Some of the most amazing examples of natural stone architecture in the southwest are preserved at Natural Bridges National Monument, where three natural bridges formed over the course of thousands of years as meandering streams slowly cut through the canyon walls. Named Kachina, Owachomo, and Sipapu in honor of the Native Americans who made this area their home, the bridges can be explored via a nine-mile paved scenic drive.
Sipapu Bridge, the largest and most spectacular of the three, has a rounded opening almost big enough to encompass the dome of the United States Capitol. Several hiking trails also lead visitors around the bridges. Another major attraction in the park is the great house Horsecollar Ruin. Abandoned by the Puebloans more than seven hundred years ago, it is one of the best-preserved ancestral sites in the area and includes an undisturbed kiva with its original roof and interior. The park has a small campground that is open year round with fire grills, picnic tables, and tent pads.
