A self-guided 1.5-mile loop trail provides access to numerous unexcavated ruins, caves carved into soft tuff, and petroglyphs.

Even today, the active pueblos San Ildefonso and Cochiti retain strong social and traditional ties with these two cultural sites.

The trails also connected to other villages in the surrounding area - the travelers commonly wore sandals or walked barefoot.

Edgar Hewett, however, excavated at least 2 burial mounds near the main pueblo room blocks during his studies of the area during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

They used native plants such as the piñon pine, juniper, rabbitbrush, saltbush, mountain mahogany, and yucca for food, dyes, medicine, and tools.

The pueblo at San Ildefonso, 8 miles (13 km) away, has the tradition that their ancestors lived at Tsankawi and the surrounding area.

The people traded tools, blankets, pottery, feathers, turquoise, seashells, and agricultural products, and they also joined together for religious activities.

Volcanic basalt was used as manos and metates to grind seeds and corn; it was also used to enlarge the soft tuff caves and shape blocks used in building.

The ancient pueblo inhabitants of Tsankawi not only had a settlement on top of the mesa, but they built their homes along the base of the cliffs.

They dug caves into the soft, tuff stone and extended the dwelling with walls made of talus rock mortared with mud.

Carvings were made in soft, tuff stone which is easily eroded, meaning many drawings have become difficult to see or have disappeared altogether.

[citation needed] To the northeast are the remains of a home and school built by Madame Vera von Blumenthal (not actually a duchess but a baroness) and her lover Rose Dougan in 1918.