• Overlooking Chetro Ketl

    Chaco Culture

    National Historical Park New Mexico

Campgrounds

Photo of overview of Gallo Campground

Gallo Campground

Russ Bodnar

Gallo Campground

Open

Open All Year.

Details
Gallo Campground, located one mile east of the Visitor Center, is open year-round. 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. There is no shade. The campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping is limited to 14 days. Each campsite costs $10.00 per night. Interagency Senior pass holders pay $5.00 per site, per night. There is a limit of six people, two tents, and two vehicles at each campsite. Check-out time is 11:00AM.

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. 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.

Tent Camping
Sites 35-49 are reserved for tent camping only. Most of the other sites are open to RVs or tents. Car camping is allowed.

RVs
Trailers and RVs over 35 feet in length cannot be accommodated. There are no hook-ups. A dump station is located in the campground. Generators may be operated one hour at a time between 8:00AM and 8:00PM.

Alternative Camping
Occasionally, the 49 regular sites and 2 group sites in Gallo Campground fill. Usually, this occurs on Friday and Saturday afternoons, holiday weekends, and on other unpredicted days when many visitors and groups happen to converge. Here are some nearby options when our campground is full.

Gallo Campground Group Sites:

Details
Two group campsites are available, each accomodating 10 to 30 people and no more than 5 vehicles. Group stays are limited to seven days at a time. Group campground reservations must be made in advance by calling the park at (505) 786-7014. The cost for group camping is $2.00 per person, per night with a minimum fee of $25.00. Campers with Interagency Senior or Access passes pay $1.00 per person, per night. The group campsites are designed for tent camping and cannot accommodate RVs, pop-up trailers, etc. 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 group site will be reserved for your group until 5:00 p.m. on the date of your planned arrival. Please call the park if you will arrive late. Cancellation or changes to your reservation must be made at least two weeks in advance.

 
Photo of tent in Gallo Campground
Campsites have tent pads, picnic tables, and grills. Gallo cliff dwelling in background.
Russ Bodnar

Did You Know?

Photo of Navajo Stabilization crew working in Chaco Canyon

Beginning in 1937 the CCC funded an experimental Mobil Unit to work on ruins stabilization.  The crew was mostly Navajo and even had one female member.  They passed their knowledge to future generations, and many members of the preservation crew today are related to the original team. More...