Several sites that were presumably long-term homes for the Puebloan and Chacoan people are spread out through the San Juan National Forest, and an intriguing concentration of them are near Chimney Rock.

Now well excavated, scientists and archaeologists continue to make working assumptions about the inhabitants of these pit houses and ridges. Most believe that some of the structures served as homes, and others were used for community events.

Educational programs enhance the trip, giving visitors a chance to view and understand the legacy of foregone cultures.