GALLO CAMPGROUND Review & Info | Chaco Culture National Historical Park | New Mexico

Due to its size, Chaco Canyon needs time to fully explore & take in the accomplishment of a past culture. Sadly, its location can make that hard. Luckily, there's a campground one can lay down their head - right where that culture did as well!
Gallo Campground provides visitors to Chaco Culture National Historical Park an opportunity unlike any other - the ability to check out the remains of the Puebloan people who inhabited the area centuries ago without the worry of the nearest lodging being over an hour away. Visitors can spend hours fully exploring the site to their heart's content.
The campground itself is tucked next to cliffs where petroglyphs and ruins provide a reminder of a previous time. In the distance are sweeping views of a rugged landscape and buttes.
There are 32 individual campsites in total. Of those, one is ADA compliant, and five are RV only. In addition, there are two tent-only group campsites that can accommodate up to 30 people.
Two restroom facilities are available with flushing toilets and running water. No showers are available.
Hookups are also not available, however, there is a dump station.
Due to the remoteness of the location, campers are advised to bring all necessary food and supplies as no convenience stores are nearby. Cell phone service is also not available.
VIDEO FILMED: 07/23/2022
▬▬ R E L A T E D V I D E O S ▬▬
⚪ CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK - Uncovering the MYSTERY | Chaco Canyon, New Mexico - • CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL...
▬▬ L O C A T I O N I N F O ▬▬
⚪ GALLO CAMPGROUND - www.recreation.gov/camping/ca...
⚪ Directions to GALLO CAMPGROUND - goo.gl/maps/ciQKMkrb4vxQV28d8
▬▬ T I M E S T A M P S ▬▬
00:00 Campsite Amenities
05:34 Campground Exploration
10:02 Visitor Center
12:21 Campground Petroglyphs and Ruins
16:26 Nighttime Exploration of Pueblo Bonito
▬▬ L I N K S ▬▬
⚪ Gear we use - www.amazon.com/shop/thecactus...
⚪ See where we've been - www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mi...
⚪ Music from Epidemic Sound - www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
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Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking and day trips as well as campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!

[@cmc5394oparva]

I got to stay at this campground this past weekend, and my impression was that the remoteness of Chaco makes this ideal for people who want to spend at least a couple of days exploring the park. Going on at least one of the more intensive hikes in the park really adds to the visitor experience, and there's even a couple of trails near the campground itself that people can take advantage of while they're staying. I got a pad right in front of that first alcove house specifically because you took the time to highlight it in the video, and was really impressed at how respectful everybody was of the quiet hours and the overall experience of being in such a sacred place.

[@CactusAtlas]

Couldn't agree more! Camping there really is the way to go if you want to maximize the time exploring the site. 👍

[@Lwof1025]

This is my most favorite and special place. I've been going to and camping in Chaco Canyon over 30 years. The first time I went there, (there were no online reservations and no visitor's center), the campground was full, and it was after dark, so we drove down the road and pitched our tent on the side of the road in the canyon. I woke in the middle of the night because the wind was so bad it felt like someone was shaking the tent- when I stepped out of the tent, it was calm and peaceful. I felt like the Canyon spirits wanted me to come out and sleep under the stars. Great videos on Chaco, thanks!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you so much! Sounds like quite the memorable experience you had! 😄

[@jackgebhart9952]

My wife and I go every summer

[@jackgebhart9952]

You didn’t mention the Chaco Road System

[@DovieRuthAuthor]

I would so love to live in the rooms at Pueblo Bonito. I'm really into minimalism and the simple stark architecture is a perfect example. The thick walls are also great insulation from the heat and cold.

[@CactusAtlas]

Pueblo Bonito would definitely be a haven for minimalism. And those walls really do insulate wonderfully. We've been in other places with similar buildings (reconstructed) and the difference between outside temps and inside is like night and day!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Wow, that campground is amazing, especially when you think of the people that were probably in the same place as you when Chaco Canyon was active. That has to be one of the cooler campgrounds in the National Park Service properties.

