best time to visit chaco canyon best time to visit chaco canyon

It turns out that there are people in the southwest that consider themselves ancestors of the Ancient ones, and they arent fond of the term Anasazi, because of its negative connotations in the Navajo language, and perhaps also because its a Navajo word and the Navajo arent regarded as descendant from these ancient people. Colorado State Patrol Chief Col. Matthew C. Packard donates blood. Like a diamond in the skytruly. As I experienced in Greece, there is such a thing as too many ruins ;-) I'm glad they exist, but I don't need to see them ALL. I instantly felt like I was back at Machu Picchu walking through elaborately built Inca ruins. The altitude combined with the heat, constant wind and dry climate is fatiguing if you're not accustomed to it. Approx. This is the only way into Chaco Canyon. Hungo Pavi is the first Chacoan great house you will come across on the Canyon Loop Drive. We did the Crowpoint to White Horse detour (and then travelled south on 509 to Grants) and this route was all paved, even to Pueblo Pintado from where it's a good gravel road (thanks to NM Photojournalist who provided this info) but coming from ABQ it will be faster to drive 550. There are 4,000 known archaeological sites, and 1.5 million artifacts have been excavated and recorded. Tori really is a wealth of information about this park and other spots in New Mexico. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for CHACO CANYON Signed R.B. 'Best Trips 2019' NATGEO TRAVEL . Bisti Wilderness Adventure $130 BOOK NOW. It didnt take long for first rays of the morning sun to wash out the Big Dipper, as if it never existed. For that reason, experts in the field have started using the term Ancient Pueblo Peoples out of courtesy to the present day Puebloans, and, quite truthfully, because we have no idea what they originally called themselves. Once there, the 9-mile loop is paved. (LogOut/ Located off Route 70 in New Mexico, the White Sands National Monument is at an elevation of 4235 feet in the Tularosa Basin. This is a unique experiene that is unlike any other site I have been to. Roads can be messy in the rainy season (July - Sept.). Take a guided night tour through the caves of Dismals Canyon to see thousands of glowworms! In Hiking, New Mexico, North America, Outdoors, Places of Worship & Ruins, United States by Erik @ DIY Travel HQJuly 26, 2019Leave a Comment. This stretch of road is desert hardpan. Running, yelling, loud or boisterous play is not appropriate, Chaco is an outdoor museum and a sacred place to many of todays Pueblo people. The noise didnt die down until after 10pm. Compare similar trips and tour companies to find your perfect vacation at the perfect price The pavement resumes inside the park. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Hungo PaviAnasazi ruin, Hungo Pavi at Chaco Culture National Historical Park. September and October are ideal for visiting the Chaco Canyon as the daytime temperatures are in the low 80s and high 20s, and you can see the weather is mostly stable. This route is signed from US 550 to the park boundary (21 miles). United States - Best month for NW New Mexico - We are planning a girls trip to NW New Mexico and are wondering if Mid May would be a good time. The course includes 8 miles of paved road and 13 miles of rough dirt road. Fill out the backcountry hiking permit when required. Pets are not permitted on these front country trails. The dirt road is not maintained by the state, nor the National Park Service. The remaining 34 campsites can also accommodate RVs up to 35. It was a beautifully PAVED road! Cancel Fee: fee will be applied if you do not call road scholar participant services at least one business day prior to the program start date. It would be a good idea to check your plumbing as best you can to make sure no connections came loose before using it. Beware that you have to drive on dirt roads to get to the site. The drive in. Chaco Canyon definitely is one of the best places to visit but it takes a lot of time. Free shipping for many products! We are going to be in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? For those of you who occasionally like to view the night sky, this place is so dark that you can look directly at the Pleiades Constellation and see it, without using offset vision. Located near a small cave ruin, there are no shaded areas, so come prepared. The largest and most spectacular great house in Chaco, Pueblo Bonito is also the most important in the area. Please check your gas level in your vehicle there are NO gas stations in the park. Colorado State Patrol and Vitalant are partnering up to combat the decline of blood donations in winter months, according to a . Places like Mesa Verde come immediately to mind, but the area is scattered with many more out of the way places that can really make an adventure to the southwest something special. Chaco Canyon is a wonderful location that offers a great opportunity to visit one of the largest ancestral Puebloan ruins in the American Southwest. I put on my raincoat and used my rain cover for my bag to cover my camera. Our savior was Wayne. Chetro Ketl - A large great house an possible ceremonial center dating to 900 AD. