycles are allowed.
E-bikes are prohibited where traditional bicycles are prohibited. Except where use of motor vehicles by the public is allowed, using the electric motor to move an e-bike without pedaling is prohibited.
A person operating an e-bike is subject to the following sections of 36 CFR part 4 that apply to the use of traditional bicycles: sections 4.12, 4.13, 4.20, 4.21, 4.22, 4.23, and 4.30(h)(2)-(5).
Except as specified in this Compendium, the use of an e-bike within Aztec Ruins National Monument is governed by State law, which is adopted and made a part of this Compendium. Any violation of State law adopted by this paragraph is prohibited.
Determining Factors: The increased potential of e-bike use in Aztec Ruins National Monument has been determined to not directly impact the important archeological resources or visitor experience of other visitors. The one trail designated in §4.30(b) of this Compendium allowing bicycle usage is a prior existing paved trail that is wide enough to allow shared usage of the trail.
36 CFR §4.31 -HITCHHIKING
Hitchhiking is permitted in the following areas under the conditions noted:
Visitor Center without impacting traffic flow.
When not under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs.
When hitchhiking behavior is safe and not a nuisance.
