Reviews of Aztec Ruins National Monument (Park)

bob stuerke

Beautiful remade ruins. I didn't see anything original. It has all been restored.

The Gladdens

Free and interesting! Very hot in the summer!

Christopher Boyer

Very informative self guided tour and museum, knowledgeable staff. This is the first historical site my 9yo has ever taken an interest in.

Donna Benn

Beautiful place,long drive to see amazing ruins

bob stuerke

Beautiful remade ruins. I didn't see anything original. It has all been restored.

VC Kingsley

Beautiful! Amazing! Breathtaking! Incredible! The opportunity to walk through history and touch a world beyond imagination.

David Senn

Great piece of America's history here, I look forward to further revelations about the people who built this amazing place.

Phil Mcdaniel

Great place for history.

Jeff Cooper

Spectacular experience. You can actually go inside the ruin and walk through the rooms. Look up for bats! Guided tour or self tour. Quick stop or spend some time. Nicely shaded picnic areas too.

Sarah Livin La Vida Lawson

This place really give a feel of history and how these people lived, it is absolutely amazing to walk thru. If you are in Aztec, NM you will definitely want to stop in.

Brett Wells

Awesome historical spot everybody should visit @ least once!

Jennifer Cameron

Nice place. The visit won't take too long so add it to your itinerary on a trip west. The park is also free. They have a small gift shop and friendly staff.

Mark Boyer

Just a short hike through the ruins! Beautiful!

Dave Uglem

By far the biggest if the ruins we visited.

Larry Cohn

Wonderful history lesson.

Justin Garoutte

New exhibit panels in the visitor's center, and the site is free to visit. Such a neat place to see and explore a Chacoan outlier.

Nancy Prudhomme

Very well maintained. Staff friendly and helpful. Educational experience.

Harold Hesseltine

Very interesting and informative

Richard Leon

Even bought some tree gets from Navajo Debra

Sterling Westfall

Interesting historic ruins and friendly staff.

Endora Tully

May be a pile of rocks for some but a beautiful sight to visit. Get into touch with a spiritual link and take in the scenery of this historical escape. Walk where the ancients walked.

June Harter

Great place to visit. Woman behind desk ( did not get her name) very informative. Easy to hike around these ruins and a great picnic area for lunch and relaxation.

Michael Casperson

Truly an amazing history and definitely worth stopping

alexa hackett

I drove well over an hour out of my way after Mesa Verde and there's not much to it. I could have made better use of my time and gone to Chimney Rock instead. You can see this place in under 30 minutes.

Jack Croach

Fantastic ruins. The restoration is amazing

Lucy goose

Great place with tons of information and amazing views. I couldn't believe it was free! The ruins were well kept and it was very neat to walk through the 900 year old original buildings. The museum was very nice and cool after the hot sun out side. There was a short free film with information about the site and local native Americans views on the meaning and history of the site. I'm so glad we stopped and I would highly recommend the chocolate Mexicano in the gift shop

Joshua Sneed

Friendly staff. Amazing architecture

Rebekah Jordan

This is a great historical site, and the Park Rangers and volunteers are great at guiding you through it!

minghao liu

Overall this is a decent ruins park. However some parts seem too new and it closes too early.

William Ridgley

Nice little Indian ruins well restored and has wourlds largest kiva

Lupericus Infernale

Amazing site with a museum. Restored kiva so you can experience what it might have been like. Great staff, very knowledgeable. You can possibly walk through in about 20 minutes or so if your in a hurry, but, I suggest taking your time and enjoying the history!

Andrew Carroll

This is a wonderful small park. Can be visited for as long as you want, we've seen it in as little as 1 hour and as long a 5. It is a free NPS site, but stop by the visitors desk for a map and orientation. Also has nothing to do with Aztecs of central Mexico, it was called this because the early pioneers didn't think the Pueblans could build such structures (ha, how wrong they were).

Teresa Johnson

Great place to see. No charge for entry and great history.

Steve Gaborik

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.

