New Mexico / San Juan County / Chaco Culture National Historical Park / Chaco Culture World Heritage Site

Gallo Campground

Open — Open year-round with reservations available through Recreation.gov. The campground closes for six nights annually: Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas, and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Potable water is available seasonally.

About

Gallo Campground is located within Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving the monumental structures of the ancestral Pueblo people. The campground sits in a rugged desert setting among the fallen boulders and cliffs of Gallo Wash, surrounded by ancient petroglyphs, cliff dwellings, and historical inscriptions that tell the story of this once-thriving regional center from 850 to 1250 CE. The campground features 24 individual sites and 2 group sites, with 20 sites available for advance reservation through Recreation.gov and 4 first-come, first-served sites. Several sites can accommodate RVs up to 42 feet, though no hookups are available. Site 11 is ADA accessible and held until 4:00 PM daily for those needing accessible accommodations. Each site includes a picnic table and fire grate with grill. Located one mile east of the visitor center, the campground provides access to six frontcountry and four backcountry hiking trails leading to ancient cultural sites along the canyon loop road. The remote high desert environment offers no natural shade or services, so visitors must come prepared with ample water, food, sunscreen, and appropriate clothing for both hot days and cold nights. The park is accessed via unpaved roads that can become impassable during wet weather.

Directions

From the north via Highway 550: Exit to County Road 7900 at mile marker 112 (three miles east of Nageezi). Drive five paved miles on CR 7900, then turn right onto CR 7950. The road becomes unpaved after three miles; continue thirteen miles on dirt road to reach the park. From the south: Exit Highway 9 to State Road 57 for twenty miles of rough unpaved road (not recommended during inclement weather). The campground is located one mile east of the visitor center.

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