Open May 15th – October 15, 2026
CRIA’s Special Programs must be booked through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. A $1 non-refundable booking fee applies to each ticket purchased online or through the call center. Purchasing your tickets in advance is the only way to guarantee a spot.
It is important to make reservations at least 12 hours in advance of your event to ensure adequate time for your tour guide to receive notification from Recreation.gov and plan the tour/program accordingly.
Click on any program below to see details and dates or click Book Now to go directly to Recreation.gov.
Full Moon Program is a three-hour event culminating in a unique experience of viewing the moon rise from atop Chimney Rock Mesa. Prior to that, a presentation will highlight the Ancestral Puebloan ties to astronomy and the Chacoan culture.
Night Sky Program focuses on the Ancient Puebloans who once lived here and studied the night skies along with interactive talks about the life cycle of a star, categories of galaxies, and other relevant topics.
The Birding Tour is presented in partnership with the local chapter of the Audubon Society. It affords a wonderful opportunity to observe and learn about birds that are native to the area.
Great House Tour (daily and family friendly) goes to the top of the mesa ridge for a 360-degree panoramic view of the landscape and a close-up of the two pinnacles with stops along the way to learn about the ancient Puebloan structures.
A Tour of Two Trails provides an in-depth discussion along the Great House Trail about the connection of Chimney Rock to the greater Chacon culture, the significance of the mesa-top Great House, and the day-to-day lives of the ancestral inhabitants of Chimney Rock.
Summer Solstice Program provides a unique pre-dawn experience to view the sunrise from atop the mesa, timed to take in the expanding sun’s rays as light slowly fills the landscape. Afterward, a tour of the archaeological sites will be conducted highlighting the importance of celestial events to the ancient ones.
The Autumnal Equinox Program provides an exclusive pre-dawn experience to witness a spectacular sun rising from atop the mesa. Afterward, a tour of the archaeological sites will be conducted with emphasis on the importance of celestial events to the ancient ones.
Chimney Rock Through the Ages Tour (Geology)
Chimney Rock Through the Ages Tour explores both the natural and cultural history of the area through geologic time and incorporates the anthropology and archeology of the Puebloan people.
Life at Chimney Rock Festival is a fee-free event on June 6 and 7. This family-oriented event provides interactive demonstrations of crafts and skills of the Ancestral Puebloan people in addition to a Native American arts and crafts market and food vendors. No reservations required.
A Day in the Life of the Ancients is a family-oriented tour along the accessible Mesa Village Trail to visit an ancient agricultural village and learn about daily life 1,000 years ago.
Flute Music at Twilight begins with a short, guided walk through a Mesa Village followed by live Native American flute music accompanied by a deepening night sky to reveal celestial bodies.
Sunrise at Chimney Rock is a unique two-hour tour of the archaeological sites with a special emphasis on the spectacular view of the sun rising atop the mesa.
