In accordance with regulations and the delegated authority provided in Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations {"36 CFR"), Chapter 1, Parts 1-7, authorized by litle 16 United States Code, Section 3, the following provisions apply to all lands and waters administered by the National Park Service, within the boundaries of Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Unless otherwise stated, these regulatory provisions apply in addition to the requirements contained in 36 CFR, Chapter 1, Parts 1-6.
Written determinations, which explain the reasoning behind the Superintendent's use of discretionary authority, as required by Section 1.S{c), appear in this document identified by italicized print.
I have determined these actions are necessary for the maintenance of public health and safety, protection of environmental or scenic values, protection of natural or cultural resources, aid to scientific research, implementation of management responsibilities, equitable allocation and use of facilities, or the avoidance of conflict among visitor use activities.
Approved:
/s/ Denise Robertson, Superintendent, January 31, 2024
I. VISITING HOURS, PUBLIC USE LIMITS, CLOSURES, AND AREA DESIGNATIONS FOR SPECIFIC USE OR ACTIVITIES
36 CFR §1.5 -CLOSURES AND PUBLIC USE LIMITS
(a)(1) Establish, for all or a portion of a park area, a reasonable schedule of visiting hours, impose public use limits, or close all or a portion of a park area to all public use or to a specific use or activity.
Visiting Hours:
Park Hours:
Chaco Culture National Historical Park is open to the public during the following hours:
November 1 to February 28/29 -7:00am to 5:00pm.
March 1 to April 30 -7:00am to 7:00pm
May 1 to October 31 -7:00am to 9:00pm.
This includes all associated great houses and parking areas accessed from park roads, backcountry trails, and outlier sites.
During hours in which the park is closed, public access is restricted to Gallo Campground (registered campers only), the Visitor Center and its adjacent parking areas, and the park access roads.
Visitor Center hours are posted on the park's website, https://www.nps.gov/chcu/planyourvisit/hours.htm ).
Gate Hours:
The 8-mile loop road, west of the Visitor Center, accesses most of the parks' great houses and is secured by an entrance and exit gate.
The entrance gate will be locked 30 minutes prior to park closing to allow time for visitors to enjoy the park before the closing time.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Gallo campground is closed to camping on the day prior and the day of the holiday; Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Traffic can still travel through the park on these dates.
Visiting Hours do not take into account special use permits signed by the Superintendent, or parksponsored events that may take place after designated public visitation hours.
Access granted pursuit to E.O. 13007 Indian Sacred Sites shall not be infringed to the extent practicable within law.
Determining Factors: The hours of operation are set to provide maximum visitor satisfaction during hours when staff is on-duty. All areas in the park are closed after established hours to deter vandalism and theft of natural, cultural and archaeological resources.
Public Use Limits
Park Wide
The following roads are open to the public:
Access road from the North entrance to the Visitor Center (County Road 7950).
Access road from the South entrance to the Visitor Center (New Mexico State Rd 57/Navajo Service Rte 14).
The Gallo Campground access road and roads in the campground.
The park loop road during visiting hours (7:00 a.m. to sunset).
Designated parking areas and pullouts are those along park roads open to the public:
Wijiji Trailhead
Fajada Butte View
Visitor Center
Hungo Pavi
Pueblo Bonito/Chetro Ketl
Pueblo del Arroyo
Casa Rinconada
North entrance at the Park sign
South entrance at the Park sign
Chaco Stairway pullout east of Casa Rinconada
Leaving vehicles unattended is prohibited in the following parking areas and pullouts:
Parking area at each entrance
Chaco Stairway pullout
Determining Factors: Chaco Cultural National Historical Park has archeological sites spread throughout the entire park, Designating parking areas and pullouts increases protection of archeological resources by limiting visitor access to the approved trail system.
Frontcountry
Definition: Portion of the park within Chaco Culture National Historical Park where paved roads, designated parking areas and other developments or improvements exist for the purpose of visitor use.
Frontcountry use is restricted to:
Designated trails in and through Una Vida, Hungo Pavi, Chetro Ketl, Pueblo Bonito (including the plaza), Pueblo del Arroyo and Casa Rinconada.
Gallo Campground, the Canyon Overlook Trail, and the Campground Day-use Area.
The Visitor Center.
Designated roads and parking areas.
The Petroglyph Trail between Pueblo Bonito and Chetro Ketl; and the designated trail to Wetherill Cemetery from Pueblo Bonito and the Pueblo del Arroyo parking area.
The Wijiji Trail extension from the campground to the Wijiji Trail.
Presence off or away from designated roads, trails, parking areas or the campground without prior approval and/or a special use permit from the Superintendent is prohibited.
RV idling must not exceed 5 minutes in parking areas.
