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Aztec Ruins National Monument Visitor Center
725 Ruins Rd, Aztec, NM 87410, United States
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Pa
Review №1

So cool to see ruins that are thousands of years old! Amazing to watch old architecture like this because ancient people knew how to build their stuff. And they last thousands of years. Coming here with such a awesome bucket list thing to do. Theres no guide so you have to do the tour yourself but you can hear a pre-recorded tour guide on your phone. All you have to do is press play at each Trail marker and that would begin the pre-recorded information. You could go into some of the structures which is really cool and some of the doorways are really small so just be careful not to bump your head while going through them.

Fa
Review №2

The best part is that its free! I loved doing and seeing the well preserved ruins.The kivas are so beautiful and the place feels absolutely mystical.They have a loaner binder of information thats number coded and makes a self tour so easy to complete. Id go later in the day when there are fewer people, more shade and definitely cooler air.

Ab
Review №3

Nice gift shop with great selection, informative displays, and 15 min video about the history of the Aztec ruins. The ruins arent very big so you can easily see everything in an hour. Admission is free, but the guide book is $2. Public restrooms are clean and well-stocked.

Bu
Review №4

Aztec Ruins National Monument was so cool. Seeing these things that have been around for so long and learning the history of it was just great. Getting to actually walk through them was the best even tho I had to crawl in a couple doorways in account of my height. But that just added some humor to the self guided tour. I would highly recommend going to see it.

Mi
Review №5

The Aztec Ruins National Monument in northwestern New Mexico, USA consists of preserved structures constructed by the Pueblo Indians nearly a thousand years ago. The national monument lies on the western bank of the Animas River in Aztec, New Mexico, about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Farmington. Additional Puebloan structures can be found in Salmon Ruins and Heritage Park, about 9.5 miles (15.3 km) south. Archaeological evidence puts the construction of the ruins in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Puebloan-built ruins were dubbed the Aztec Ruins by 19th century American settlers who misattributed their construction to the Aztecs.

to
Review №6

Free entry, very friendly staff. Lots of cool things to see. If you stop to look and read about everything. You can spend an hour or so there. If you just walk through, about 25 min.

Ha
Review №7

Absolutely amazing place! Worth the drive. A good 2 acres of ruins that you can walk through. Kids love it. The completely restored Kiva has a very spiritual feeling when you go into it. Very neat to see the old stone walls and think about how they were built.

ca
Review №8

The people running this place are awesome, its completely free and you really are missing out if you dont visit

De
Review №9

Wonderfully preserved ruins! They have a window/door shade thats still hanging in its original doorway 800 years after the ancient puebloans left the area. They have also reconstructed part of the ruins so you get a feel for ancient life. The visitor center is extremely informative and filled with items actually found during excavation. The guides are happy to answer questions. There is also a nice picnic and dog walking area. While much smaller than other ruins in the area, its worth a stop.

Ce
Review №10

Fascinating place...great for a slow, relaxed stroll. Great, small musuem inside of visitors center/gift shop gives informative exhibits along with a 15 minute movie. Then you walk the paved path around the ruins. Really beautiful especially right now with the cottonwood trees changing colors ! Park Ranger at visitors center was super nice and very knowledgeable. Definitely worth the visit.

C
Review №11

Serene. Wonderful experience. Free, but please do give a donation. Also the attached museum has a plethora of information about the ruins, as well as the archaeological dig to uncover them!

Ch
Review №12

Amazing place. The staff was really knowledgeable and answered all my questions. The grounds definitely have a spiritual vibe to them.

Ra
Review №13

Definitely a place to visit at least once!

Do
Review №14

Great National Monument! Really great staff and the grounds were well kept in alignment with conserving the historic site. Lots of good info and artifacts. Also, this is a UNSECO world Heritage site.

So
Review №15

Staff has great information and quite helpful. Amazing ruins

Br
Review №16

There is a self-guided tour and you get to walk through some of the rooms. The admission is free, but donations are welcomed.

Mr
Review №17

So this place is pretty big. You can walk through the rooms and see pretty much everything. The rangers are really nice and helpful. It’s also well maintained. The only reason I give it 4 was it wasn’t as epic as I thought it would be. Still worth the drive though

Br
Review №18

This was a really neat place to visit. My kids and I had fun exploring these ruins! There is a restored large kiva you can go inside, as well as multiple rooms in the ruins your are allowed to explore.

Ji
Review №19

Our National Parks are amazing!

