Great House Pueblo
A guided walk up to the ridge-top ruin below the spires, with the story of the lunar alignment.
Chimney Rock
Twin rock spires above an Ancestral Puebloan great house in southwest Colorado, where the moon rises between the pinnacles every 18.6 years.
Chimney Rock National Monument protects the ruins of an Ancestral Puebloan community high on a mesa in southwest Colorado, a thousand years old, below two great rock spires. Many believe the Great House was built to watch the moon: every 18.6 years, at the major lunar standstill, the moon rises between the twin pinnacles.
Guided tours climb to the Great House on the ridge, with views across the San Juan Mountains. It's a sacred place for today's Pueblo peoples, who are descendants of the people who lived here.
- Best Time
- Mid-May–September, when tours run
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Mid-May to late September; check chimneyrockco.org for tour times
- Getting There
- Off Highway 151, between Pagosa Springs (25 minutes) and Durango (an hour).
What to See
0 of 2 are freeFull Moon and Night Sky Programs
Evening programs on some nights in summer, with astronomers and storytelling.
Know Before You Go
- Visits are by guided tour only; book ahead in summer.
- The upper trail is steep and at altitude. Bring water and sun protection.
Where to Stay
Stay in Pagosa Springs or Durango.
Where to Eat
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Last checked 2026-10-31. Part of the Rocky Mountains list.