Passenger buses are subject to the following conditions/restrictions on all park roads/parking areas within Chaco Culture NHPP:
Buses must shut down their engines when not underway; id ling must not exceed 5 minutes.
Buses will use the designated unloading zone in front of the Visitor Center when dropping off visitors, but then must park in the oversized vehicle parking spots in the Visitor Center parking lot or the Fajada Butte picnic area parking.
Buses are prohibited from parking in residential areas.
Buses may not park perpendicular across multiple parking spots designated for automobile parking. Buses are allowed to park parallel to the direction of traffic flow across from the automobile parking in the following parking lots: Pueblo Bonito/Chetro Ketl and Casa Rinconada.
Determining Factors: Diesel fumes are toxic and the noise associated with idling passenger vehicles and buses adversely impacts the visitor experience and disturbs wildlife.
Back country
Definition: Areas of the park outside and/or away from developed areas; i.e., those areas of the park where paved roads, parking areas and developments do not exist.
Backcountry permits can be obtained at each of the trailhead self-register stations near each trail starting point. Backcountry use requires a permit, and is restricted to the following designated trails:
The Pueblo Alto Trail, including designated trails to Pueblo Alto, New Alto and to Pueblo Bonito Overlook. Jackson Stairway is closed to climbing.
The Pe~asco Blanco Trail, including designated trails to Kin Kletso, Casa Chiquita, Pe~asco Blanco, and the Supernova site.
The South Mesa Trail, including the designated trail to Tsin Kletsin. Part of this designated trail uses the South Gap administrative road and is identified on the park brochure map.
The trail/administrative road to Wijiji.
Presence in all other backcountry areas without prior approval and/or a special use permit from the Superintendent is prohibited.
Park Outlier Sites (Units)
Park outliers are congressionally designated units of Chaco Culture National Historical Park which lie away from the main part of the park but are integral to the park and its purpose.
Pueblo Pintado is a separate and distinct unit. Access to Pueblo Pintado is via the designated approach roads. (See separate map link on CHCU website)
Kin Klizhin is within the exterior boundaries of the park but is a park outlier. Access to Kin Klizhin is via the designated approach roads. (See separate map link on CHCU website)
Travel off or away from the designated approach roads is not allowed within park boundaries. Visitors must stay on trails within the outlier great houses of Pueblo Pintado and Kin Klizhin and their immediate vicinity. Travel beyond and presence more than 50 yards away from any of the great houses is prohibited without prior approval and/or a permit from the Superintendent.
Closures
Park Wide
The following National Park Service buildings and facilities are closed to the public without permission of the Superintendent or his/her designee:
Park residential areas.
Park administrative offices, shops and other work areas.
National Park Service maintenance yards and associated buildings.
Water treatment facilities.
Sewage treatment facilities.
Construction zones.
Any other administrative roads, so designated by signs and/or locked gates, or barricaded with logs and /or boulders.
Determining Factors: Residences are rented and occupied by National Park Service employees. Allowing visitor entry or use to these buildings would significantly disturb the privacy and disrupt the residential life of the occupants. The other buildings, facilities and locations are administrative sites used by the National Park Service in the management and administration of the park. Visitor entry or use of these sites without permission would interfere with the protection of government property, create potentially hazardous conditions for visitors, and interfere with park operations.
Park roads and buildings are subject to temporary closure at any time for visitor safety.
Determining Factors: Storms, floods, rock fall, repairs or construction activities or other unforeseen events, may require temporary closure of park roads or facilities to protect public and employee safety. Road and facility closures will be posted to the park website.
All areas of the park are closed to the use of elk bugles, varmint calls, audio attractants or other artificial or natural means of attracting or disturbing wildlife (including rattling antlers and verbal bugling imitations) except as otherwise authorized by permit as part of an approved research or resource management activity or tribal activity.
Determining Factors: This closure is established to protect wildlife from harassment and is the minimum restriction necessary to achieve such protection.
The climbing, scaling or descending of any rock face or boulder in the park, with or without the use of mechanical or rope aid, is prohibited.
Determining Factors: These activities are prohibited to protect natural and cultural resources that comprise and/or are adjacent to rock faces and boulders in the park.
Campground closures:
The campground is closed after sunset to any person(s) not registered in or registering for a campsite.
All tent loop sites and sites 31, 32 and 33 are within a defined rockfall hazard zone and have been closed to reduce the life safety concerns of sleeping in an area of known, high risk.
The RV dump station is closed to the washing of vehicles.
Park dumpsters are closed to the removing or sorting of refuse already in them.
The use of any water vessel (boat) in the park is prohibited.
Unmanned Aircraft:
Definition: The term "unmanned aircraft" means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the device, and the associated operational elements and components that are required for the pilot or system operator in command to operate or control the device (such as cameras, sensors, communication links). This term includes all types of devices that meet th is definition (e.g., model airplanes, quad copters, and drones) that are used for any purpose, including for recreation or commerce.
Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Chaco Culture National Historical Park is prohibited except as approved in writing by the Superintendent.
Determining Factors: The public drives and hikes on designated roads and trails within the park. Any recreational use of a UA V in these areas will pose a hazard issue for the public if a UA V would have a mechanical failure or weather-related event that brought this UA V down unexpectedly. The UA V could fall upon an archaeological site, private vehicle(s), or park structure located along the designated roads and trails. The backcountry areas of Chaco Culture National Historical Park have only designated trails where the public can visit, and the rest of the area in the backcountry is prohibited for visitor use, only park administrative duties are permitted in these other areas.
Frontcountry
Casa Rinconada -the floor and interior chamber of the great kiva.
Chacoan stairway just east of the Casa Rinconada Community (noted on park brochure map).
Backcountry
The following roads are closed to use by public vehicles, but are open for park administrative use:
The administrative road to Wijiji and the east boundary beyond.
The administrative road to Casa Chiquita.
The administrative road to South Gap.
The administrative road to Pueblo Alto.
The administrative road to the water tank.
The West Chaco River Road (road from Padilla Well to Pefiasco Blanco).
Fajada Butte and the area surrounding it; bounded on the north by Chaco Wash, on the west by Fajada Wash, on the south by the park boundary, and on the east by a line from the intersection of said boundary with the west face of Chacra Mesa north to Chaco Wash. (See separate map link on CHCU website)
Chacoan stairway (Jackson Stairway) on the Pueblo Alto Complex trail. (noted on park brochure map).
Atlatl Cave and any and all areas within 100 yards of it.
Determining Factor: These areas contain sensitive archaeological sites that cannot sustain unauthorized access. Resource damage could result from any unauthorized access.
Park Outlier Sites (Units)
Kin Bineola is closed to public access.
Determining Factor: In 2015 the park management team determined that the Kin Bineola archaeological site should be closed to the public indefinitely. This decision was made to ensure visitor safety and prevent potential trespassing. Portions of the two track access road that leads visitors to the site was washed out during a breach of a nearby dam. To access the site on foot, visitors would have to traverse along an unmaintained path, and cross a deeply incised 200 foot wide wash. This path would take the public through neighboring lands, outside of the park boundary.
Kin Ya'a is closed to public access.
Determining Factor: These areas contain sensitive archaeological sites that cannot sustain unauthorized access.
(a)(2) Designate areas for a specific use or activity or impose conditions or restrictions on a use or activity. (This authority allows superintendents to impose restrictions on activities within park areas for the maintenance of public health and safety).
Current Public Health Standards as directed by Department of the Interior (DOI), National Park Service(NPS) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) will be followed. At "High" levels of · transmission the following will be implemented.
Regardless of vaccination status or local community transmission levels, all individuals over the age of two must wear masks, except when actively eating or drinking, in all common areas and shared workspaces in federally owned buildings administered by the National Park Service and in office space leased by the National Park Service.
'Federally owned buildings administered by the National Park Service' include, but are not limited to, visitor centers, administrative offices, maintenance facilities, and shared government quarters; buildings assigned to concessioners or other park partners; and buildings leased for commercial purposes to individuals or entities other than the National Park Service.
All individuals over the age of two, regardless of vaccination status or local community transmission levels, must wear masks in the following outdoor areas when others are present, except when actively eating or drinking, where the superintendent has determined that physical distancing (staying at least six feet apart) cannot reasonably be maintained:
Outdoor areas adjacent to the visitor center; including sidewalks, shade shelters, and patios.
Visitors gather to read material provided by the park outside the visitor center as they prepare for their visit and staying six feet apart may not be reasonable. Sidewalks and the visitor entrance are too narrow to allow for visitors to be further than six feet apart while allowing for two-way traffic.
Parking lots and common areas in campgrounds.
Parking spaces are within six feet of each other. It is not possible to maintain six feet physical distancing when parking lots and spaces are full.
Archeological site (ancient buildings) trails.
Trails leading to, in and through the archeological sites are narrow and prohibit maintaining six feet physical distancing. Due to the many small rooms, small doorways and narrow passages, visitors would not be able to see if rooms are occupied to maintain proper distance.
All outdoor Interpretive programs.
Interpretive programs draw large crowds and may be conducted in locations not allowing six feet physical distancing.
Masks must cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face. Masks not designed to be protective, masks with ventilation valves, and face shields do not meet the requirement.
Regardless of vaccination status, all individuals must comply with all orders regarding masks issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
II. ACTIVITIES THAT REQUIRE A PERMIT
36 CFR §1.6 -PERMITS
(f) The following is a compilation of those activities for which a permit from the Superintendent is required:
§2.4(e) Carry or possess a weapon, trap or net under the following circumstances:
(e)(1) -When necessary to support research activities conducted in accordance with §2.5.