Bonita Cunningham

It's a beautiful cultural site, and a great educational and interactive place to take children. There are both staff-guided and self-guided tours, both with perks. There are often events held to celebrate seasonal occasions, holiday celebrations and more. Employees and volunteers are always incredibly friendly and helpful even outside the park. There are newer shade structures and even an annual heritage garden (full of native-to-New Mexico plants) that local volunteers provide upkeep for, allowing the community to take part in the learning and preservation of such a great resource. The park has a close property with access to a scenic bridge that if crossed will lead to the heart of Aztec. All in all the park is a great place to stop by on your way through, especially if you've got the kids and are looking for something fun and educational.

Lone Eclipz

Very fun place to take the family for a time passer, or just a free Saturday. Very well kept and friendly staff.

Kyle Ames

Wonderful staff ❣️❤️

Denise Olds

Very well preserved chat style ruins. Reconstructed great kiva which is still used for Hopi ceremonies. Guided tour using your own smart phone.

Alisa Carter

Aztec Ruins are misnamed for it is neither Aztec nor ruined according the the pueblo people. The place is well preserved. It is a physically easy walk through the buildings. There is a sense of peace and serenity about the place. I hope to visit it again soon.

Darren Ursua

Great historical attraction. It was great learning about the Aztec and their culture informed by the park staff. Site is quiet and peaceful as should be.

Lou Stubby

Bring lots of water and sunscreen. This is a great place to visit and its completely free. If you go around 0930 you can get a tour from the rangers. They have many indoor exhibits to see as well. We plan on taking many more trips to see here again.

Brian Combs

View the ruins at your own pace. There is no admission is fee but donations are accepted.

Alisa Carter

Aztec Ruins are misnamed for it is neither Aztec nor ruined according the the pueblo people. The place is well preserved. It is a physically easy walk through the buildings. There is a sense of peace and serenity about the place. I hope to visit it again soon.

Darren Ursua

Great historical attraction. It was great learning about the Aztec and their culture informed by the park staff. Site is quiet and peaceful as should be.

Hannah Allison

Simply gorgeous and free entry!!

Eric Borman

There is no entry or parking fee. There is a complete Kiva that has been completely restored and is used by the Native to hold ceremonies. They also talk about Chaco Canyon which is an amazing collectikn of Pueblos. There is an entry to walk. Through the back of the Pueblo to see how the Anasazi lived. You can pick up a guide as you enter. Also there is a video presentation about how the Pueblo developed and well worth seeing before you go in. The staff is well worth talking to and sometimes there is an Archeologist to talk to. It is close to the center of Aztec to go shopping after your visit.

d mcgaw

Amazing place, significant archeological value and insight related to Aztec Indians in North America.

Jessica Legrand

Super fun. Would love to come again

Scott Swann

Awesome place!

Elizabeth VanValkenburg

This site was fun because you have free access to a lot of ruins. I was disappointed that I couldn't see any places up close in Mesa Verde when I went, but this place filled that need. I used their online audio guide to learn about what different areas were used for and how people lived. If you start your visit at the visitors' center they can give you more information, which makes the visit more valuable. It does close pretty early, though, so check the houra.

Deb Warner

Really nice to be able to walk thru without the long hike

Peter H

Very interesting. Takes about an hour to 1.5 hours to visit and look at everything.

Jorge Orlando

Aztec ruins called like this due to Spanish people when arrived and they saw the ruins, they attributed to Aztec people. Actually the ruins belong to chaco people.

Melissa Adams

Very interesting place to visit they provide a helpful guide book to assist you on your self guided tour.

Michael Fryette

Lots of History right in my back yard...very organized and clean....

Lesa NeSmith

Very special, spiritual feeling location. The ruins are lovely and was a very nice walk

Cindy Melchert

They only a request donation, and this place would be worth the price of admission at $15 or more. Information is thorough and freely offered. And the ruins are well preserved and amazingly presented, not to mention expansive. Loved this monument!

Lori McAfee

Nicely presented reconstruction of the kiva. The e-tour was good in spite of difficult reception on my phone. The walking tour was well done as were the museum displays indoors. All around great spot.

Kelly Stahly

This was a very cool place, the visitors Center, video and guide book was so helpful in learning about these amazing people.