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. *. The people who mention needing 4 wheel drive or high clearance did you specifically need that? Its 20.5 miles from the turn off to the park but itll take you a good hour possibly depending on road conditions. I suddenly remembered the dry riverbed I drove across on the way to the park, and the giant signs that read Do not cross if ANY water is present. I panicked and headed for the exit. FYI: the water at the water point next to the visitor center is excellent. According to the visitors center, the roads crisscross both county and tribal land. With Chaco Canyon now declared a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site, visitors to Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico can marvel at the remains of 12 great houses and. Once the pavement ended, I was bouncing along through the horror movie set again on the dirt road behind another car. If it's still wet, it may be impassable. It's some years ago and I checked my notes but it took almost all day from SF to drive, visit and drive from there to Durango a visit to Aztec Ruins (also recommended) included. The earliest human habitation at Chaco Canyon dates to 900 BC. window.open(this.href, '_blank'); When you return to the parking lot, head over to Pueblo del Arroyo for one last glimpse of a Chacoan great house before calling it a day. Overview. Still, we have the need to catalog and characterize, so we used the name Anasazi until recently. Red Queen and Hoodoos * #8. It involves driving on a rough, bumpy, "wash board," dirt road for 13 miles, once you make the turn off from paved road CR 7900. The Hopi and other ethnic groups of New Mexico trace their ancestry directly to the culture and people of Chaco Canyon. It's more than just a little fascinating studying what is known of the ancient and far reaching Chaco culture. Due to Chaco Canyons, remote location, chances are you will have the place to yourself, especially if you visit during the week. Part of a larger archaeological site featuring a few smaller structures and a ball court, this "big house" is part of Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. It has been very dry so you should be a-ok! Ranger programs can be found on the park calendar. Containing the most sweeping collection of ancient ruins north of Mexico, the park preserves one of the most important pre . If you are mesmerized by night skies, youre already at the best place in the USA to stargaze! The roads were not too bad, but keep your eyes on the weather if it rains the roads can turn really bad. The ruins sites are going to be the best you'll come across. They're all very interesting but I noticed that they all talk about Chaco Canyon as the cultural and ceremonial center for the ancient Puebloans that existed in the period 900 to 1200 AD. * external links open in new window New Mexico required that visitors in the state self-quarantine for 14 days when they arrived due to COVID (we arrived at the end of January 2021), so after completing those two weeks at our Airbnb we ventured down to Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The notion that it was a cultural and religious center comes from the evidence that it seems to have a larger than normal number of ceremonial areas too, compared to the number of people who were thought to live here. $(this).click(function(event) { When kids in the family reach the age of curiosity, a visit to the national historical park near Nageezi, New Mexico, U.S., should be in the cards. Chaco Canyon is listed as an International dark sky Park with the IDA Dark Sky Association. Check the Guided Tours page, the schedule at the Visitor Center or call 505-786-7014 for more information. The dirt road on the last stretch was not too bad, definitely easier and quicker than going the other way. Pet owners must clean up after their animals. An adult female puma watching for threats and prey (PIcture: Alamy) 'Puma cubs,' whispers Facundo, our guide through the immense, rugged steppe of . We would have walked around not totally understanding all there is to know about the history of the Chacos if it had not been for Tori who is very passionate about the park and the area. Visit Chaco Canyon. April through October, night sky programs and telescope viewing of the spectacular dark night sky are offered. The site is home to the, There are so many reasons to visit Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness listed amongst best trips 2019 . Product Description. When