(e)(3) -For employees, agents or cooperating officials in the performance of their official duties.
§2.5 Research specimens.
§2.10(a) Camping.
A permit is required to camp in Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
Refer to Section Ill: General Regulations of the compendium for further designations and conditions related to camping.
§2.12 Audio Disturbances:
(a)(2) Operating a power saw in developed areas.
(a)(3) Operating any type of portable motor or engine, or device powered by a portable motor or engine in non-developed areas.
(a)(4) Operating a public address system in connection with a public gathering or special event for which a permit has been issued pursuant to §2.50 or §2.51.
§2.17 Aircraft & Air Delivery:
(a)(3) Delivery or retrieval of a person or object by parachute, helicopter or other airborne means.
(c)(1) Removal of a downed aircraft or parts.
§2.23 Recreation Fees:
Waiving fees for educational or scientific visits (pursuant to part 71.13(c) and 71.13(d)).
Waiving fees for park employees or residents (pursuant to part 71.13(c) and 71.13(d)).
§2.37 Soliciting or demanding gifts, money, goods or services (pursuant to the terms and conditions of a permit issued under §2.50, §2.51, or §2.52.
§2.38 Explosives:
Using, possessing, storing or transporting explosives or blasting agents.
Using or possessing fireworks.
§2.50(a) Conduct a sports event, pageant, regatta, public spectator attraction, entertainment, ceremony, or similar event.
§2.51(b) Public assemblies, meetings, gatherings, demonstrations, parades and other public expressions of views involving more than 25 people (small group permit exception).
§2.52(b) Sale or distribution of printed matter involving more than 25 people (small group permit exception).
§2.60(b) Livestock use.
§2.61(a) Residing on federal lands.
§2.62 Memorialization:
(a) Erection of monuments (requires approval from Regional Director).
(b) Scattering human ashes from cremation.
§4.11(a) Exceeding established vehicle load, weight and size limits.
§5.1 Advertising (displaying, posting or distributing).
§5.3 Engaging in or soliciting any business (requires a permit, contract or other written agreement with the United States, or must be pursuant to special regulations).
§5.4 Commercial transportation of passengers by motor vehicles.
§5.5 Commercial Photography/Filming (See 54 U.S.C. 100905) and Department and NPS regulations (43 CFR Part 5 and 36 CFR 5.5):
All commercial filming requires a permit and is subject to a location fee and cost recovery. Commercial filming is defined as digital or film recording of a visual image or sound recording by a person, business, or other entity for a market audience, such as for a documentary, television or feature film, advertisement, or similar project; it does not include news coverage or visitor use. All commercial filming, including filming exterior locations within the park and filming within park buildings, requires a written permit.
Still photography activities require a permit ONLY if it:
Involves the use of a model, set, or prop; or
Requires entry into a closed area.
§5.6(c) Using commercial vehicles on park area roads (the Superintendent shall issue a permit to access private lands within or adjacent to the park when access is otherwise not available).
36 CFR §2.1 -PRESERVATION OF NATURAL, CULTURAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES
(a)(4) Collection of any wood is prohibited.
(a)(5) The following conditions are in effect for walking, climbing. entering, ascending, or traversing the listed archaeological or cultural resource, monuments, or statues:
Entering archaeological sites within the backcountry is prohibited except as noted below.
Archaeological sites accessible directly from the designated trail system that may be entered, for day use visits only, include areas of Pueblo Alto Complex, Casa Chiquita, Penasco Blanco, Tsin Kletsin.
At Kin Kletso a visitor can only walk around the site (rope barricade guides visitor access around the archaeological site).
The following outlier units may be entered for day use only: Pueblo Pintado and Kin Klizhin.
(c)(1) Collecting of any plant material or vegetative products including berries is prohibited.
Determining Factors: Nominal quantities of these resources are in the Park and therefore public gathering will affect the propagation of the species and deprive the natural wildlife of sustainable browse. Plant gathering activities by Native American tribes for traditional use must be conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions of a special use permit issued by the Superintendent.
36 CFR §2.2 -WILDLIFE PROTECTION
(d) The transporting of lawfully taken wildlife through the park is permitted under the following conditions and procedures:
The carcass must be tagged in accordance with state and federal law.
Game must be kept out of sight as much as practicable.
Legally taken game must be transported through the park on the public road system in the most direct route and are not allowed overnight in the park, except where lawfully taken game is possessed by a resident within the park.
Tracking wounded wildlife into the Park, which was lawfully wounded outside of Park boundaries, is prohibited unless accompanied by a Park law enforcement ranger (VRP Ranger). The VRP Ranger on site may terminate the search if the animal is not located within a reasonable amount of time, as determined by the VRP Ranger.
