Photo: B Davis
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Explore the monumental structures and breathtaking landscape at Chaco, a thriving regional center for the ancestral Pueblo people from 850 to 1250 CE (Common Era), through hiking & biking trails, ranger guided tours & programs, and more. Chaco Canyon is a sacred and deeply personal place for many Indigenous peoples throughout the Southwest.
Please visit with respect.
Due to a major inclement weather & heavy rains, Chaco Culture NHP will be closed at least through Thursday (10/1). This includes the visitor center, all trails, and the loop road. The campground will also be closed through at least Friday morning. Reservations will be automatically refunded through recreation.gov.
5 activities. Pick one to find other parks that offer it.
1 campground listed on Recreation.gov. Check availability and current conditions before you go.
Reservable Campground
Gallo Campground is located within Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Tucked among the fallen boulders and cliffs of Gallo Wash, the campground offers camping in a…
Reserve on Recreation.govFees: Several campsites were recently closed due to significant rock fall
Overview
Gallo Campground is located within Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Tucked among the fallen boulders and cliffs of Gallo Wash, the campground offers camping in a rugged environment, surrounded by petroglyphs, a cliff dwelling, inscriptions and a high desert landscape. The area is remote with no services. Please be prepared with plenty of food, water, shade, sunscreen and cold weather necessities.
Traveling to Chaco
Two roads access Chaco Culture National Historical Park. From the north, Road 7900 turns off of US Hwy 550/44 three miles east of Nageezi and fifty miles west of Cuba. Continue on Road 7900 for five paved miles then turn right onto Road 7950 where the payment will continue for several miles. The rest of the thirteen miles are unpaved. From the south, turn north onto NM Rt. 57 for twenty miles of rough unpaved road. When the unpaved roads are wet (rain, snow, etc.) they can be difficult to traverse, and vehicles can become stuck in thick mud or slide off the slippery road. Please keep in mind that there is no phone service and it is sometimes difficult to get tow service along these roads. Please contact us at 505 786-7014 for the latest road conditions.
Campfires in Gallo Campground
A fire may be ignited and maintained only by using fuel sources designed and commonly used for warmth or the preparation of food, such as charcoal briquettes or natural firewood. Lighting or maintaining a fire with other manufactured or synthetic materials is prohibited.
Marijuana on Federal Lands
Posted: May 27, 2022, With the legalization of marijuana in the State of New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park would like to provide clarification regarding the use and possession of marijuana on Federal lands. The recently passed New Mexico State law, which allows for limited recreational marijuana use under certain conditions, has no bearing on Federal laws which continue to identify marijuana as a Schedule I illegal drug, and prohibit its use.
Possession of marijuana or use of any amount of marijuana is still prohibited in Chaco Culture National Historical Park, its facilities, concessions, and campgrounds.
Recreation
The Visitor Center is located one mile from the Gallo Campground which offers a staffed information desk. There is an additional charge for Park entry separate from the camping fees. All campers are required to pay entrance fee at the Visitor Center or present a vaild pass. The Visitor Center offers a brief introductory information, a 25-minute introductory video and a bookstore with many selections of educational materials, books and gift items. After checking in at the Visitor Center, one can drive the canyon loop road where there are six front country and our backcountry hiking trails that lead to ancient cultural sites.
Facilities
Gallo Campground has 32 individual campsites, one of which is designated as handicapped accessible. Each campsite has a picnic table and a fire grate. There are five campsites for RV ONLY and the remaining 27 campsites allow either tent, small RV or travel trailer. Please read details featured for each campsite before reserving.
There are two (02) group campsites available to accommodate groups with 10-30 people, tent camping only. Each group campsite has picnic tables and a fire grate.
The campground has restroom facility with flushable toilets. There are no showers, hookups, convenience store or food services. There are no cell phone services. Please call 505 786-7014 for the lastest road condition.
