County Road 7950: Nageezi to Chaco Culture NHP – New Mexico

Looking for a real-deal off-the-grid experience in New Mexico? Our drive from Nageezi to Chaco Culture National Historical Park along County Road 7950 offers a rugged adventure through the high desert that’s as challenging as it is scenic. Clocking in at around 23 miles, this remote route tests your vehicle—and your patience—but rewards you with sweeping views, isolation, and the promise of one of the most important archaeological sites in the Southwest waiting at the other end.

We begin just south of the tiny community of Nageezi, New Mexico, where County Road 7900 heads south from U.S. Highway 550. The first five miles of the drive offer a relatively easy warm-up: a paved but worn road that winds past a handful of ranches and crosses a few cattle guards. The landscape here is classic high desert—open grasslands and low-lying shrubs, with the occasional pinon or juniper tree breaking the horizon. It’s deceptively peaceful, but don’t get too comfortable; the road’s subtle bumps and dips demand your attention, especially if you’re not in a high-clearance vehicle. As we descend a small hill near mile marker five, we take a right onto County Road 7950—where the real fun begins.

CR-7950 starts off paved, but that luxury fades after about two miles. From there, the road transitions through a mixed bag of surfaces, including compacted dirt, rough gravel, loose rock, and in places, the unforgiving bed of a dry wash. This 15-mile stretch is often rough, rutted, and completely at the mercy of recent weather. On dry days, a cautious car can make it, but expect slow speeds and a bone-rattling ride. We drove this in a full-size pickup, and even then, we crawled through certain sections—especially after crossing Escavada Wash, where things get particularly gnarly. The terrain becomes rockier, the road narrower, and the elevation shifts just enough to test your steering skills. At the top of the small rise following the wash, you’re treated to a broad view of the desert basin leading toward Chaco Canyon. From this point on, the road levels out a bit, but don’t be fooled—it’s still slow going.

Eventually, after navigating what feels like an eternity of washboards and wheel-swallowing potholes, the road smooths into a sandy dirt path as we enter the final leg of the journey. You’ll find this portion easier on the suspension, but the sand can become slippery and soft in places, especially after rains. Oddly enough, just before reaching the park entrance, the road becomes paved again—perhaps a nod to visitor comfort, or a leftover project from a time when access plans were more ambitious. Either way, we pull off for the classic photo at the Chaco Culture National Historical Park entrance sign before continuing on to the visitor center. This stop is a must, not only to gather information and maps but to recover from the punishing approach. Chaco Canyon itself is a marvel, featuring well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan ruins, dramatic mesa backdrops, and an unmatched sense of history and remoteness. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a curious first-time visitor, the journey from Nageezi to Chaco is one you won’t forget—just check the weather and bring a spare tire.

🗺️ Route Map

Note: The intro card suggests we drove this on a motorcycle.  We did not.  It was driven in a Toyota Tundra.

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