itdries, it's as hard as rock and all the ruts and washboards remain until the next rain. I think the turn-off is about 10 miles down and is on the left. Of course, the point of visiting Chaco Canyon is to view the ruins. The pure excitement of being in this ancient place kept me awake. I was planning a full day to get to MV. . Learn about the traditions, legends, and archaeological finds of Mesa Verde National Park and Chaco Culture, both World Heritage sites, and other significant sites of the Southwest during this new tour. The largest and most impressive Chacoan great house is Pueblo Bonito. (LogOut/ Turn left on county road 7900, follow this road for 5 miles. If you like history and can endure bumpy roads, this is for you. There is one campground in the park, near the visitors center, called the Gallo Campground. The people migrated to other areas around the Southwest such as Aztec Ruins and Mesa Verde. If you ever get a chance to walk in the footsteps of the ancients and explore the oldest settlement in America, its an experience you will never forget. This is the most magical, spectacular, unique site in the United States, what a place! I slowed to about 5 mph in 1st gear to try to minimize the shaking. Petrified Logs * #5. Plan your upcoming visit to Chaco Canyon. I remember that dirt road to and fro 550 which already took 1.5 hours. . Make sure you take time to admire the excellent stone craftsmanship. Remnants of Turbulent Streambed #3. My first tip is DO NOT attempt to use GPS. Chaco Canyon offers some great hiking trails for outdoor enthusiasts. The most common trails within the park are Wijiji Trail, South Mesa Trail, Penasco Blanco Trail, and the Pueblo Alto Trail, ranging from three to eight miles. The two memorable features are the kiva and rear wall. Ill never forget seeing the Milky Way with my naked eye. If a Mustang could drive this road, then so could Betty! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Hidden Mesa. Fajada Butte Overlook - the place of the famous "sun dagger" Hungo Pavi - An unexcavated Chacocan Great House. Chaco Culture National Historical Park, also known as Chaco Canyon, is the largest excavated prehistoric ruins in North America and is a must-see for history buffs and outdoor lovers. We bought the self-guided booklets from the visitor center for the main sites here. To be as interesting as it was, and promoted as it is, you would think the road would be a bit more maintained I could see no evidence of ANY upkeep on the road. Chaco Canyon camping at Gallo Campgrounds is a great option when visiting Chaco Culture National Historical Park and the nearby attractions in northwest New Mexico. Very hot in the daytime; very cold at night. Be prepared to do some walking! So is there somewhere else we should go to? Check, Situated only a few miles west of downtown Tucson is the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. The only real reason to go camping at Chaco Canyon is to visit Chaco Culture National Historical Park. A few sites to look out for: Una Vida Ruins One of the earliest Great Houses. Chaco's main draw is Pueblo Bonito, one of the most extensively excavated and studied sites in North America. The best time to visit Chaco Culture National Historical Park,New Mexico is during the spring and fall when the temperature is milder. Dont climb on anything. Bring sunscreen. Reviews, prices, videos, photos, and itinerary for Southwest Native Trails End Santa Fe. The weather is best in the spring and fall (Sept. Oct.). Are there guides we can book We have traveled in Mexico and are very intersted in exploring this amazing site. Some of todays Pueblo people believe that the people of Chaco didnt abandon the site, but were on a journey. 8 days from $5,295. Chaco Culture National Historical ParkAnasazi ruin Hungo Pavi at Chaco Culture National Historical Park. And now we've added Moab and Bryce and the Grand Canyon, so we're skipping most of the NM stuff. at its most special time. After the Visitor Center, take a drive on the 9-mile one-way loop to get an overview of the most accessible archaeological sites. The next 4+ miles of road into Chaco has the worst washboards I have ever seen. Explore more of our Chaco Canyon Photos Here. The people. