Chimney Rock Interpretive Association April 2026 Newsletter

Welcome to the 2026 Season

As spring arriv sag P community, and living heritage—where the past and present meet in a truly meaningful way. The Chimney Rock Interpretive Association (CRIA) is proud to support guided tours, educational programs, preservation efforts, and community engagement throughout the 2026 season. Whether you’re attending a lecture, volunteering your time, or making the climb to the Great House Pueblo, your visit helps protect and share this remarkable cultural landscape. We invite you to experience the beauty of spring at Chimney Rock—explore, learn, and connect.

VolunteerInformationSession

VolunteeringatChimneyRockoffersameaningfulwaytoconnectwith history,community,andlandscape.Wearecurrentlywelcomingnew volunteersforthe2026season.

BayfieldCommunityVolunteerFair April18,2026:BayfieldLibrary 395BayfieldCenterDr,Bayfield,CO81122 10:00AM–12:00PM

VolunteerOrientation

Day1:Friday,April17th,from9:15am–3:00pmattheMethodistChurch locatedat434LewisStreetinPagosaSprings,CO

Day2:Saturday,April18th,from9:00am–12:00pmatChimneyRock NationalMonumentforafamiliarizationtourofthesite.

Message from CRIA Board President, Jill Sutton

2026 Programs & Tours Highlight Upcoming Lecture

April Calendar of Events

School Week Information

Did You Know?

USFS Staff Spotlight: Codye Cammack

Made it to the Top?

Tip of the Month

CRIA Board of Directors

Editor: Susan Fischer

Contributors: Jeannie Murray, Ernie O’Toole, Lace Stevens, Jill Sutton, Susan Yalom

Message from the President of the Chimney Rock Interpretive Association Board

This time of year usually signifies a transition, the slow but sure retreat of winter, making way for the vibrant energy of spring. While our corner of Southwest Colorado has experienced an unusually mild winter—with the traditional deep snow being largely nonexistent April remains our designated month for "Spring Awakening".

Even without the customary thaw, this period is essential. It’s when the land, the wildlife, and our dedicated CRIA team prepare for the season. We are gearing up to welcome you back to the majesty of Chimney Rock National Monument. CRIA has been active recently, hosting volunteer recruitment events in Pagosa, Bayfield, and Ignacio, with more scheduled soon. Preparations for the April 17th and 18th orientation are nearly complete. Furthermore, the USFS has been on-site, conducting trail maintenance and general cleanup. All of these efforts are aimed at ensuring this sacred landscape is ready to share its spirit with visitors.

Education & Interpretation in Action

A classroom without walls.

Astronomical alignments and lunar cycles

Engineering of the Great House Pueblo

Trade routes and regional networks

Cultural continuity and ancestral traditions

Our Impact

Last season, 19,000 of visitors experienced guided interpretation, educational programs were delivered, volunteers contributed hundreds of service hours, and preservation initiatives continued through collaborative partnerships. Every ticket purchased, every donation made,and every volunteer hour strengthens our ability to steward this sacred place.

As we prepare to reopen, remember that Chimney Rock National Monument is more than just an opportunity for a picturesque photo; it is a vital, intact cultural landscape. The 4,726-acre monument preserves an ancestral Pueblo community that thrived here over 1,000 years ago, offering a powerful view into their lives. The Two Pinnacles Chimney Rock and Companion Rock were central to monumental construction, including the Great House Pueblo. The site's alignment with major lunar cycles, especially the Northern Lunar Standstill, highlights its significance as an astronomical observatory and ceremonial center. By preserving this landscape, we honor the continuing connection of descendant communities to this sacred place.

Jill Sutton, CRIA Board President

School Week

School Week schedule for 2026 is as follows: Monday through Friday, May 5th through May 8th Monday through Wednesday, May 11th through 13th

There are five field trip reservations so far. Park Elementary 4 graders are coming on Thursday, May 7, 56 students, from 9:45 AM to 1:00 PM. Ignacio Youth Services are coming on Friday, May 8, 6 - 9 grades, 10 students, from 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Pagosa Elementary 3 grades are coming on May 11, 12, and 13. There is one class of 22 on the 11th, and two classes of 22 on the 12th and 13th. They are coming from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM each day

All volunteers are welcome. No special training is required except for Tour Guides. It is a nice time to be at the site, before opening to the public. Contact Susan Yalom if you would like to help.