Determining Factors: Since hunting is not allowed within the park, the Superintendent has determined it is prohibited to transport legally taken wildlife within the park except for the limited circumstances outlined above. For the safety of park visitors and staff and the protection of park resources, the Superintendent has authorized the retrieval of wildlife wounded legally outside the park which subsequently enters into the park only if the hunter who wounded the animal is accompanied by a park law enforcement ranger.
(e) The entire park and all outliers are closed to the viewing of wildlife with artificial light (spotlighting, including redirection of headlights). Night vision devices are not artificial lights, however, infrared lighting/ beams are.
Determining Factors: These regulations help to protect against the unlawful taking of wildlife within the Park.
36 CFR §2.4 -WEAPONS, TRAPS, AND NETS
(e) The possession of firearms within the boundaries of Chaco Culture National Historical Park is allowed pursuant to New Mexico State Law. Under Section 512 of Public Law 111-24, people can legally possess firearms under federal and state law in the state in which the national park is located. The Superintendent may issue a permit to carry a weapon, trap or net under the following conditions:
When necessary to support approved/permitted research activities.
For employees, law enforcement officers, agents or cooperating officials for official duty.
When providing access for lawfully taken wildlife as stated in §2.2(d) of this document.
(g) Within the park, the following buildings are designated as "federal facilities" and shall be -signed to indicate that firearms are prohibited inside these buildings in accordance with 18 USC 930:
Visitor Center
Maintenance office and garage
All park water and sewage treatment facilities
Determining Factors: Federal facilities are buildings or parts thereof owned or leased by the Federal Government, where Federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing official duties. 18 USC 930 is Federal law that supersedes Section 512 of Public Law 111-24 and prohibits the possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility unless specifically authorized.
36 CFR §2.5 -RESEARCH SPECIMENS
(a) Taking plants, fish, wildlife, rocks or minerals except in accordance with other regulations in this chapter or pursuant to the terms and conditions of a specimen collections permit, is prohibited.
Qualifying researchers must be in compliance with the General Condition for Scientific Research and Collecting Permit as described under the National Park Service Research Permit and Reporting System.
36 CFR §2.10 -CAMPING AND FOOD STORAGE
(a) The sites and areas listed below have been designated for camping activities as noted. A permit system has been established for certain campgrounds or camping activities, and conditions for camping and camping activities are in effect as noted:
Camping is permitted for not more than a total of 30 days in any calendar year, with no more than 14 consecutive nights at any one time.
Camping is permitted only in Gallo Campground in designated campsites; a campsite is denoted by a numbered post, picnic table and park-provided fire ring.
When an individual pays a camping fee, occupies a campsite, or registers in a campground, the following conditions are in effect (under 2.10(c) -violating these conditions is prohibited and the permit may be suspended or revoked):
Camping must be done within the design capacity of each site with a maximum of two (2) tents and six (6) people (or immediate family) per individual campsite.
Vehicles may only be parked in designated parking spaces/sites on the provided gravel pad. No more than two (2) vehicles (or four (4) motorcycles) per site.
Tent/Combo Sites:
Tents must fit in developed area (tent pads) of campsite, no dispersion is allowed.
RV Sites:
Five campsites designed for larger vehicles.
RV defined as being any vehicle, driven or towed, equipped with permanently installed sleeping, camping, or water storage.
Group Sites:
Use of group sites is restricted to groups of ten (10) to thirty (30).
Group site vehicle spaces are designated for up to five (5) vehicles (ten (10) motorcycles), parallel parked.
Groups are not permitted to park motorhomes, trailers, campers or other recreational vehicles in group campsite parking areas.
Group stay limit is 30 days per group, per year and no more than 7 consecutive nights at a time.
Overflow parking is designated at the Visitor Center parking lot.
Check out time is 11:00am.
Quiet hours are from 10:00pm to 6:00am.
All extra lighting, including string lights, need to be turned off between the hours of 10:00pm to 6:00am.
Determining Factors: Chaco Culture National Historical Park is an International Dark Skies Park. In order to balance the need for campers to safely move around the campground with the ability of campers to enjoy the pristine night sky from their campsite, the park is limiting the hours of lighting that causes light pollution and does not follow established best practices: light only when you need it, shield lights or direct them downward, and use warmer colors.
Generator use is permitted only between the hours of: 8:00am-10:00am, 12:00pm-2pm, and 5:00pm-7:00pm.
Camping wastewater must be strained of solids and then dumped into utility sinks at restroom units. Solid waste disposed of with other camp site trash.
After check-out time, any unattended property remaining in a site may be impounded immediately. (See Section 2.22)
Reserving or holding first-come, first-serve campsites for others is prohibited.
Campsite registration must occur within 30 minutes of arrival.