Natural Features
Gallo Campground is located in a lowland desert surrounded by canyon walls, arroyos and wash with plenty of southwestern desert plants and brushes, but there are no trees.Nearby Attractions
Chaco Culture National Historical Park is isolated from various towns and cities. Within two to three hour drive, there are some attractions such as Aztec Ruins, Salmon Ruins, Mesa Verde National Park, El Malpais National Monument, El Morro National Monument, Canyon De Chelly National Monument, Four Corners Monument, Navajo Nation Headquarters and Museum in Window Rock, Arizona.
Find visitor services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Facility
This is Chaco Culture's only visitor center. The hours of operation are 9:00am-5:00pm every day. Please stop in before heading into the park. The visitor center is…
1808 CR 7950, Nageezi, NM (505) 786-7014 Directions
Daily, 7:00AM - 9:00PM · Chaco Culture National Historical Park
All hiking trails and archaeological sites are open from 7am until 9:00pm from May 1-October 31. The visitor center is open from 9:00am-5:00pm daily. At 8:30 PM, you must be leaving or if you are camping, you need to be back in the campground.
| Monday | 7:00AM - 9:00PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 7:00AM - 9:00PM |
| Wednesday | 7:00AM - 9:00PM |
| Thursday | 7:00AM - 9:00PM |
| Friday | 7:00AM - 9:00PM |
| Saturday | 7:00AM - 9:00PM |
| Sunday | 7:00AM - 9:00PM |
This fee allows all persons traveling in one private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van) to enter the park to visit for up to 7 days from the date of purchase.
This fee allows a single individual traveling on foot, bicycle, or as individuals traveling together in a vehicle as a non-commercial, organized group to enter the park to visit for up to 7 days from the date of purchase.
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle.
This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle.
Non-commercial groups are charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle. For vehicles with a seating capacity of 15 or fewer, the fee is $25. For vehicles with a seating capacity of 16 or more, the fee is $15/person up to the commercial fee rate. Interagency passes may be used for entry in lieu of the $15/person fee.
If you represent an academic institution, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. Download and complete the Academic Fee Waiver and mail it to the park at least two weeks prior to your intended visit. We will notify you of the approval or disapproval of your application before your arrival. Please call 505-786-7014 for any additional questions about this process.
This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle.
This fee for commercial entrance is charged per vehicle and based on the capacity of the vehicle.
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Summer highs are typically in the 80s to mid-90s. Thunderstorms can produce heavy localized downpours and sudden dramatic drops in temperatures. Winter temperatures will drop to well below freezing most nights. If you plan to camp in the winter, prepare for nighttime temperatures in the teens or lower. Spring and fall are great times to visit with more moderate temperatures, but unexpected storms can change things dramatically. Monitor local weather forecasts.
Please join Chaco Culture and the Albuquerque Astronomical Society for a star party at the visitor center! The evening will kick off with a ranger program outside behind the visitor center (at the benches in the back) while the astronomers align and prepare their telescopes for the night. Then you will be invited to look through telescopes at planets, nebulae, galaxies, star clusters, and more. You are welcome to stay as long or as little as you'd like. The ranger program will go on regardless of weather. Telescope viewing is weather-dependent; please check in with the visitor on the day of your visit for the current weather forecast or any additional details you'd like to know. Reservations are not required.
Please join Chaco Culture and the Albuquerque Astronomical Society for a star party at the visitor center! The evening will kick off with a ranger program outside behind the visitor center (at the benches in the back) while the astronomers align and prepare their telescopes for the night. Then you will be invited to look through telescopes at planets, nebulae, galaxies, star clusters, and more. You are welcome to stay as long or as little as you'd like. The ranger program will go on regardless of weather. Telescope viewing is weather-dependent; please check in with the visitor on the day of your visit for the current weather forecast or any additional details you'd like to know. Reservations are not required.
Your journey into Chaco Canyon will take you through private tribal lands. Please be respectful of our tribal neighbors and their livestock and leave no trace of your journey on their lands.
Chaco Canyon is located in northwestern New Mexico. The park can only be accessed by driving on dirt roads. Road conditions can be rough or impassable. Please call in advance for updates.
Mailing address: PO Box 220, Nageezi, NM 87037
Ask about trails, fees, weather, events, or planning your visit.
AI answers can be wrong. Check official NPS info before you go.