An
Review №20

Awesome National Park site. Great junior ranger and not so junior ranger, it is divided by what topics you like. The path is easy to move around. Lovely picnic area. A few easy hikes out of the monument. The museum is really amazing and well done. There is awesome set ups to help understand archaeology and chacoan culture. Visit this in connection with Salmon ruins that are only 20-25 minutes away.

ch
Review №21

Wonderful history here.

Ma
Review №22

Loved being surrounded by the beautiful stonework. The park staff is friendly and helpful. The ruins are in good shape. (

Bl
Review №23

Wonderful staff. Imagine ruins in the US over 1,000 years old. That is what you can expect.

Je
Review №24

Best part of these Aztec ruins, you can explore the inside!! Take yourself back in history, get a feel of how people lived back then. Was so amazing. First part is a museum with artifacts and info tags. Movie of the people then you get to see and feel there home. I loved every minute. If my bed fit in the little rooms I would move in. Was worth every penny of the I think $5 it cost to see it. I would go back but its quite the drive out in the middle of nowhere.

Ch
Review №25

Very friendly staff! Trail was easy. Loved going through the rooms!

De
Review №26

You can walk thru the ruins. There was a short informative movie as well. Ruins are right behind the visitors center. Very easy walk.

Lo
Review №27

They have done a fabulous job of rebuilding the large kiva so it is more easily seen as it once may have been. Lovely walk around the grounds and displays indoors.

Re
Review №28

The information center was updated with new exhibits in the past few years. The current displays have artifacts that illustrate trade and how this site was connected to Chaco. Excellent and informative staff. They have a self guided tour to borrow if you are not interested in purchasing one. The restored kiva is incredible.

Ka
Review №29

Worth the trip, and if you live near but have never been, GO

Jo
Review №30

This was an unplanned stop but definitely an enjoyable one. They have a booklet that explains the path you are walking and the structures are pretty nice. The museum is a great way to end your visit. Rangers were pretty knowledgeable and helpful. Definitely a great place to visit, although it would be good if they changed the name since calling an Ancient Pueblo settlement Aztec can be a little misleading.

Di
Review №31

Kids had much fun doing the Junior Ranger program. My daughter did some paintings. The tour, the old buildings and the outside picknick area made our day! Very friendly people here!

St
Review №32

Abosolutely worth visiting. These ruins you actually get to walk in. They have a phone tour that you can go room to room with.

Ri
Review №33

Great place. Nice visitor center and Pueblo.

T.
Review №34

Took the self tour it was very interesting. Had an app that you can scan to your smart phone and utilize while on the property to hear the landmarked design.

Li
Review №35

Very neat view of ancient living, free to enter, guided tours and has the junior ranger program. If your kid is under 13 ask them about it.

Da
Review №36

Great history, and you get to walk through it all. If in the area def stop by

Ja
Review №37

Quite an interesting place. I really enjoyed it.

Ch
Review №38

Awesome stop off. Basically as good as Mesa Verde, but free and friendly staff. Take the audio tour on your cellphone.

Ia
Review №39

Stumbled across this gem as we were travelling to the Mesa Verde National Park, it is in New Mexico and a must see, the rangers were extremely helpful as always and the ruins have to be seen to be believed. Great day and highly recommended.

du
Review №40

Very cool!! If you like history, this is definitely worth your time! My family and I loved looking and learning about these ruins and how the Aztecs lived.

Jo
Review №41

Very friendly staff there. Small museum but very helpful and understanding what youre seeing there and then some other Pueblo parks in the area. They have a short 15 minute film that is definitely worth seeing. Free admission and then grabbed one of the pamphlets that explains the short trail that youll be walking through the ruins themselves

Aj
Review №42

The place shows how advanced their civilization was. Pottery and clothes displayed there are really interesting.

Va
Review №43

I decided to visit this site based on the Great Kiva that was rebuilt in 1934. What I ended up being just as interested in was the rows of green rocks that were build into the pueblos walls. This was the first time I had see anything like that and the ranger mentioned that 3 rivers run in the area so thats what they could represent. The paths are paved so there is wheelchair access around the pueblos. The Great Kiva is really amazing and beautiful. I even found a markers from where they took a sample of the wooden beams to date them. To see this site completely, allow at least 2 hours or more. Wear good shoes, take water and a camera. Make sure you walk the entire site including the small kiva on the west side of the pueblo. The doorways are small and low so expect to be bending over or crouching down to get through them.

AJ
Review №44

Great site, loved walking around and learning with my family. Highly recommended.