Campers that do not show up to their site or call the park by 11 :00am on the second day of their reservation, forfeit the remainder of their reservation. The site will be used as a first come, first serve site for the duration of reservation.
d) Conditions for the storage of food, garbage and equipment used to cook or store food are in effect as follows:
Food includes any human food, beverage, pet food, food tainted garbage, food tainted equipment (grills, cooking utensils), toiletries such as soap, toothpaste and cosmetics. Food·containers include any object designed to contain food such as ice chests, coolers, food packaging, and grocery bags whether or not they contain food, or any object that contains food such as a pack or stuff sack.
When not being used for meal preparation, food must be stored in vehicles, trailers or a latchable container/cooler.
Garbage and recyclables must be placed in park provided containers, dumpsters or collection stations.
The use of bird feeders (seed and hummingbird) is considered improper food storage and is prohibited per §2.2(a)(2). They are not allowed in NPS permanent and seasonal housing areas or in established campsite, campground host sites in Gallo Campground.
Determining Factors: Food storage restrictions are necessary to prevent wildlife habituation due to food or garbage attractants. Drawing wildlife into areas frequented by people creates public safety hazards, sanitation problems and endangers wildlife.
36 CFR §2.11 -PICNICKING
Picnicking is allowed throughout the park in normal public use areas, except within archeological sites and in the visitor center.
All picnic areas within the park are closed to camping and overnight parking unless otherwise posted.
36 CFR §2.13 -FIRES
(a)(1) The lighting or maintaining of fires is generally prohibited, except as provided for in the
following designated areas and/or receptacles, and under conditions noted:
Fires are permitted in the following designated areas or receptacles:
Campgrounds.
Campfire circle for interpretive programs.
Picnic areas (portable stove/grill only).
Residential areas.
As a condition of a permit or for administrative activities.
At the discretion of the Superintendent, fires may be prohibited during some periods and at specified locations during extreme fire conditions or when poor air quality conditions exist.
Established Conditions for Fires:
Fires may only be lighted in grates, grills, fire rings, cook stoves or barbeque grills.
Campfires must always be attended in person by the user and may not be abandoned.
Fires must be fully contained within established fire grills, grates or rings. No bonfires (Large fires that spill outside the fire receptacle, use stacks of highly flammable material such as cardboard or wood pallets or have excessive flame heights that could easily become uncontrolled) are allowed.
(b) Fires must be extinguished according to the following conditions:
All fires must be completely extinguished with no burning material remaining.
Fires will be considered out when all burnable materials are cold to the touch.
Charcoal must be fully extinguished with water and removed from the park or disposed of in a garbage receptacle when cold .
Determining Factors: While the Park seeks to provide opportunities for having campfires in the Park, another goal is to prevent wild/and fires to reduce the potential for other resource damage.
36 CFR §2.14 -SANITATION AND REFUSE
(a)(2) Conditions for using government refuse receptacles or other refuse facilities:
Household trash generated by authorized camping activities may be placed in receptacles designed for that purpose in Gallo Campground . In all other instances, the dumping of commercial, household, or industrial refuse, brought in from private or municipal property, in government receptacles is prohibited .
Determining Factors: Refuse containers are places throughout the park to service the visitor. Bringing household waste from outside the park taxes the capacity of trash receptacles and adds to the cost of waste removal.
(a)(5) Designated areas for bathing and washing:
No designated areas . Unless otherwise allowed by the Superintendent, bathing and washing of cooking utensils, food and other property at all public water outlets, fixtures or pools is prohibited .
Washing of dishes in campgrounds is restricted to any provided waste water disposal sinks or should be accomplished through the use of dish pans or buckets at the campsite.
Gray water should be captured, strained and disposed of in any provided waste water disposal sinks, drains or in sewage dump stations.
Camp showers are allowed, but gray water must be captured in a basin and properly disposed of.
Determining Factors: Waste water disposal sinks are provided in the campground comfort stations but are not designed for disposal of solid waste of any kind/size.
36 CFR §2.15 -PETS
(a)(1) The following structures and/or areas are closed to the possession of pets:
Visitor Center
Public restrooms
All archeological sites throughout the park or outliers
Specific areas as designated by posted signs
Off trail
Service animals are exempt from the regulation and locations described above, except off trail.
Definition: Service animals are defined in 28 CFR 36.104 as, "any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items."
(a)(1) The following structures and/or areas are open to the possession of pets:
Designated backcountry trails:
Pueblo Alto Complex trail
Penasco Blanco trail
Tsin Kletsin trail
Wijiji trail
The residential area and within any structures assigned to a Park employee (employee or volunteer) pursuant to the park housing policy.
When on a leash, no longer than six feet; fully paved roads, paved sidewalks and Gallo Campground.
