The Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway ushers travelers into the world of ancient southwest American history. For 20,000 years our ancestors lived here as hunters and gatherers – nomads trailing the big game of our most distant memories. Over millennia of great change, they learned to domesticate their food sources and became the farmers who founded the towns that make this America’s archaeological heartland. This region, and the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway, preserves sacred archaeological remains and cultural and historical sites. Prehistoric, Native American archaeology is abundant along this Byway, and the archaeological sites present direct connections to the oral histories that are still passed from generation to generation and provide a glimpse into the evolution of humans in the American Southwest. Cliff dwellings and ancient lost cities are prevalent along the route, are hidden in the beautiful canyons, and are conserved for travelers and hikers to explore. Rock art is preserved on sandstone slabs, and traditional markets and vendors preserve the traditions of their ancestors in the villages scattered in the region. Travelers can experience a wealth of Anasazi history and stunning cultural and archaeological sites including the Chaco Canyon National Park and El Morro National Monument. The Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway carries inquisitive visitors back thousands of years through the raw natural beauty of the one-of-a-kind archaeological sites and the vast surrounding landscapes.
Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway – NM
Local Visitor Information
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Byway Overview
Discover the Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway, offering a unique and well-preserved look into the history, memories, and traditions of the Native peoples who lived in the American Southwest as hunters and gatherers thousands of years ago. This scenic byway protects sacred archaeological remains along with important cultural and historic sites. Visitors can immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the landscapes while experiencing ancient Native cultures across the region. Explore one of the Southwest’s most meaningful scenic drives for an unforgettable journey through time and heritage.
Quick Facts
- Designation
- National Scenic Byway (2021)
- Intrinsic Qualities
- Archeological
- Location
- NM, CO, UT
- Total Length
- 181.3 of 480 total miles
Visitor Information & Byway Partners
Contact Details
For personalized travel assistance and local recommendations, please reach out to our regional visitor center.
Local Byway Partners
Beginning at Chaco Canyon and driving south out of the park, you will pass through an incredibly quiet landscape full of ancient native ruins. The byway near Crownpoint, a town well-known for its monthly Navajo Rug auction, winds through sandstone buttes. Driving west, El Morro National Monument will emerge suddenly. Head towards Farmington on US 64. In the outskirts of Farmington, the ruins of two pueblos are open to the public: Aztec Ruins National Monument and Salmon Ruins, and the breathtaking shapes of the badlands are a must-see. The drive west on US 64 towards the Arizona border accentuates the splendor of the Trail of the Ancients, as the road descends a canyon filled with yellow- and gray-striped hills.
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Chaco Canyon (Chaco Culture National Historical Park)
Formerly a major ceremonial and trade center, this UNESCO World Heritage site was active from 850-1250 A.D. and is regarded as central to the ancestral Puebloan culture. It is located in a canyon that contains the largest excavated ruins in the Southwest.
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El Morro National Monument
A crucial waterhole hidden at the base of a sandstone bluff made El Morro a popular campsite for hundreds of years, and Ancestral Puebloans, Spanish and American travelers have carved over 2,000 signatures, dates, messages, and petroglyphs.
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Aztec Ruins National Monument
Stunning 900-year-old preserved ancestral Pueblo ruins and structures
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Explore the Trail of the Ancients
Begin your journey at the Chaco Canyon. The Chacoan people combined pre-planned architectural designs, astronomical alignments, geometry, landscaping, and engineering to create an ancient urban center of spectacular public architecture. The undulating 2-foot thick walls, stacked thin sand-colored stones, still inspire awe.
From here, travel south to Crownpoint, known for its monthly Navajo Rug actions, then wind through sandstone buttes right out of a John Wayne western. Stop by the New Mexico Mining Museum or the El Malpais National Monument, where molten lava created an eera world of lava tubes, cinder cones, pressure ridges, and an ice cave.
As you drive west, the El Morro National Monument appears suddenly on the horizon like a huge ocean liner. El Morro was an important stop for travelers in the region, who often carved their names in the soft sandstone walls of the butte.
Head to Farmington on U.S.64. With its wealth of water, it's not surprising that the Farmington area was a busy place in prehistoric times. The ruins of two pueblos are open to the public: Aztec Ruins National Monument and Salmon Ruins. Both of these Chacoan outliers were settled in the eleventh century. If you've always wanted to go to the moon but never had the opportunity, visit the badlands. The fantastically colored and shaped formations were created by the erosion of geological strata of varying colors and resistance.
The drive west on U.S.64 to the Arizona border captures the essence of the Trail of the Ancients. The road descends a canyon filled with yellow- and gray-striped hills. The bright green swath of a wash dazzles among subtle earth tones.