Aztec Ruins National Monument, New Mexico protects the site of a large Puebloan ruin. Established in 1923, this site is one of many that protect sites of the Chaco Culture, but it is certainly one of the most accessible sites of its kind. Despite the name given to it by American settlers, this site had nothing to do with the Aztec people.
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Well worth the detour!
ILNP Rating 
ILNP Park Review
A large kiva stands in the courtyard between the Great Kiva and the rooms
Our Visit. My family visited Aztec Ruins in July while driving through on a road trip from Colorado Springs to Phoenix, Arizona
Our Weather. Sunny and hot in the mid-90s
Overall Impression. I’ve been to many of the ancient ruins sites in the National Park system including Mesa Verde, Tonto, Tuzigoot, Montezuma Castle, Walnut Canyon, Wupatki, and Bandelier, but Aztec Ruins National Monument is the most accessible, rivaled only by Casa Grande Ruins in ease of visiting. Despite the ease of access, the ruins are quite impressive and well worth at least a brief stop if you’re driving through. One unique feature I haven’t seen elsewhere is a fully restored “great kiva” which helps visitors better visualize what this site might have looked like in its prime.
Inside the restored great kiva at Aztec Ruins
Visiting. This is a “must see” for anyone traveling through Aztec, New Mexico on US 550 as the site is about a 2 minute drive from the main road, and the ruins are literally right next to the Visitors Center where you need to check in first. Even a 30-minute detour would allow you to hike through the entire ruin on the well-marked circular trail that includes a trip into the Great Kiva, a walk through low doorways into several rooms, and a vista that overlooks the entire site.
A more thorough visit to Aztec Ruins would take less than two hours and would allow time to browse the small museum in the Visitors Center, watch a video, and walk slowly through the ruins reading the well-written “trail guide” available for purchase or borrowing from the park ranger at the front desk. The quick tour would let you see everything, but spending more time reading and examining will help you better understand what you’re seeing and get a good idea of how these industrious people lived.
This is also one of the NPS sites along the route of the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, but the trail is not evident in the park though its general path was along the Animas River adjacent to the ruins.
Suggestions. Be aware of the low doorways! The staff make it clear you need to duck lower and for longer than expected to avoid injuring your noggin, and they’re not kidding. We didn’t have any issues, and for those who’d rather not duck, you can bypass these rooms on the tour.
Nearby Towns Aztec, Farmington (New Mexico), Durango (Colorado)
Other Nearby Attractions Chaco Culture NHP, Chimney Rock National Monument
Official NPS Website Aztec Ruins National Monument
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- The visitors center is small but nice
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- As you can see, the Visitors Center is only a few feet away from the ruins
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- Inside the restored great kiva at Aztec Ruins
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- Crews (seen here in the upper right) are constantly working on the ruins to aid restoration and mitigate damage from the elements
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- A large kiva stands in the courtyard between the Great Kiva and the rooms
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- The shapes of the ruins create interesting curves and lines
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- Many of the doors in the ruins are VERY low. Even my 10-year-old had to duck!
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- This small ruin lies just to the north of the main ruins
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