Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Few units of the National Park System are open to hunting, but there are fears that legislation now working its way through Congress could clear the way for hunting across dozens of parks in the system.

These ten cultural-historical parks deserve a darn sight more attention than they've been getting.

The weather seems to be a subject of almost universal interest, but have you ever wondered how meteorologists gather all those statistics from remote locations? One answer is found in a recent award to the staff at Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico.

Still standing centuries after they were built, the ruins at Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northern New Mexico have weathered centuries of storms, winds, and tortuous sun. More recent structures have struggled to stand such a test of time.

The American Southwest is honeycombed with ruins from long-past civilizations. Mesa Verde National Park and Canyon de Chelly National Monument are well-known for their cliff dwellings, while at Bandelier National Monument the sandstone walls are pocked with "cavates" used as shelter centuries ago.

When you're planning a visit to a national park, don't overlook the dark side. No, we aren't suggesting you join forces with Darth Vader, but many parks offer a great opportunity to enjoy a view that's unfortunately becoming increasingly rare—the night sky. An upcoming nationwide event and several other opportunities can help you protect and enjoy the beauty of the night.

If you're making a visit to Chaco Culture National Historical Park this summer and your plans include camping, be sure to do some homework in advance. The campground in the park is currently closed for emergency repairs—and don't count on your trusty GPS unit to find a backup site!

Scientists continue to puzzle over the extensive, carefully engineered road system that Ancestral Puebloans built ten centuries ago in the San Juan Basin of the Colorado Plateau. What functions did this prehistoric road system serve, and what accounts for its quirky design features?