Daniel Goetz

Had an amazing time here. The woman at the information center was very helpful with all our questions. And we had A LOT of questions. This is an guided tour though I didn't ask if there was a guided tour. You get a informational guide book (that you return) that you get when you first enter. There's lots of artifacts to view and ponder in the center as well. They have a short film to watch if you want that goes to the Pueblo Indians and how they suspect they came to the region. Very interesting When you leave the visiting center the ruins are about 25ft away. The paths are clearly marked and though you can make it around the outside of the ruins with a wheel chair, you won't be able to enter the structures themselves as the natives weren't ada compliant when they built the place

Donna Derrick

I was raised here and knew what and about the ruins, having visited numerous times. My hubby is a born and raised West Texas boy and he was very impressed with the way these ruins were persevered and presented.

Christina Marquez

You have to love this stuff to go here. If you don't love it, you will find this boring.

Anima Wolfe

Absolutely amazing. You could almost say the area is alive with history. Walking around really is geared toward being self-guided. There are little guide books that can be purchased or there are copies that belong to the park.

someone else

Enjoyed getting to see the history of the area.

Dave Wyant

The Aztec Ruins was a great experience. Danielle at the front desk was very relatable and made for a fun experience. In addition, the ability to walk through the ruins versus having to take pictures from a distance was amazing. Highly recommended!

Judy Dodson

Janet was our tour guide she was terrific. Very interesting place.

Friendship Spacestation

This place is great. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the ruins were incredible. You get to tour inside a reconstructed Kiva, which was quite awesome. The staff hands you a booklet with all the information about the ruins, you follow this as a self-guided tour. Worth visiting.

Bully Yay

Such a cool place to see and explore.

Marcia

Friendly staff, clean facility. Educational and not a long walk but you get to see the structures up close.

Loki Lock

Really cool quick stop. Ruins you can actually walk through.

Brandon Murphy

Its honestly a cool place to see. These ruins are where the town got its name. Its small so it wont take long to see everything. Its a good part of History.

G Mtz

Very cool place to go too

Lola Ingram

Really interesting, so much history.

Stephanie Anderson

It's history, it's in town, don't take a lot of time, free to cheap.

Peggy Barrett

Amazing Pueblo ruins with very knowledgeable volunteer staff! Highly recommend — worth driving out of the way for!

Jaeleen Zurfluh

Really neat place to visit such history really shows that even 1000 years ago without today's technologies ancient people really knew what they was doing?

Little Frog Innovations

These ruins are part of the national park service. They are easy to get to with no hike or climb involved. There is also the junior ranger program here so if you have kids ask them about it.

Susan Aguirre

Amazing place to meditate.

Lisa cage

the history around this place is very interesting.

Angie Barlow

Very nice and helpful employees. The ruins were nice but the trail is the most exciting part. It's very beautiful

Kim Miller

Amazing preservation! It's one of the best examples of native American construction still intact. I'm always impressed. The expanded teaching areas and exhibits are very well done.

Nick Olmsted

This is a tribute to our Pueblo ancestors. It is very sacred and has been well preserved. Presenting the historic as well as the religious side of these ancestors. One of the few places that is truly as described. A must see experience. If you miss this one you'll be sorry.

klipo klopi

One of the best National Parks i have ever visited : very welcoming staff, very interesting tour and videos, not too many visitors. A deserved tribute to Pueblo history.

Cassie Spriggs

Absolute must see. Step back into history and take it all in. Incredible! And the kids loved it too.

Valjean Nichols

Preserving the oast

kyle marshall

Best place to learn about history ..native Americans

Yvette Saiz-Slayton

I went there a long time ago. I haven't been there in years.

Ivan Jolly

Interesting look into history. Nice walking tour, in a small town, well worth a look

Marc Hertel

It was a nice scenic drive to the Aztec Ruins. Once you arrive, you'll see clean covered picnic tables with clean grills. They were wonderful to relax and eat at. Go inside the visitors Center and you'll meet these wonderful and knowledgable Park Rangers that will give you all the info you'll need to understand the history of what your looking at. Make sure too bring sun protection and water. It was an amazing experience that i think everyone can enjoy and should.