Sa
Review №45

Of all the ruins around Aztec, these are by far the coolest O have seen yet. They really give you a sense of how these people lived their lives and the fantastic structures they were capable of building hundreds of years before electricity was discovered. I loved it! If you are in the area of Aztec NM, its definitely worth a look.

Fi
Review №46

Great place. Fun exploring.

Ma
Review №47

I have been to Mesa Verde Natl Park and other ancient native sites but this site lets you walk into the ruins and go through many rooms. The restored kiva is the gem of this site and worth a trip.

Ja
Review №48

Was one of the coolest places Ive been.

Ma
Review №49

The most knowledgable staff i have ever met. They were great. Answered my questions and they were always available if i had questions. Make sure to bring a little sun screen and water. It can get quite hot exploring this amazing site.

Ja
Review №50

Great rangers very helpful, really well maintained and beautiful area. Highly recommended.

Em
Review №51

Very helpful staff, free entry, and quiet park. Pick up a free tour guide booklet inside and complete the self-guided tour on the paved half mile trail, or plan to attend a free guided group tour.

Ro
Review №52

Quick last minute stop and so glad we did. The amazing staff here thankfully gave us a great breakdown of what to see there based on how much time we were going to spend there.

Ti
Review №53

Large ancient pueblo. It includes an amazing great kiva reconstructed in the 30s. easily short walk. nice little museum and video as well. Very nice staff.

Ke
Review №54

Wonderful! The staff welcome you in with a loaner tour book explaining the significant points.

El
Review №55

The staff here are informative and helpful. She showed me how to download an audio guide on my phone that made the experience more informative and interesting. Id definitely watch the hours, though; they close pretty early in spring.

Do
Review №56

I’ve visited the ruins many times. I grew up in Bloomfield and Farmington but my hunny is from West Texas and I took him. He was very impressed and has committed to our friends how much he enjoyed it. Several of our friends want to come back with us when we come back to check on my mom.

Er
Review №57

They have done a lot of work to develop an Anasazi Pueblo. They have a free video presentation that is very good and a good walking tour. The staff is friendly and respinsive.

Rh
Review №58

Wow, awesome history lesson and architecture from almost 1000 years ago.

Ma
Review №59

Incredible place and very well preserved ruins. We came in late October and the trees made it even more awe inspiring.

Ti
Review №60

Awesome, very nice, clean few people so easy to move around

Jo
Review №61

Super cool stop on the way home

Me
Review №62

Small, but very nice place to visit if you dont want an hour or more visit. Educational and very interesting.

Ma
Review №63

More history, fascinating to see up close how these people lived and the engineering they knew way back then to build such fascinating structures

Ra
Review №64

I loved it for so many reasons. The staff were helpful, there was an excellent video about the place, there was more access to rooms in the excavated area than in, say, Chaco Culture, and the restored grand kiva was especially impressive.

Da
Review №65

Great Park rangers and ruin information. National Park never disappoint.

An
Review №66

We went on a free weekend. We were greeted and explained where to walk on the trails. We were given a map also. The weather was great and my kids really enjoyed walking through the ruins.

Ri
Review №67

Very nice small museum, with a helpful staff. There is shaded parking and flush toilets.

Ju
Review №68

An incredible place to learn about pueblo people and history of America.

Ai
Review №69

First thing to remember when visiting Aztec ruins that theres no connection with Aztecs. Nevertheless great historical place to visit

VC
Review №70

Make sure to take the time and watch the video. It had lots of fascinating information! Kids will love the junior ranger program. But there is also a Not- so- junior ranger program (including badge) that was lots of fun, too!

Ro
Review №71

This was great! Awesome place to take the kids! Very educational and the forest rangers were very helpful! Plus its free!

Or
Review №72

Great park to visit. Very educational and kid friendly. Jr ranger program is very detailed and our children had a great time.

Aa
Review №73

Great place to visit with the kids! Free to the public. You can learn how the Anasazi and Pueblo Indians lived in this area and actually walk through some of the ruins.

Am
Review №74

The maintenance and restoration happening is to careful, reverent, and unobstructive.I loved standing in the underground Kiva. The people at the welcome center were very knowledgeable.

Ha
Review №75

Impressive what people build some 500 years ago.

Ke
Review №76

Wow. Stumbled upon this as we were passing through town. Stunning. Amazing. Well worth the stop!

Ja
Review №77

This was our first of many stops to experience the pueblo culture in the four corners area. This I consider to have the most accessible pueblo structure we encountered. Here was the opportunity to actually go inside the ancient rooms and actually touch and experience the feel of living in the amazing pueblo. I wont easily forget the feeling of awe and wonder such structures evoke.