Thanks, Susan Yalom

2026 Free Lecture Series

Southwestern Native Rock Art - David Bouquet

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

This engaging presentation will introduce attendees to the various types of rock art, showcasing some of the oldest known examples from around the globe. David will then guide the audience through a visual journey of Puebloan rock art sites across the American Southwest, with a map highlighting their presence in Monuments, National and State Parks, and lands managed by the Forest Service and BLM. The lecture will also delve into the important work of the Northwest New Mexico Site Steward Program, which helps protect culturally significant locations that lack formal preservation. Attendees will be treated to stunning photographic examples of rock art panels from prominent sites including Hovenweep National Monument, Bears Ears National Monument, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chaco Culture National Historic Park, and Mesa Verde National Park.

David will also reflect on the irreplaceable Puebloan and Navajo rock art lost during the creation of Navajo Lake in 1962. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of potential rock art at Chimney Rock National Monument, just outside Pagosa Springs.

Tuesday,May19,2026:DavidBouquet,“SouthwesternNativeRockArt”

Tuesday,June23,2026:AndyGulliford,“TheNativeAmericansoftheChimneyRockArea”

Tuesday,August11,2026,JohnGhahate:“ThePuebloRevolt”

Tuesday,October6,2026:JohnKappelman,“TheDatingGame:ArcheologicalDatingMethods”

Doors open at 5:45pm - Lectures begin promptly at 6:00pm followed by a brief Q&A Session with the Presenter.

See details about the lectures on our website by clicking HERE.

Programs and Tours Highlight: Life at Chimney Rock

The Chimney Rock Interpretive Association (CRIA) is excited to welcome visitors to the annual Life at Chimney Rock Festival, taking place Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Chimney Rock National Monument. Thanks to a special waiver from the U.S. Forest Service, this year’s festival is completely free to attend. This family-friendly event offers a unique opportunity to experience the traditions and daily life of the Ancestral Puebloans through interactive demonstrations led by CRIA volunteers. Guests can try hands-on activities such as yucca pounding, coil pottery, weaving, corn grinding, and atlatl spear throwing, while also learning about astronomy, flint knapping, and dendrochronology. Traditional foods, including Anasazi beans, will also be available to sample.

A highlight of the weekend is the Native American Market, featuring artists from the Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, Santo Domingo, and Santa Clara, along with Navajo, Jicarilla Apache, and Southern Ute artisans. Visitors can shop for authentic handmade goods and watch live demonstrations.

The festival also includes live cultural performances, with the Roach Family Dancers performing at 11:00 AM and the Fragua Family of Jemez Pueblo at 2:00 PM on both days.

Food vendors will be on-site offering a variety of options, including barbecue, fry bread, and frito pie. In addition, guests are encouraged to explore the monument’s trails, cultural sites, and Visitor Plaza, all open during the event.

Join us for a weekend of culture, history, and hands-on discovery in a truly remarkable setting.

Event Details

June 6–7, 2026

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Chimney Rock National Monument

30841 State Highway 151, Pagosa Springs, 81147

Admission: Free

Did You Know?

Today,therearesixpueblosintheRioGrandevalleythatspeaktheTewalanguage:thePueblosofOhkayOwingeh, Nambe,Pojoaque,SanIldefonso,SantaClaraandTesuque.

HereistherORIGINSTORY!

Originally,theTewapeoplelivedbeneathSandyLakePlacefartothenorth.Theworldunderthelakewaslikethe currentworldabovethelakeexceptthatitwasdark.Supernaturals,humansandanimalslivedtogetheranddeath wasunknown.

