Early Tour/ Full Moon Program

September 10, 2022 @ 5:15 pm - 9:45 pm

|Recurring Event (See all)

One event on June 13, 2022 at 5:30 pm

One event on July 12, 2022 at 5:30 pm

One event on August 11, 2022 at 5:30 pm

One event on September 10, 2022 at 5:15 pm

| $25

PROGRAM DETAILS

This combination package begins at the upper parking lot with a one-hour guided tour of the one-third-mile paved Mesa Village Trail loop. The beautiful mountain views on this easy trail will lead you to a 44-foot diameter excavated great kiva.  This kiva was probably a community gathering place for those who lived at the site 1,000 years ago. Also on this trail is an excavated pit house, a typical home of the ancient Puebloans.

Volunteers will then light the trail to the Great House Pueblo at the mesa top for the Full Moon program before the twin spires. The program includes an informative lecture on topics specific to the Chimney Rock site, such as the ancestral Puebloan culture, archaeoastronomy theories, or area geology.  Then, guests watch the full moon rise to the music of Charles Martinez’ Native American flute. (This moon-rise does not occur between the spires.) You’ll be torn between looking west to see the spectacular sunset and focusing on the eastern mountain range to see the first sliver of moon.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

The complete package lasts approximately four hours including check-in, driving to the mesa top (2.5 miles up a winding dirt road with 20-mph speed limit – allow 15 minutes each way), touring the Mesa Village Trail, and hiking to the Great House Pueblo.  The quarter-mile trail to the Great House Pueblo has a 200-foot gain in elevation and exposure to heights and steep drop-offs.

Please keep in mind that the lecture before the moon rises is approximately 30 minutes in length, and the hike back down the high mesa occurs after dark. Parents must closely supervise their children for the safety of all attendees. This program is recommended for ages 8 and up. For details, please call the Visitor Cabin (970-883-5359) 9:00 – 4:00 Mountain Time.

PROGRAM DATES:

  • Special Full Moon Eclipse Program-Sunday, May 15: Arrive for check-in 6:15-6:30pm.
  • Monday, June 13: Arrive for check-in 5:30-5:45pm.
  • Tuesday, July 12: Arrive for check-in 5:30-5:45pm.
  • Thursday, August 11: Arrive for check-in 5:30-5:45pm.
  • Saturday, September 10: Arrive for check-in 5:15-5:30pm.

Tickets:

  • $25.00 plus booking fee and are non-refundable
  • In the event of cancellation due to inclement weather, rain checks will be available.

Reservations strongly recommended. Limited space. Walk-ins on a first-come, first-serve basis.

BOOK NOW

 

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There’s more to learn at Chimney Rock National Monument beyond the daily tours.  The interpretive program at Chimney Rock includes opportunities to see the site in a different light and to enjoy the different facets of the site.  Ticket fees for special programs are considered a non-refundable donation. Programs often sell out. A booking fee applies to each ticket purchased online or through the call center. Making a reservation through the website or the call center is the only way to guarantee a spot on this tour. Most programs are at full capacity prior to the event but we will accommodate walk-ins if space is available. Booking fees do not apply to walk-ins.

You can book our monthly programs online or by calling 1-877-444-6777.