Jeff Stein

This was very fun. When in the Southwest, visit ruins.

C Fisher

Definitely worth visiting. There are a couple of differences between Aztec and Mesa Verde and Chaco. You need to see this one and take the ranger tour. Randy was awesome!

Kim Miller

Amazing preservation! It's one of the best examples of native American construction still intact. I'm always impressed. The expanded teaching areas and exhibits are very well done.

May Chan

You can really feel the ancestors around you.. I know I did and Loved it!

Michael Garver

Beautiful, quiet and easy hike. The excavation is beautiful and leaves a lot to the imagination.

Richard Grumm

Nice place. Good museum and staff

Saul Nuccitelli

Easy, free, and informative place for kids, and really everyone, to learn about the history of this area. You get to literally walk inside the ruins and get a sense of what it would have been like to live at that time. Super friendly staff and nice picnic area (wish we had brought our lunch).

Alicia Curtis

What a great little spot! I had no idea these ruins existed and they were fascinating. This is a great, short stop. We spent less than an hour here with 2 little boys.

Nicholas Nickerson

Excellent place to see Aztec Indian Ruins. One of the best preserved native American site you'll see.

Rochelle Monson

Very interesting place to learn about Native history and culture

Tommy Diffin

We came here the day after going to mesa verde. After having to pay $35 and being unable to see anything up close or touch anything due to multiple day waiting list it was really pleasant to be given ultimate freedom to fully appreciate the beauty of those before us. The rangers were all very kind and knowledgable and I'm glad that this is something that I can say I've done. I definitely recommend this for anybody who's interested in history

Ed Fischer

An excellent site well preserved with a nice information center. Well laid out with helpful staff and great displays. These ruins seem to be a different variety than others in the area. Well worth a stop.

Nick Olmsted

This is a tribute to our Pueblo ancestors. It is very sacred and has been well preserved. Presenting the historic as well as the religious side of these ancestors. One of the few places that is truly as described. A must see experience. If you miss this one you'll be sorry.

Grace Pansze

Very cool garden!

Robert

Nice visitor center with educational displays, water and restrooms. The ruins are interesting and easily accessible. This is one of the smallest monuments I have visited so there isn't much walking required.

Shayden Landis

This place is awesome and a large ruin. You can easily spend 2-3 hours exploring and photographing this site. You can explore several underground locations but you have to be short or don't mind crawling through the short doors at 3.5' to 4' height.

Decommissioned Nothing

Friendly and knowledgeable staff! Free self guided tour is a must see for those interested in Native American history!!

Aaron Saxon

Great place to see Native American Indian ruins. Very easy to do a self guided tour with the video in theatre in less than 2 hours. Kids will love that they can walk through doorways in the rooms.

Amy Payton

So very interesting. I love that you can actually walk within the ruins. They are not roped off like other places. Very helpful, enthusiastic staff. Another thing I loved was the reconstructed Great Kiva. Amazing to experience how it felt to be in one as opposed to just seeing photos.

TJ Williams

A most see when in Aztec. Been many times. Always informative

Bruce Hartman

Fascinating. The walk is interesting. It's a Chaco outlier site that some say became the center of ancient Pueblo world.

Holli Marshall

This place was misnamed in history. It doesn't have to with Aztecs. Very interesting video telling the history of the place. Then a booklet or Internet guided tour of ruins. You actually got to walk through some parts which is pretty awesome. The rangers were super friendly and the tour is free. Be prepared though it's really hot in the summer.

christina chastain

Wonderful history here, beautiful place to visit.

Heather Roper

Free... beautiful,and pet friendly. Definitely recommend visiting here if you enjoy imagining what life was like for the Aztec people of this area.

LouEllen Stubby

This is a must stop for Aztec New Mexico. This wonderful national park has it all and it's 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.

Jacek Biesiada

Disappointing because has nothing to do with Aztec. Still very interesting and I was happy to see.

Wes Smith

Cool place to visit if you're in to historic places. Chaco canyon is another area to visit as well

Jared Hanawalt

This is a hidden gem staffed by wonderful people. The kids liked it better than mesa verde or chaco canyon probably because of the access and the staff

christopher crocker

Great place, and it's free to go through. What are you waiting for go see it now.