AmongthesupernaturalswerethefirstmothersofallTewa,onewasknownas“BlueCornWoman”or“Summer Mother”andtheotherwas“WhiteCornMaiden”or“WinterMother”.Themothersaskedamantofindthewayby whichthepeoplemightleavethelake.Thismanwentabovethelakeandsawmanypredatoryanimals,which acceptedhimastheirfriend.HethenreturnedtohispeopleastheHuntChief.

Hetoldoneoftheothermen,“Youaretoleadandcareforallofthepeopleduringthesummer”.Toanothermanhe said,“Youaretoleadandcareforallthepeopleduringthewinter”.TheSummerChiefledhispeoplealongthe mountainsonthewestsideoftheRioGrandewheretheysubsistedbyagricultureandgatheringwildplantfoods. TheWinterChiefledhispeoplealongthemountainsontheeastsideoftheriver,wheretheysubsistedbyhunting.

Eventuallythetwogroupsrejoinedandfoundedalargevillage.However,aftermanyyearsanepidemicstruck, necessitatingabandoningthevillage.SixdifferentgroupsleftandfoundedthesixTewavillagesweknowtoday.

Chimney Rock National Monument Spotlight: Codye Cammack

By Jeannie Murray

As you know Chimney Rock National Monument is under the aegis of the Pagosa Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest, part of the US Forest Service. The head ranger under the Forest Service is titled as Visitor Information Specialist (VIS). Codye Cammack has been the VIS (head ranger) for Chimney Rock for the past six years.

Codye grew up in Durango, CO. She began working as a river guide when she was still in high school. She continued working as a river guide for 17 years, throughout the Western States, Alaska, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and others. She obtained a BS in Natural Resources and Tourism from Colorado State University.

She came to Pagosa Springs with her husband, a local boy who now works as a geochemist. The only available position with the Forest Service in the area at that time was an internship at Chimney Rock. She worked as an intern for a year and applied for the Visitor Information Specialist position when it became available at the end of that year. She has held that position for seven years.

In the off season she works out of the Pagosa Ranger District office in town. During the season you might find her in the small office behind the Chimney Rock gift shop.

Codye’s favorite part of working at Chimney Rock is the astonishment and awe on visitor’s faces when they discover Chimney Rock National Monument. “It is a joy to see people experience Chimney Rock.”

Codye is grateful to work with a dedicated group of rangers. She also feels fortunate to work with the dedicated volunteers of CRIA.

She knows there is a wealth of knowledge in the CRIA volunteers, and she is looking forward to a standardization of information when the certification program comes to fruition. She is aware of the tact and respect shown by CRIA volunteers for the ancestral and modern Puebloan’s history and traditions.

She would just like to remind everyone that she is required to work within the framework of the National Forest Service. She does not set the rules and regulations but is required to enforce them.

Codye, her husband, Jake, and their 5-year old son like to play outdoors, hiking, camping, and rafting, when she is not at work. They plan to stay in Pagosa Springs for the foreseeable future.

Be sure to say “Hi” when you see her out at Chimney Rock National Monument this season!

Made it to the top?

Thetrailwindsupward,eachstepbringinganewview,anew breath,anewreasontokeepgoing.Maybeitstartsalittle quiet—justthesoundofyourfootstepsandthebreeze movingacrossthemesa.Butasyouclimb,somethingshifts. Youpause,lookback,andrealizehowfaryou’vecome.

Andthen…youmakeit.

AtthetopofChimneyRockNationalMonument,theworldopensup.Theskyfeelsbigger.Thelandscapestretches endlessly.It’smorethanjustaview—it’samoment.Afeeling.Aconnectiontosomethingmucholder,muchdeeper

Takeitin.Breatheitin.

Thensnapthatphotowiththesign,tagus,andcelebrateyourjourney.Anddon’tforget—letoneofourvolunteers knowyoumadeittothetop.They’llbejustasexcitedasyouare.

How the Coyote Danced with the Blackbirds

A Zuni Folktale as

told to Frank H. Cushing in 1901

One late autumn day in the times of ancients, a large council of Blackbirds were gathered, fluttering and chattering on the slope of Gorge Mountain, northwest of Zuni. These birds gather together in autumn when the harvests are ripe to indulge in festivities before going to winter quarters in the land of Everlasting Summer.