Ri
Review №78

Great place to learn about local history!

Te
Review №79

Its so fun! Just to go and look around and I love to go to the event they have! I would love to go again

Ma
Review №80

These are some of the most accessible Pueblo ruins that Ive seen. If you go, bring your smartphone or tablet. The Park Service has an online narration that takes you through the otherwise self-guided tour of the ruins. Be aware that there are a couple spots in the ruins where you need to go through low and narrow doorways. For taller people, this can require crawling.

Mi
Review №81

Staff was so hospitable. No admission charge when we arrived. A gem of a park. My girls even became Jr. Rangers!

Mi
Review №82

Very well done but not very well publicized. Would not have know about it if not for a local friend. Well worth seeing.

An
Review №83

Incredible to view, but the spirit there is something to be experienced. Very informative. The rangers are fabulous

Lo
Review №84

This is a must stop for Aztec New Mexico. This wonderful national park has it all and its free. If you can be there at 930 am you can have a live tour with a park ranger. If you like to sleep in dont worry you can 3 options for a tour. 1. Free booklet to borrow 2. $2 booklet for you to keep 3. Phone apt to listen to for free. The whole place is free with a full museum, guest speakers, demonstrations. Ask about becoming a junior ranger. If you are a little bigger. they have a not so junior ranger bage you can earn. This program are completely by answer questions while at the park. All activities are free. They do have a place for donations and a wonderful gift shop. Like I said when in the area of Aztec check it out it should be on you must see list.

B
Review №85

Very friendly and helpful. The smaller national parks like this are sometimes nicer to visit, such as this one. Very educational for kids and they have the junior ranger program too.

Ga
Review №86

This is the place to go before starting to view the Kivas and surrounding areas. There are very knowledgeable people staffing the center who can answer questions about the monument.

Sh
Review №87

Amazing site. The great house and the kiva are works of art. The history and the culture will amaze. Hours are incorrect on Google. Current hours 9 am to 4 pm every day, through memorial day

Ch
Review №88

Such an important piece of history! Amazing ruins and the staff was great!

De
Review №89

Friendly and helpful staff! Amazing site! Amust see for those interested in history!

Ju
Review №90

Not Aztec, but multi use of many tribes. Tour very informative. Well maintained.

Jo
Review №91

Touring America and Canada one small town at a time

Sc
Review №92

A small gem right in Aztec, NM. 900 year old ruins, nice visitor center, and an interesting and beautiful restored kiva. Touring the monument is an easy walk for people of all ages. Very helpful rangers, good video introduction (15 minutes). We had our park pass but were informed that it wasnt required for this park.Chaco Canyon is a short drive to the South, with a much different set of ruins, and also well worth the drive. Take it easy on the very passable, but unpaved, section of road on the way out to Chaco, though.

Ni
Review №93

Incredibly interesting and very well preserved. A must see.

Ke
Review №94

The people were amazing and very helpful.

Ro
Review №95

Very interesting site to visit. Whilst we found it wasnt particularly well signed, once we were there... super impressed! You are able to take a self guided tour around the site and certainly the park rangers in attendance the day we visited were nothing short of superb..very knowledgeable and very obliging! Clean restrooms...well worth a visit!

Pa
Review №96

I love this place the workers are always so informed and educated on the history of the aztec ruins which makes your visit that much better

Mi
Review №97

We realy enjoyed being able to see firsthand the architecture of this old indian ruins. Quite creative structures.

Ma
Review №98

Not just educational but inspiring

St
Review №99

The rangers here were very knowledgeable and friendly. I appreciate the ability to do a self guided tour with the laminated booklet that provides facts and stories about what you are exploring. It can be done as quick as an hour or you could spend several hours there with all the different activities.

Ro
Review №100

It was see inspiring and the guide they give you is extremely helpful and they have a movie that was equally informative

Information
100 Photos
100 Comments
4.8 Rating
  • Address:725 Ruins Rd, Aztec, NM 87410, United States
  • Site:https://www.nps.gov/azru/index.htm
  • Phone:+1 505-334-6174
Categories
  • Museum
  • Tourist attraction
Working hours
  • Monday:8am–5pm
  • Tuesday:8am–5pm
  • Wednesday:8am–5pm
  • Thursday:8am–5pm
  • Friday:8am–5pm
  • Saturday:8am–5pm
  • Sunday:8am–5pm
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible car park:Yes
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