Chimney Rock National Monument
Chimney Rock National Monument is a 4,726-acre (1,913 ha) U.S. National Monument in San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado which includes an archaeological site. Find it 14 mi northeast of Arboles. Its origins go back to 2012.
An ancient site, 14 mi northeast of Arboles
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Pagosa Springs, 17 miles east. Hotels nearby ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 14°, with about 56" of snow a year. When to go ↓
Best month: Sep
September is the mild month, with a high of 81°. When to go ↓
Established in 2012
Chimney Rock National Monument dates from 2012. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
The climate here
The weather near Chimney Rock shifts through the year, as below.
Chimney Rock National Monument
Chimney Rock National Monument is a 4,726-acre (1,913 ha) U.S. National Monument in San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado which includes an archaeological site. This area is located in Archuleta County, Colorado, between Durango and Pagosa Springs, and is managed for archaeological protection, public interpretation, and education. The Chimney Rock Archaeological Site has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970. U.S. President Barack Obama created Chimney Rock National Monument by proclamation on September 21, 2012, under authority of the Antiquities Act.
- Type
- Ancient site
- Established
- 2012
- Listed
- National Register of Historic Places (1970) · listed on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties · National Treasure
- Wikipedia readers
- 8K a year
Lodging by Chimney Rock National Monument
The 4 miles around hold 2 places to stay: a lodge or cabins and a campground. You can stay at Bear Bones Ranch, 2.9 miles away.
Places to stay within 4 miles
- 1Bear Bones Ranchcampground · 2.9 mi southwestDirections
- 2Piedra River Resortlodge or cabins · 3.1 mi northwestDirections
- 3Keyah Grande Guest Househotel · 5.4 mi northeastDirections
- 4Bruce Spruce Ranchcampground · 6.2 mi eastDirections
- 5Happy Camper RV ParkRV park · 9.1 mi eastDirections
- 6Pagosa Springs Hideaway Rv ParkRV park · 9.4 mi eastDirections
Compare 6 towns to stay in
| Town | From Chimney Rock | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pagosa Springs 23% vacation homes | 17 mi east | 25 min | 26 8 hotels · 5 motels · 3 inns & B&Bs · 5 lodges & cabins · 3 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 1,838 | $375K | D |
| Bayfield | 16 mi west | 25 min | 2 1 hotel · 1 RV park | 2,974 | $413K | A |
| Navajo Dam 38% vacation homes | 29 mi southwest | 45 min | 7 1 inn or B&B · 4 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 269 | $163K | — |
| Arboles 34% vacation homes | 14 mi southwest | 20 min | 1 1 RV park | 389 | $344K | — |
| Piedra 47% vacation homes | 19 mi northeast | 30 min | 1 1 campground | 57 | — | — |
| Ignacio | 19 mi west | 30 min | 1 1 RV park | 869 | $246K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Beyond Chimney Rock
These well-known places are within 66 miles.
Big draw66 mi National ParkMesa Verde National Park463K visitors a year
32 mi Scenic railwayDurango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
65 mi Ancient siteCliff Palace
44 mi MountainLa Garita Caldera
45 mi Scenic railwayCumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
46 mi National MonumentAztec Ruins National Monument39K visitors a year58 mi Ski areaTelluride Ski Area161 runs · 3,803 ft vertical34 mi Ski areaWolf Creek Ski Area89 runs · 1,503 ft verticalPhoto credits
Mesa Verde National Park: Elaine from Sheffield, England, CC BY 2.0 · Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: pixelFire, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cliff Palace: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 · La Garita Caldera: en:User:G. Thomas, Public domain · Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad: Drew Jacksich from San Jose, California, CC BY 2.0 · Aztec Ruins National Monument: G. Edward Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Questions before you go
What town is Chimney Rock National Monument near?
Arboles, CO, about 14 miles southwest.
When is the best time to visit Chimney Rock National Monument?
September, with a high of 81°.
What is the closest airport to Chimney Rock National Monument?
Durango La Plata County (DRO), about 25 miles away. The nearest big hub is Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), about 154 miles.
What hotels are near Chimney Rock National Monument?
Bear Bones Ranch (2.9 mi), Piedra River Resort (3.1 mi) and Keyah Grande Guest House (5.4 mi). 2 places to stay are within 4 miles.
Tips from people in Arboles
Share what you know in Arboles’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.