Donald Harter

Great place to visit and it is amazing what you learn about the older civilization and the past.

Reverend Alécs Mójica

one of the most sacred and beautiful places on Earth!

Stephanie Valencia

Interesting place to visit

Charles Stigger

Amazing place. This incredible architecture aligned perfectly with all the correctly astronomical markers. The sad story is the builders of these magnificent structures were Puebloans... not Aztecs. The mistake just continues to be propagated because apparently it was misnamed by the Spanish invaders long ago and now there is no will in Congress to change the error. A must see.

Haylee Toland

Nice visit. Great park and the people were amazing.

Emily Kamala

It was recommended to me to visit this historic site on my way home. It was easy to get to and moving around the site was easy. It wasn't difficult to see how the people occupied the site almost a thousand years ago. Rangers were friendly and informative. The informational area and video were also informative and brought together the migration of the Pueblo peoples from Chaco Canyon to Mesa Verde.

Patrick Leyva

Great stop when you are traveling through the area. The first time I stopped off here was because I needed a break on a road trip and I was looking for an interesting place to stop and get some exercise. It worked out perfect but I have been back since then just to spend more time walking around the ruins. You can get a free guide to use from the visitor center and then go explore on your own. There is a large indoor section you can walk through with all the original ceilings. Clean bathrooms at the visitor center, friendly staff, right off the main highway and a picnic area. Very nice!

John M.

Nice Indian pueblos ruins on the drive between Santa Fe and the Mexican hat area of Utah.very large Grand kiva that's quite impressive to see. Short walk explores the ruins and you walk right through the rooms themselves nice small museum with a nice film that explains what you're seeing well. Definitely worth the stop if you're in the area.

Sheri Lasater

I love Aztec Ruins!!!!!

Tyrell Atchison

Great experience. Lots of exhibits to see. The candles at Christmas are wonderful to see.

Sandra Price

Love this place....can feel the past!

Lyn Smith

Well preserved historical landmark. We love it. I highly recommend it if you are interested to learn more about history and culture of Native American Indian.

Ian Duckles

This is a really fantastic Pueblo that includes a restored great Kiva and numerous other buildings. The Ruins are right by the parking lot, through the Visiters Center, so it is very accessable. There is also a nice picnic area right by with many shaded tables. Be sure to pay the $2 to buy the guidebook.

Rowland Lea

Awsome

Deborah Otten

It was very enjoyable. Great way to spend an afternoon learning about the history of our world.

J Al

Lots of history and being able to walk inside the ruins make this a must see

Emily Kamala

It was recommended to me to visit this historic site on my way home. It was easy to get to and moving around the site was easy. It wasn't difficult to see how the people occupied the site almost a thousand years ago. Rangers were friendly and informative. The informational area and video were also informative and brought together the migration of the Pueblo peoples from Chaco Canyon to Mesa Verde.

Marion Sansing

Wonderful place. Very well managed. We visited 4 ancient Pueblo sites and this was by far the best, even without cave dwellings. The ruins are still intact, they have not been rebuilt, even the ceilings. There is a full size, gorgeous Kiva replica, which is such a joy to experience. All the sites and exhibits are right there, no need to drive for hours or walk far. The museum is exquisite, with amazing pieces on loan from the American Museum of Natural History. Furthermore, there are ancient food gardens, a very nice, shady picnic area, a gift shop with a classy collection of merchandise. And to top it all off, this National Park does Not charge an entrance fee! Almost forgot: The staff was very welcoming and helpful. A++

Michael Boyle

These National Parks are just beautiful and words just don't do them justice. Mine at least. If you haven't been, please take the time to enjoy. Aztec Ruins was one of my fovorite, in the details of the 1200 year old structures, original wood roofs, was my favorite. A very nice walking path with a vistor guide book explaining some 14 or so stops along the path

rudel stricker

There are NO Aztec ruins, of course, but really impressive relicts from the Indian Pueblo period. Some buildings are (partially) reconstructed to provide a reality-near impression, how the Indians have lived, worked, and celebrated there. And nearly unbelievable, that they could setup such big buildings and villages without knowing about wheels.. The visitor center gives competent info about which places to visit in accordance to the interests of the individual visitor, and the places can be visited by car.