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. (Betty is my Kia Spectra and faithful travel companion.) You have at least a 1/2 hour drive on dirt roads to get to the park. Visiting this park in an RV might be a good reason to upgrade your rig with solar panels. At about 10 miles on Road 7900/7950 you hit the end of pavement. Remote but essential stop for ancient culture. Wayne and his family own Horsethief Campground, a Dry Camp area, just past the end of the pavement. One night at Chaco is not enough. Sometimes, the most amazing places are the hardest to reach. Continue north on Highway 550 north for 36 miles until just before Nageezi. The park itself included a nine-mile paved loop linking the main ruins and several hiking trails to other sites. Imagine this light show in the enclosed Kiva, it would have been even more dramatic. Alternatively, you may use, Hampton Inn & Suites Los Alamos White Rock. How much time should be allocated for drive from Alb to Chaco and days at Chaco? The Visitor Center is open from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. I wouldn't even attempt to compare the Grecian ruins to those of the early puebloan cultures. Product Description. What are the hours This area of New Mexico is home to a fantastic network of pueblo ruins built by ancient Anasazi people that date back to AD 850. Chetro Ketl A large great house an possible ceremonial center dating to 900 AD. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Which tour did you take? I boiled some water, sipped some Navajo tea (greenthread), and watched the big dipper cross the windshield. BOOKSTORE Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest We would have needed at least two days to explore the riches of this place but only had a half-day. 1970s Vintage Booklet Pueblo Bonito Chaco Canyon National Monument New Mexico | Collectibles, Paper, Ephemera | eBay! There is reasonably good road access to all the major ruins as well as hiking trails between them. The next several attractions in Chaco Canyon are within walking distance of each other. Dont put your hands and feet anywhere you cant see them. Expect bumps and a lot of torquing along the length of the vehicle as you navigate the ruts. Chaco's ruins are very impressive and the site history is quite unique in the area. Left: The northern entrance to the park is on Highway 7950 is a rough dirt road. Chaco Canyon holds one of the largest collection of prehistoric buildings on the continent. The wooden beams used in the houses came fromthe Zuni Mountains (50 miles south) and Chuska Mountains (50 miles west). Approx. Baby Travel Gear Must-Haves: Best Travel Car Seats for 2023 [Show] The park was not crowded and we spent the day enjoying the sites. This is of course, back when we used to do that sort of thing to our historical sites. Helping you travel longer for less since 2016! Both entrance roads are dirt and can become very rough. The best time to visit the Park is during Spring a nd Fall. The first settlements at Chaco were not the grand casas that you see today, but the modest pit-houses dug into the earth around 200 AD. The Crater began formation some 10,000 years ago and is filled with rich minerals deposited by the heated spring water, making it the most prominent mineral dome in the . You might imagine that a group of amateur astronomers from Albuquerque are used to pretty good viewing and they were raving about the conditions at Chaco Canyon. One thing to consider aside from the heat is the humidity, or lack thereof. Chaco Canyon definitely is one of the best places to visit but it takes a lot of time. That said, the paved segment is no problem. Dozens of backcountry hikes are waiting for explorers at Chaco Canyon. Are we talking about piles of rocks where kivas used to be, or rough foundations remaining? We want to go into Chaco Canyon with a truck and 19' camping trailer that has average ground clearance. Hawk's Nest #6. Depending on how long you spend at each ruin site, it can take 2 to 4 hours to see the Chaco Canyon ruins, using the loop road. Be prepared. To say about the route Colin gave you on 371. Theres a sign but its small. Just count on most or the day for that visit. Other times, we found the road just as you describe here. To get there, take I-40 west past Thoreau, head north on Route 371, then, just past Crownpoint, turn right (east) on IR (arrowhead looking sign) 9. That never happens. One place that weve enjoyed visiting in the past is Chaco Canyon. Thanks! cost of Kailo tours from Nageezi JUly 20th, We did the self drive tour so I have no details on the Kailo tour. For more location guides, sign up for my email list below! It might be that they didnt call themselves anything since evidence suggests that they were made up of many different cultures. Cell signal is minimal do NOT rely on GPS! (See map here.) I would recommend getting the booklets so you can read about the structures you are seing in each part of the property. The regular sites are most appropriate for tent camping, and most of them have a tent pad. Chaco Canyon definitely is one of the best places to visit but it takes a lot of time. 12.The Blue Hole. Save CC for a trip when you have plenty of time to enjoy it as a main attraction. The turnoff is 3 miles southeast of Nageezi. On the other hand, Mesa Verde is more scenic, where Chaco is in a pretty austere desert setting, but both are beautiful in their own way. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Would love to stay longer but could not imagine driving it again when we were to leave. Certain park pass holders can camp for $7.50. I was driving 10 mph, and my car was shaking so violently that I thought it might fall apart at any second. Temperatures vary from 38-102 F (39-39 C) and can fluctuate by 60 F (33 C) in a single day. The outlying sites waiting for exploration are too numerous to count. Signs provide information as you walk in and around the ruins. all in all, it wasn't our usual, but was very fun. Traveling to Chaco is an event. You should also take the northern route, entering from the park from the side near Nageezi. One of our favorite pass times when traveling in the American southwest is visiting the various cliff dwelling houses. The Four Corners region (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah) is dotted with thousands of archaeological sites. First, theres the solitude. It is an incredible place. Pierced with clutch backs. Pueblo BonitoRuins of Pueblo Bonito at Chaco Canyon. The big Pueblo Bonito was partially destroyed by a rock in the '40's, but it's still very obvious how things were laid out, and there are many other sites. Related We stopped by to check out our campsite and headed to the Visitor Center center. We were there one night when one of the group sites was occupied by the Albuquerque Astronomical Society; a group of friendly people willing to share their views from their amazing telescopes. Chaco Canyon National Historical Park is a treasure, but visiting the remote site takes some pre-planning. So best will be from 550. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Find more inspiration in one of the New Mexico guide books below! Janelle Ortega and Chuck Bender are drawn deep into a threatening web of hostility and deceit in Saguaro National Park in this page-turner of a mystery. We camped out in our car the night before, but I couldnt sleep. With no running water, no power, no cell phone connection, this experience has always been what we consider an essential experience when visiting the southwest. really cool archaeological site. There is a maximum of 6 people, 2 tents, and 2 cars per campsite. A lot of people have stated they took the north road to Chaco because it was "the recommended route", but everything else my family is planning to do is south of Grants, and it doesn't make a lot of sense with the rest of the trip to both enter and leave via US 550. All eyes were on the wall of the once-enclosed Kiva. And BTW, that Sinclair is the neatest, cleanest miniart you will find! This bestselling cookbook and curio is the definitive collection of Pueblo Indian cooking. My point was that if I see too many ruins in one vacation, they eventually loose their novelty. Linking Chetro Ketl and Pueblo Bonito is a small detour that takes you to a cemetery. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Here are a few ideas (both big and small) to help you find the perfect gifts for friends and family this holiday season. Currently in The Southwest with a wonderful husband, a rescue dog named Gaia. Follow the cairns back towards Pueblo Bonito until you reach the lookout. Park Website. I had planned to stop in Chaco Culture NP on the way. If you are pulling a trailer, I highly recommend you STOP AND DROP IT at Horsethief. Today the massive buildings of the ancestral Pueblo peoples still testify to the organizational and engineering abilities not seen anywhere else in the American Southwest. While theyre passable by just about any vehicle, they had a lot of wash boarding which makes for a rough ride thats hard on your car. Also, forty-eight degrees is much colder than I expected for the middle of June. What was it like a thousand years ago to watch these same constellations trace a path across the night sky? It was also very helpful that she drove because while the road had been repaired it is very rough and we might have given up and turned around. For heavy vehicles, it's do-able with reduced tire pressure. Don't miss the movies in the Visitor's Center as they. It will take about 3 hours if you look at all parts of the buildings, but factor in the time it takes to get here. Your email address will not be published. Now, I was regretting that decision as I bounced along the dirt road feeling like I was the backseat of a jeep in rural India. The smaller Pueblo del Arroyo structure was built in two stages between AD 1025 to AD 1125. You can purchase tickets at the visitor center, and enjoy the great introductory movie that explains Chaco Culture and what you will see on your journey through Chaco Canyon. We love to hike, hunt for crystals and minerals, and visit historic sites and ruins scattered throughout the southwest. Casa Rinconada, a 19-meter diameter great kiva located within the canyon, has two opposing interior T-shaped doors placed along a north-south axis and two exterior doors aligned east-west, through which the light of the rising sun passes directly only on the morning of an equinox (whether this latter alignment existed during Chacoan times is No Firewood and food need to be brought into the campground. They were inefficient, took forever to do the rental (and my credit card was cloned on that trip - could have been them or any of the gas stations) but we got a great deal on an old beater of a cruise america rv, and we had fun in our first time in a "real" rv. The ruins of Hungo Pavi at Chaco Canyon National Monument. To most of us, this simply means that its got really, really dark skies. Its a 1.5 hr / 90 mile drive north. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. It was first used back in the mid-nineteenth century by Navajo workers who were hired to go out and collect pot shards and other artifacts lying about ancient ruins. Horrible. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-13251929', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Albuquerque for Balloon Fiesta, and then we're driving to Mesa Verde (staying at Far View Lodge for 2 nights). The visitors center is staffed year round and is a starting place for your adventure here. The park is located in northwestern New Mexico, between Albuquerque and Farmington, in a remote canyon cut by the Chaco Wash. Dogs are not allowed on any of the trails. Required fields are marked *. Call ahead for road conditions if there has been any rain in the previous 48 hours. Farmington is your best bet for a place to stay and still allow most of a day in Chaco. The Big Dipper, the Milky Way, and all the famous constellations made an appearance in the blue-black sky that night. There are a couple of downsides to camping, especially car camping. Fees/Camping: $16 per vehicle for 7-day pass; camping is $15 per site and must be reserved in advance. Free permits are available at the Visitor Center and at all trailheads. There are thirteen miles of dirt roads to drive before getting to Chaco Canyon, and the last four miles are considered by the park service to be very rough. Badlands are by definition landscapes that are unsuitable for human habitation. The Chaco Culture National Historical Park (NHP) is the perfect getaway to explore the distinctive architecture, ruins, and ancient roads of this significant center of Puebloan culture. Chaco Canyon is one of the oldest places of habitation in the United States. Pueblo BonitoOne of the standing walls of Pueblo Bonito with windows. You can also get off I-40 at Milan then take highway 605 to 509 to 9. /* Even if you find an artifact on the ground, it must stay where you found it. 50 % of order total. Sign up for new posts from my adventures along with travel advice & tips! Water (but not food) is available at the Visitors Center. With such great distances and time between major cities, it makes sense to take advantage of Chaco Canyon camping and see other nearby remote attractions in northwest New Mexico. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 13.Tse Bitai (Shiprock) New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment. Many of the buildings and walls were built for astrological purposes and align with solstices. Lower your tire pressure and then head on to Chaco. Casa Grande sits in the middle of a surrounding flat desert in Coolidge, Arizona, just a short drive from Phoenix. A visit to the Homestead Crater in Heber Valley, Utah, makes for a fantastic experience. The dirt road can be rough but is worth the time. Cracked Eggs * #4. I am confused as to the most reasonable place to base ourselves in simple lodging for a couple of night/ one full day in Chaco Cyn. It is Navajo land and you may only camp in designatedlocations. VISIT CHACO CANYON IN NEW MEXICO Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and certified International Dark Sky Park, is considered one of the most important cultural and historical areas in the world. The sites are well signposted. Just northwest of Tucson and right off of I-10 is this gorgeous state park. Hiking off-trail causes erosion, and is why we can no longer hike to view the sun dagger at Fajada Butte. How to get there: There are two roads to Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Check the calendar online or at the Visitor Center. Stay on the trail. Other nearby attractions include Western New Mexico University, University of New Mexico, Gallup, Fire Rock Navajo Casino and Acoma Sky City. But I keep hearing of all these other places that are better, and I wonder if we'll go to all the hassle of getting there and then be disappointed. We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. A short drive away is the trail to Pueblo Bonito Lookout with Kin Kletso at the base of the ascent. The backcountry hikes are free, but you must fill out a permit at the trailhead or the visitors center. You would only need it if the roads were washing out. Next day visit Mesa Verde Nat Park.