Campground

Gallo Campground

Near Bloomfield, New Mexico

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 sixteen 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 difficlut 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.

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.

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.

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.

Recreation Sites

Standard Nonelectric
Management
Rv Nonelectric
Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
Overnight

Activities

Day Use Area
Hiking
Interpretive Programs
Camping
Historic & Cultural Site
Biking

Amenities

Accessible Flush Toilets
Accessible Sites
Campfire Rings
Drinking Water
Dump Station
Quiet Area
Fire Pit
Tent Pad
Platform
Picnic Table
Grills/Fire Ring

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.

Getting Here

Latitude

36° 1' 40.0001" N

Longitude

107° 57' 29.9999" W

From the North: Driving from Albuquerque or Farmington, NM, drive on Highway 550, exit to County Road (CR)7900 at mile marker 112; drive CR 7900 then turn westbound to CR 7950 which will turn into a dirt road after three miles. Drive thriteen miles of dirt road to reach Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

From the South: Exit Highway 9 to State Road 57. State Road 57 is a rough dirt road for about twenty miles before reaching Chaco Culture National Historical Park. South entrance is not recommended during inclement weather.

Need to Know

There are no services available, bring plenty of food and water for your visit.

There are no hookups.

Picnic table and fire ring (with a grill) are provided at each site.

Firewood and charcoal are not available in the park. Wood gathering is not permitted.

Drinking water is available at the Visitor Center and at the Campground

Dogs are allowed but restricted in some areas.

Dogs must be on leash at all times and must be kept under control. Maximum leash length is 6 feet.

RV and/or travel trailers must not exceed 35 feet (10.6 m) in length to drive on the roads in the Park. Check for size of limited parking space under each campsite's detail info if camping.

Generator use is permitted only between the hours of: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Individual campsites are limited to two small vehicles at each site. Few campsites are for RV ONLY and does not have extra space for extra vehicle, and some campsites allow for either tent or small travel trailer or RV. PLease review detailed information on each campsite before reserving. Groups: if group sites are full, please make alternate plans for your overnight stay. Do not reserve multiple individual sites.

All campsites are closed on the following days: Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Check In Time is at 12:00 noon.

Check Out Time is at 11:00 a.m.

Maximum Stay Limits:

Camping is permitted for not more than at total of 30 days in any calendar year, with no more than 14 consecutive nights at any one time.

Group campsites are limited to 30 days per group, per year and no more than 7 consecutive nights at a time.

One individual is limited to two reservations per night.

Campers that do not show up to their site or call the park by 11:00 a.m. on the second day of their reservation, forfeit the remainder of their reservation.