(a)(3) Designated areas and conditions for leaving a pet unattended and tied to an object:
No designated areas. No conditions established. Leaving a pet unattended and tied to an object is prohibited.
(a)(5) Pet excrement must be disposed of in accordance with the following conditions:
Pet excrement must be removed immediately and disposed of in waste receptacles.
(e) Pets may be kept by park residents under the following conditions:
Pets may be kept by park employees as provided for in the park housing policy.
Determining Factors: Pets are concentrated in the campground and public areas of Chaco Culture National Historical Park, therefore excrement must be removed to prevent health hazards to people. Pets are allowed on certain trails, therefore excrement must be removed to lessen negative impacts on wildlife. Consistent with public health and safety, protection of natural resources and avoidance of conflict among visitor use activities, pets must be restricted. It is recognized that pets are a common possession of park visitors, and provisions are made for them where they do not jeopardize basic park values. Resident employees are subject to these regulations and may keep pets only in accordance with the Park Housing Management Plan.
36 CFR §2.16 -HORSES AND PACK ANIMALS
(a) The following animals are designated as pack animals for the purposes of transporting equipment:
Horses, mules, burros and llamas
(b) The use of horses or pack animals outside of trails, routes or areas designated for their use:
No trails, routes or areas within the Park are designated for pack animal use.
Camping in Gallo Campground with pack animals is prohibited.
36 CFR §2.17 -AIRCRAFT AND AIR DELIVERY
(c)(1) The removal of a downed aircraft, components, or parts thereof is subject to procedures
established by the Superintendent through written authorization.
36 CFR §2.19 -WINTER ACTIVITIES
(c) Skiing and snowshoeing are not permitted in archaeological sites.
36 CFR §2.20 -SKATING. SKATEBOARDS AND SIMILAR DEVICES
Using roller skates, skateboards, roller ski's, coasting vehicles, or similar devices is prohibited, except in designated areas:
By park residents and their guests in employee residential areas that are not open to the public .
Determining Factors: The above activities generally take place on paved roads and parking areas. All of the Park roads are narrow with no shoulder making these activities extremely dangerous on the road. The main parking areas in the park are generally congested with vehicles and pedestrians, making this area unsuitable for the above activities.
36 CFR §2.21 -SMOKING
(c) The following portions of the park, or all portions of buildings, structures or facilities are closed to smoking:
Definition: Smoking is defined as the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes and the use of all E-Cigarettes and vapor cigarettes or similar devices
Smoking is prohibited in all government buildings, structures or facilities and vehicles.
Smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of the entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes that serve enclosed areas where smoking is prohibited (buildings).
Smoking while traveling on trails is prohibited. Persons who wish to smoke must stop and remain in one location until they have extinguished their smoking material.
Smoking may be prohibited in all areas of the Park, except in designated areas when, at the discretion of the Superintendent such prohibition is necessary during periods of high fire danger. Notice of such prohibition will be posted at the Visitor Center, Gallo Campground and trailheads.
Determining Factors: The prohibition is necessary to reduce the risk of fire in historic public use buildings, reduce the health hazards of secondhand smoke or other harmful substances to visitors prevent conflicts among visitor use activities. Prohibition is necessary within archeological sites to protect sensitive archeological resources from fire damage or contamination.
36 CFR §2.22 -PROPERTY
(a)(2) Property may be left unattended for periods longer than 24 hours in the following areas and under the following conditions:
Visitors with overnight accommodation in Gallo Campground may leave their vehicles unattended for the period of their stay as long as the vehicle license plate is noted on their campground permit.
Any motor vehicle that is immobile because it is not capable of moving under its own power due to mechanical malfunction, or any vehicle which is inoperable because it cannot be legally operated legally on public roads because it is unlicensed or unregistered, may be impounded by the Superintendent through the following process.
The owner of the vehicle will be notified of pending impoundment. Leaving a notice on or in the vehicle, or at the owner's residence, or issuing a notice directly to the owner, fulfills the notification requirement. Three working days after notification, the vehicle may be impounded.
No unattended property will be left in any public facility by any visitor.
With permission of the Superintendent upon approval of a permit or special use authorization.
Determining Factors: The purpose of this restriction is to protect the natural, cultural, and archaeological resources from damage from geocaching and similar activities and to preserve the landscape in a clear visual condition as possible. Unattended visitor property (packs, packages, equipment) are an unknown security risk to Federal facilities.
36 CFR §2.23 - RECREATION FEES
(a) Recreation fees, and/or a permit, in accordance with 36 CFR part 71, are established for the following entrance fee areas, and/or for the use of the following specialized sites, facilities, equipment or services, or for participation in the following group activity, recreation events or specialized recreation uses:
Park Entrance Fee Required:
Parkwide for recreational use of park lands and facilities.
With the exception of through traffic on County Road (CR) 7950 and Navajo Service Route 14.
