Chimney Rock National Monument re-opened on Friday after the San Juan National Forest opened back up for public use.
All guided and audio-guided interpretive tours will resume as scheduled, with a Full Moon program on June 27.
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.)
Guests can see a western sunset, then look to the eastern mountain range to see the first sliver of moon. The program lasts approximately three hours including check-in, driving to the mesa top and hiking to the Great House Pueblo. This program is recommended for ages eight and up. There is a $15 fee for attending or $20 to attend the Full Moon Program with an early tour. Guests who plan to attend the early tour, please check in at the Visitor Cabin by 5:45 p.m. Guests who plan to attend the Full Program only, please check in at the Visitors Cabin by 7:15 p.m. The Full Moon Program begins at 7:45 p.m.
The monument is located 17 miles west of Pagosa Springs and 3 miles south on Highway 151. The site is accessible for two-hour guided walking tours at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and for one-hour guided walking tours at 10 a.m. and noon. The fees for guided tours are $14 for adults and $5 for children (ages 5-12.) Audio-Guided Kiva Trail tours are also available between 10:30 am and 3:00 pm ($10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-12; under 5 is free). For monthly program tickets, please visit www.chimneyrockco.org or call (877) 444-6777. A booking fee applies to each ticket purchased online or through the call center. Purchasing tickets in advance is the only way to guarantee a spot for the monthly and annual programs. Most programs are at full capacity prior to the event but we will accommodate walk-ins if space is available.
For more information, please visit our website at www.chimneyrockco.org.