On this particular morning they were making a great noise and gathered in one vast flock with the older birds in front, the younger ones behind. They chirped, fluttered and sang “Blackbirds, Blackbirds, dance away … ” Then spreading their wings they would fly away, swirling off in a dense black flock, circling upward, then darting back down to the mountain.

A coyote was out hunting, saw them and was thoroughly enraptured. Coyote begged to fly with them. An old Blackbird said “It may be that we can fit you out so you can fly” The old Blackbird said to the others “Each one of you contributes a feather to our friend”. So, each one of the Blackbirds plucked a feather from their wings. The Blackbirds thrust the feathers into Coyote's skin all along the rear of his forelegs and down the side of his back, where wings ought to be, and into the tip of his tail.

Coyote was very pleased and proud The Blackbird procession formed again, along with Coyote, and they all flew into the air. Coyote, in true form, performed many pranks and cut-ups. This upset the sedate Blackbirds who decided it was not to their taste The old ones decided that they needed to pluck Coyote when he was in the air. So they flew so far that Coyote got very tired and cried out for help. “All right” called the Blackbirds “catch hold of his wings and hold him up”. Coyote thought they were helping him but in doing so they plucked out feathers, until the last feathers became so thin that he began to fall. The few feathers left in his forelegs, sides and tip of his tail just saved him from being utterly crushed as he fell to the ground With a crestfallen countenance and tail dragging between his legs, Coyote took himself to his home over the mountain.

The agony of that fall had been so great and the heat of the exertion so excessive that the feathers that were left in his forelegs and tip of his tail were all shriveled up into little ugly black fringes of hair. This is why coyotes today have little black fringes along the rear of their forelegs and the tips of their tails are often black. Thus it was in the days of the ancients.

Upcoming Special Events

2026 Opening Day

May 15, 2026

2026 Lecture Series

May 19, 2026

Speaker: David Bouquet

“Southwest Native Rock Art” Rock

(Free Admission)

Life at Chimney Rock Festival

June 6 - 7, 2026

(Free Admission) (Free

SupporttheMission

TheChimneyRockInterpretiveAssociation isanonprofitorganizationdedicatedto supportingthepreservation,interpretation, andeducationeffortsatChimneyRock NationalMonument

Educationalprogramming

Volunteertraining

Sitepreservationinitiatives

Communityoutreach

Specialeventsandlectures

Continuing Education

CRIAwillbeinstitutinga“ContinuingEducation”Programtohelpus improveasvolunteers,tobroadenourknowledgeofChimneyRock andPuebloanculture,andtokeepusallcurrentonchanging interpretationsfromtheacademicliteratureandotherPuebloan sites.ThisprogramisfocusedonGuides,Hosts,andInterpreters,but willbeopentoallvolunteersandstaff.TheContinuingEducation programwillbepresentedatleastonceeveryseason,preferablyjust beforeseasonopening TheContinuingEducationProgramwillbe presentedinmodulesandwilllikelyincludeexcitingfieldtripsto otherPuebloansites

Examplesofplannedmodules/topicscouldinclude:

·AreviewofupdatestotheCoreCurriculumandotherchangesin interpretationfromtheacademicliterature

·Learningsfromthepreviousseasonabouthowtoimprovethe visitorexperience

·NativeAmericanspeakersontopicslikeculturalsensitivityand modernPuebloancultures

·AdditionstothenewCRIAofficeinformationlibrary

·Shareageneraltopicaboutarcheology,anthropology, archeoastronomy,etc

·Sharesomeaspectofthenaturalsetting(e g plants,animals, geology,astronomy,etc.)

·AnoptionalfieldtripatleastonceayeartootherPuebloansites

·Volunteerscanalsorequesttopicsthattheywouldliketohearabout and/orgivepresentationsonsubjectsofinterest.

Thesesessionswillberecordedforthoseunabletoattendthelive on-linesessions.

