Stars and Galaxies
Chimney Rock National Monument Tours
The Stars and Galaxies Program is offered on a select Friday each month when the earth is closest to the New Moon. When a “New Moon” occurs, the night sky is at its darkest, highlighting thousands of stars against the vast blackness of space – a unique experience here at Chimney Rock, isolated from the artificial lights of modern-day civilization. A video presentation, “Tour of the Night Sky”, will facilitate identification of constellations, bright stars, and other objects of interest; to be followed by a presentation explaining the significance of the night sky to the Ancestral Puebloans. This special sky opportunity affords an exclusive view of heavenly bodies from a place where the Ancestral Puebloans lived and observed and studied the celestial skies daily over 1,000 years ago. Telescopes will be utilized to observe several different sky objects in our Milky Way Galaxy, which looks to the naked eye like a dense low cloud. In actuality, it is millions of light years away and contains billions of stars.
At this altitude, nights begin to cool rapidly after sunset, so an appropriate jacket and other gear will enable you to remain comfortable. Also suggested are lawn chairs; a regular flashlight, a flashlight with a red lens (available for $4); and blankets, pillows, cushions. Note: The program will be adjusted according to current weather conditions and take place as scheduled.
Check-in is at the Highway 151 entrance gate at the time stated below for each individual Friday program. Please adhere to the check-in timeline. The gate will be promptly locked at the end of that time. Tickets are $20.00 for ages 13 and up, $10.00 for ages 5-12, and under 5 are free. Making a reservation through the Recreation.gov website or the call center (877-444-6777) is the only way to guarantee a spot for this program. Recreation.gov charges a $1.00 reservation fee that is non-refundable. Reservations will be cut off 12 hours prior to the start of the program. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space is available and will be accepted on a first come, first served basis, and must arrive during the specified check-in time frame. Those tickets can be purchased directly at the Gift Shop. No refunds will be issued for no-shows.
Dates:
Friday, June 7
Check-in: 7:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Program: 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Friday, July 5
Check-in: 7:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Program: 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Friday, August 2
Check-in: 7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Program: 8:15 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.
Friday, August 30
Check-in: 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.
Program: 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Friday, September 27
Check-in: 5:45 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Program: 6:45 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Capacity: 60
Select a date to see a list of times
Need to Know
- Safety
You are responsible for the safety of yourself and your family. This is a high desert location. Proper hydration and sun protection are vital to your comfort and safety. Bring plenty of water. Bottled water is available for sale at the Gift Shop. There is no other potable water on site.
- Dress Appropriately
Dress for outdoor weather: cool or hot temperatures, wind, insects, etc. should be considered. There is no shade on the trails. Wear sturdy walking shoes. Sunblock and a hat are recommended. A walking stick is advisable for those who feel more comfortable hiking with one.
- Gate is open only for check-in
No late arrivals. The gate will be locked at the end of check-in time.
- Restrooms
Pit-style restrooms are available at the Visitor Center, the picnic area, and the upper parking lot.
- Smoking and Alcohol
Smoking and alcoholic beverages are not permitted anywhere in the National Monument.
- Pets
Pets (other than service animals) are not permitted on the trails. There are 3 kennels available at the cabin area. It is not safe to leave pets in vehicles or tied to vehicles. Parking areas do not provide shade.
- Trash
Make sure to use the trash receptacles at the Visitor Center, the picnic area, and/or the upper parking lot. Rodents are attracted to food scraps and can damage archaeological sites. Food scraps are also not healthy for the animals who live at the Monument.
- Reservations
Reservations will be cut off 12 hours prior to the start of the program.
- Entire Program
For your safety, stay for the entire program.
