Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Thunderstorm wind is the defining hazard at Chaco Culture, with 10 recorded events driving the bulk of the park's weather risk — and flash floods aren't far behind with 4 events on record. The park sits in an exposed, high-desert basin where afternoon storms build fast and funnel hard through the canyon corridors, leaving little warning time for campers in open sites.

When storms roll in — typically mid-afternoon in summer — get your tent staked with heavy-duty anchors beforehand, since standard stakes pull out of sandy soil quickly under gusts. Park your vehicle uphill from your camp and identify the nearest high ground before you set up, because the same storms that bring wind can send water racing through low-lying wash areas within minutes. Check the NWS Albuquerque forecast each morning, as cell service at Chaco is essentially nonexistent once you're on-site.