TheCertificationCommitteewillpresentthedetailsofthe certificationprocessattheAnnualOrientationonApril17 The ContinuingEducationProgramwillbeheldsometimebetweenMay 4 andMay14 ,exactdateandtimenotyetscheduled.

th th th Forfurtherinformationorquestionscontact ErnieO’toole(eotoole1@yahoo.com)or DavidBouquet(damajo22@gmail.com).

Tip of the Month

AvisittoChimneyRockNationalMonumentis asmuchaboutthejourneyasitisthe destination.Tofullyenjoyyourexperience, comepreparedandtakeyourtimealongthe way.

Bringplentyofwatertostayhydrated, especiallyduringwarmerdays,andwear sturdy,comfortableshoestohelpyounavigate therockyterrainwithconfidence.Thetrailcan beasteadyclimb,butthere’snoneedtorush —pauseoften,catchyourbreath,andtakein theincredibleviewsthatunfoldwitheach step.

Lookaround.Noticethelandscape,theplants, andthequietmomentsthatmakethisplaceso special.Everyturnoffersanewperspective— andsometimes,thosearethemomentsyou’ll remembermost.

Every visit to Chimney Rock National Monument means so much to us. We are truly grateful for each person who takes the time to explore, learn, and experience this incredible place. Your presence helps keep the stories, history, and spirit of Chimney Rock alive. And for those who wish to give a little more, donations are always appreciated. Your support helps fund educational programs, preservation efforts, and the continued sharing of this special site with visitors from around the world. Thank you for being part of our community we look forward to welcoming you.

CHIMNEY ROCK INTERPRETIVE ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

We look forward to your visit and to sharing in the experience of this truly remarkable place. Chimney Rock is more than a destination—it is a landscape rich with history, culture, and connection. As stewards and advocates, we are honored to help preserve and share the stories of the Ancestral Puebloans and the significance of this sacred site.

Our passion for Chimney Rock National Monument is what brings us together, and it is our privilege to help create meaningful experiences for each visitor who walks these trails and takes in these views.

We hope your time here inspires curiosity, reflection, and a deeper appreciation for the history and beauty that make Chimney Rock so special. We look forward to welcoming you.

Tribal Partnerships

Since Chimney Rock was designated a National Monument by Presidential Proclamation 2012, the San Juan National Forest consults and partners with many Native American Tribes and Pueblos to manage the monument, including restoration. In August 2024, the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (a corps program that partners with tribal communities and land managers to accomplish projects based in historical preservation and traditional knowledge) conducted a structural stabilization project at Chimney Rock National Monument.

The Chimney Rock area holds deep spiritual significance for modern pueblo and tribal communities. Today, descendants of the Ancestral Puebloans, Navajo, Jicarilla Apache and Ute return to this important place of cultural continuity for ceremonial and traditional purposes. The area is also an important source of traditional cultural materials that are collected by tribal members for food and medicine Chimney Rock National Monument is managed to protect and preserve access by tribal members for traditional cultural, spiritual, food and medicine gathering purposes, consistent with the purposes of the monument, to the maximum extent permitted by law

The San Juan National Forest ensures that the hunting rights of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe within the exterior boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, including lands within the Monument, are upheld The San Juan National Forest also ensures that the hunting and fishing rights of the 1873 Brunot Agreement are upheld on public lands under its management jurisdiction, including those lands within the Monument Tribes with ancestral and cultural ties to the Chimney Rock National Monument landscape: Kewa Pueblo Pueblo of Santa Ana Pueblo de Cochiti Pueblo of Santa Clara Pueblo of Acoma Pueblo of Taos Pueblo of Isleta Pueblo of Tesuque Pueblo of Jemez Pueblo of Zia Pueblo of Laguna Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation Pueblo of Nambé Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo of Picuris Hopi Tribe Pueblo of Pojoaque Jicarilla Apache Nation Pueblo of San Felipe Navajo Nation Pueblo of San Ildefonso Pueblo of Sandia Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Southern Ute Indian Tribe Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/sanjuan/recreation/chimney-rock-national-monument

Designation 2025

In Partnership with