This hike is probably the best in Chaco Culture National Park. You will go past three different sets of ruins (Kin Kletso, Pueblo Alto and New Alto), and you get wonderful views of Kin Kletso, Casa Rinconada, Pueblo del Arroyo, Pueblo Bonito, and Chetro Ketl from the cliff above.
You can also see up and down Chaco Wash, and have good views of other parts of the San Juan Basin as well. In addition you will get to see the Jackson Staircase, which is an ancient staircase carved into the cliff wall. The steps were carved out by the Anasazi enabling them to easily navigate the trip from the floor of Chaco Canyon to the top of Alto Mesa.
Directions
From the parking lot at the end of the paved road, follow an old road west to Kin Kletso. The trailhead is reachable from behind Kin Kletso. You climb about 100 feet up a slot canyon until you reach the mesa top. Pueblo Alto is a little over 1.3 miles from this point; the whole loop is about 4.5 miles.
