Chaco Canyon was a major center of ancestral Puebloan culture between AD 850 and 1250. It was a hub of ceremony, trade, and administration for the prehistoric Four Corners area - unlike anything before or since.
Chaco is remarkable for its monumental public and ceremonial buildings, and its distinctive architecture. To construct the buildings, along with the associated Chacoan roads, ramps, dams, and mounds, required a great deal of well organized and skillful planning, designing, resource gathering, and construction. The Chacoan people combined pre-planned architectural designs, astronomical alignments, geometry, landscaping, and engineering to create an ancient urban center of spectacular public architecture - one that still amazes and inspires us a thousand years later.
The Chacoan cultural sites are fragile and irreplaceable and represent a significant part of America's cultural heritage. The sites are part of the sacred homeland of Pueblo Indian peoples of New Mexico, the Hopi Indians of Arizona, and the Navajo Indians of the Southwest, all of whom continue to respect and honor them.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a very special place. Remote and isolated, it offers few amenities, so come prepared. You will find that the rewards are unlimited.
Details : Gallo Campground, located one mile east of the Visitor Center, is open year-round. Tucked amongst 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. There is no shade. The 48 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping is limited to 7 days. Trailers and RVs over 30 feet in length can not be accommodated. A dump station is located in the campground. Each campsite costs $10.00 per night. Golden Age and Golden Access cardholders pay $5.00 per site, per night. There is a limit of six people, two tents, and two vehicles at each campsite. Each site has a picnic table and fire grate (with a grill). Bring your own firewood or charcoal. Gathering wood is prohibited and no firewood is available in the park. Most sites include a tent pad. Pets are permitted, but must be kept on a leash at all times. Do not approach or feed the wildlife. The campground has water (non-potable) and restrooms with flush toilets. Site #16 and both restrooms are handicap accessible. There are no showers or hook-ups. Drinking water is available 24 hours a day in the Visitor Center parking area, where telephones are located as well. There is no gasoline, auto repair, food, or ice available in the park. To make the most of your visit, please plan ahead and come prepared.
Gallo Campground Group Sites, Open All Year
Details : Two group campsites (10 to 30 people in each) are available. The maximum capacity of the group campground is 60 people. Group campground reservations must be made in advance by calling the park at (505) 786-7014 ext. 221. The cost for group camping is $2.00 per person, per night with a minimum fee of $25.00. Campers with Golden Age or Golden Access cards pay $1.00 per person, per night. The group campsites are designed for tent camping, and can not accommodate RVs, pop-up trailers, etc. There is sufficient parking for 4-5 vehicles in each group site. Picnic tables and a fire ring (with a grill) are provided at each site. There are restrooms with flush toilets, but no showers or hook-ups. Firewood and charcoal are not available in the park, so bring your own. Wood gathering is not permitted. Drinking water is available at the Visitor Center parking area. When you arrive, your group will be assigned to a site in the group area. The area in the group campground will be reserved for your group until 5:00 p.m. on the date of your time planned arrival. Please call the park if you cannot arrive by that time or if you need to change or cancel your reservations. Unless you notify the park ahead of time, your reserved sites will be opened to other campers after 5:00 p.m.
Mesa Verde National Park, 140 miles.
El Morro National Monument, 110 miles.
Navajo National Monument, 223 miles.
Canyon De Chelly National Monument, 184 miles.
El Malpais National Monument, 97 miles.
