Aztec Ruins National Monument - Activities

Aztec Ruins National Monument by National Parks Service

Self-Guided Trail

: Aztec Ruins provides visitors an intimate opportunity to explore the ancient Puebloan "great house" known as West Ruin. A self-guided 1/2 mile walk winds through rooms built centuries ago. Along the way discover the beautiful symmetrical stone masonry, remarkably well-preserved wood roofing and original plaster on some of the walls. The Aztec Ruins interpretive trail guide helps visitors connect their personal experience with modern archeological findings and traditional Native American perspectives of this place. At the end of the trail is the Great Kiva. This awesome semi-subterranean ceremonial structure over 41-feet in diameter was the central social and religious site of this ancient complex and today is the only reconstructed building of its kind.

Interpretive Talks:

Rangers offer interpretive programs throughout the summer at scheduled times. Other activities include scholarly lectures and demonstrations of traditional American Indian crafts. The times and locations of these events are posted in mid-spring. Visitor Center: A museum features a variety of ancient artifacts excavated at or related to Aztec Ruins. Throughout the day a 25 minute video, "Hisatsinom" reveals the pre-Columbian history of the Four Corners region.