Mark Perschel

We traveled along the border between Colorado and New Mexico visiting the history of our country that was overlooked as I was in school long ago. Our government has invested lots to preserve the ruins of the original residents of the United States. What a great opportunity to see first hand the ways of the original AMERICANS...

Marv Hanner

Nice visitor center. Interesting site.

Jim DeLung, PhD

Great 900+ year self-guided history.

Jenifer McIntosh

Beautifully kept up. National treasure

Patrick Leyva

Great stop when you are traveling through the area. The first time I stopped off here was because I needed a break on a road trip and I was looking for an interesting place to stop and get some exercise. It worked out perfect but I have been back since then just to spend more time walking around the ruins. You can get a free guide to use from the visitor center and then go explore on your own. There is a large indoor section you can walk through with all the original ceilings. Clean bathrooms at the visitor center, friendly staff, right off the main highway and a picnic area. Very nice!

Jan H

Great place to visit, historic site.

Keith Thompson

Fascinating place! Free and not very busy. Off the beaten road.

Yvonne Aviles

Beautiful. Great stop.

John M.

Nice Indian pueblos ruins on the drive between Santa Fe and the Mexican hat area of Utah.very large Grand kiva that's quite impressive to see. Short walk explores the ruins and you walk right through the rooms themselves nice small museum with a nice film that explains what you're seeing well. Definitely worth the stop if you're in the area.

Peter Jones Muoho

No lines and it's free. Explore at your own pace. Very informative and the introduction video was full of information you might miss on your own. Give yourself about an hour or hour half to explore at a good pace and not miss a thing.

Morissa Price

This is a great little hidden gem in San Juan county

robert branam

Incredible, so well preserved and maintained. A little diamond in the rough. Lived in Aztec for a few years and knew about it but never went until now. Missed out, this place has great history and tours. Highly recommended.

Richard Weigart

I loved this place. Very educational. Free to get in. Kinda small but still lots to see. I really enjoy learning about the history of our land.

Kathryn Ritter

I was happily surprised at how amazing this ite is, and great job on interpretation. So incredible how far and wide this civilization existed. Be prepared to have your mind blown.

Rhonda Conner

I absolutly love this excursion we took the grandkids and it was just fun

Michelle Draper

Great to always visit my fellow partners in the national park service group. They were so hospitable to my family and I. Great place for everyone to see. Lots of history here.

Crystal Spry

You can really get into it and see the teva.

Ray Montoya

Was better but it is getting run down and the govt is not doing enough to keep it up

Diana Vocke

A wonderful learning experience for all who go! It's not so big that you get exhausted walking around.

Andrew Hooper

A hidden jewel! The least crowded park we went to! So relaxing compared to the crowds at other parks! And we got to walk inside the ruins! Amazing!

Jason Kirkpatrick

Loved it. Great ruins and the ability to listen to the story on your phone was a welcome change from reading signs. Also it was FREE! A must stop if you are in the area.

Shawn Asmus

Very cool place to visit and reflect on life in the area thousands of years ago. It's about a half mile walk to get through the entire site. They provide a written guide to take with you when you purchase your ticket, so you can read about specific points as you walk through each area. It's a well preserved site; some of which still have ceilings! They have a nice little historical museum and gift shop as well.

Janine Cole

Informative self guided tour in Aztec NM.

Curtis Jones

Highly recommend this historic site for the young and old alike.

Marv Adamson

An up close and personal view of a Chacoan outlier site. Being able to walk through the rooms and visit the recreated kiva helped me grasp the complexity of the construction of such a " primitive" culture as the ancient Puebloans. Very well worth the time spent.

tmpii

They let you go inside the structures.

Anne Lawrence

Well maintained ruins. Very interesting tour.

Patricia Wassall

The staff at this monument are very knowledgeable and willing to answer all questions. It is not a large place so you don’t need much time to visit.