Entrance Fee Collection Areas:
Visitor Center
Employees or residents are not required to pay entrance fees .
Daily Site Use Fee Area:
Gallo Campground
All current fees are posted on the park website (www.nps.gov/chcu).
(b) The collection of recreation fees will be suspended during the following periods:
Power failures or other emergencies as authorized by the Superintendent.
Entrance fee-free days announced by the National Park Service Washington Support Office.
36 CFR §2.35 -ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
(a)3)(i) The following public use areas, portions of public use areas, and/or public facilities within the park are closed to consumption of alcoholic beverages, and/or to the possession of a bottle, can or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage that is open, or has been opened, or whose seal has been broken or the contents of which have been partially removed:
The following areas are closed to consumption of alcoholic beverages:
Visitor center and auditorium, unless a temporary permit to sell and/or consume alcoholic beverages has been issued by the Superintendent.
Amphitheaters and other sites designated for interpretive programs unless a temporary permit to sell and/or consume alcoholic beverages has been issued by the Superintendent.
Archeological sites.
Public trails.
Determining Factors: This restriction is to avoid visitor conflicts, provide for visitot safety in areas heavily used by families and children and help prevent injuries to all park visitors.
36 CFR §2.51 -DEMONSTRATIONS
(b) Demonstrations of more than 25 people are allowed within park areas designated as available under paragraph (c)(2) when the Superintendent has issued a permit for the activity.
Groups of 25 or less meeting all the conditions listed in 36 CFR §2.51 are not required to have a permit.
(c)(2) The following locations are designated as available for demonstrations:
(See separate map link on CHCU website)
The Superintendent will consider request for permits on a case-by-case basis, using the criteria listed in 36 C.F.R. 2.51(c).
36 CFR §2.52 -SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF PRINTED MATTER
(b) The sale or distribution of printed matter by more than 25 people is allowed within park areas designated as available under §2.51(c)(2) (see above) when the Superintendent has issued a permit.
Open for the sale/distribution of printed matter for which a permit has been issued is the ground area adjacent to the southwest section of the Visitor Center parking lot as marked. See map.
36 CFR §2.62 -MEMORIALIZATIONS
(b) The scattering of human ashes from cremation in Chaco Culture National Historical Park is prohibited.
Determining Factors: The Park was created for preservation and interpretation; and to facilitate research activities associated with these resources. By introducing outside cremated remains, it contaminates park resources, which impacts the ability to conduct research.
36 CFR §4.11 -VEHICLE LOAD, WEIGHT AND SIZE LIMITS
(a) The following load, weight and size limits, which are more restrictive than State law, apply to the roads indicated under the terms and conditions, and/or under permit as noted:
Vehicles operating on park roads may not exceed 40 feet in length (exclusive of towed units), 102 inches in width, or 60,000 lbs. of gross weight without special permission of the Superintendent.
36 CFR §4.21 -SPEED LIMITS
(b) The following speed limits are established for the routes/roads indicated:
Speed limits for park roads are established and posted.
36 CFR §4.30 -BICYCLES
(a) Park roads. The use of a bicycle is permitted on park roads and in parking areas that are otherwise open for motor vehicle use by the general public.
E-bikes:
Definition: The term "e-bike" means a two-or three-wheeled cycle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.).
E-bikes are allowed in Chaco Culture National Historical Park where traditional bicycles are allowed. E-bikes are prohibited where traditional bicycles are prohibited. Except where use of motor vehicles by the public is allowed, using the electric motor to move an e-bike without pedaling is prohibited.
A person operating an e-bike is subject to the following sections of 36 CFR part 4 that apply to the use of traditional bicycles: sections 4.12, 4.13, 4.20, 4.21, 4.22, 4.23, and 4.30(h)(2)-(5).
Except as specified in this Compendium, the use of an e-bike within Chaco Culture National Historical Park is governed by State law, which is adopted and made a part of this Compendium. Any violation of State law adopted by this paragraph is prohibited.
Determining Factors: The increased potential of e-bike use in Chaco Culture National Historical Park has been determined to not directly impact the important archeological resources or visitor experience of other visitors. The two trails designated in §4. 30(b) of this Compendium allowing bicycle usage are prior administrative roads that are wide enough to allow shared usage of the trail.
(b) Administrative roads.
Bicycles are permitted on the following designated sections of two administrative roads/backcountry trails:
The Wijiji Trail up to the bike rack at Wijiji.
The Pe~asco Blanco Trail up to the bike rack at Casa Chiquita.
36 CFR §4.31 -HITCHHIKING
Hitchhiking is permitted in the following areas under the conditions noted:
Visitor Center without impacting traffic flow.
When vehicles may safely pull into a pullout to allow passengers to be received.
When not under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs.
When hitchhiking behavior is safe and not a nuisance.