[@CactusAtlas]

Sleeping next to old ruins is certainly something that other parks can't boast about. 😅

[@davidmanen5495]

Fantastic is all I can say. Thank you and safe travels

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks, you too! 😄👍

[@PatchGirl68]

Glenn another great video! I really enjoy your enthusiasm for the Pueblo culture and providing the history of the ruins. Have you ever thought of becoming a guide? I think you’d be very successful at it.

[@CactusAtlas]

Haha! I personally think he would make a great guide but I doubt he would enjoy it much as his sense of adventure for new things and places is too strong. We'll just continue making video "guides" instead. 😄

[@emmaccode]

exactly what I look for. thank you for this, looks like an awesome campground !!!

[@CactusAtlas]

Our pleasure! It's a unique experience camping so close to such treasures. 😊

[@hhawg1]

I spend winters in NM and can never get enough of the place. I've read many books about The Ancients in Chaco and never get tired of it. Thanks.

[@CactusAtlas]

It's truly a fascinating place, isn't it? Started reading about the people and the location a lot as well. 😄

[@aimeekreutzer-malkawi]

I have been out to Chaco twice. The time I went by myself summer of 2009, I had the creepiest paranormal experience just above Pueblo bonito coming back down from on top of the mesa. I kept hearing someone following me and I was completely creeped out. After I got to the bottom behind Pueblo bonito something barked so loud at me it echoed. I was absolutely terrified! I ran all the way back down that trail to my car in the parking lot and my car was the only one there! Oh boy was I freaked out o have nvr been back. But I did go to the visitor center since that evening they were doing a viewing of the stars with some telescopes and stuff. It was very fun and a few ppl stayed late for that. If u ever check out Navajo grandma here on KZbin her family was from the Chaco canyon area and she has stories of that place too. And yes u feeling creeped out was completely real. That place at least by Pueblo bonito is haunted by spirits or something so there guarding it. Very paranormal to me. Great video! Thanks for sharing

[@thedeafcattledog8608]

My mother-in-law visited Chaco Canyon in the 1950s as a child. She said it was one of the creepiest places she'd ever been, and that even though she was only 8 years old and is now in her mid-70s she remembers it vividly. We are planning on camping there later this summer - but we are weird like that (only a little crazy). All this the-natives-were-all-hippy-woo-woo bulls- is just that. Some of the natives in this area back then were probably cannibals and there was a ton of warfare going on which was why there were cliff-dwelling fortifications and "mysterious" abandonment of settlements all over the southwest. It is my understanding that the modern natives won't set foot there. One ought to ask themselves why that is. They probably have better sense than we do.

[@InspectorVol]

Thanks for the in depth look at the campground. Hope to visit in a couple years for the first time.

[@CactusAtlas]

Happy to help! Hope that trip happens for you! It's a fantastic experience! 😊👍

[@silvershandiin]

Good video. Great quality work- I appreciate the time you took to put this outstanding piece out. I must say- I would never sleep there because of that same eeriness that you described. I don’t believe in ghosts but that is too scary for me!!!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you very much! The campground really is a great experience, though. Especially due to the location and maximizing time to explore. 👍

[@ChrisRoxDuhh]

Reserved a site for the center line of the annular eclipse coming in October and didnt realize this place was this freakin cool! Thanks for the toe dip!

[@CactusAtlas]

That's awesome and great to hear! Hope that you have a great time as it's an amazing place. 😄

[@thedeafcattledog8608]

I was looking for a view of the bathrooms at this campground for my finnicky husband - thank you! BTW, the spirits there don't care if you believe in them or not. 😉

[@CactusAtlas]

Haha! You are so welcome! It's a strange job to do but we're happy to provide that info to others. 😊

[@SwiftyTravels]

Probably the closest place to stay if you dont want to camp is Farmington. Ive always wanted to camp there Im sure the stars are amazing!! We came very close to getting stuck on that road that leads southwest from Chaco that ‘may be impassable’ just the smallest amount of rain turns that road to peanut butter- it was a bit scary. Nice bathroom and water bottle filler😀👍

[@CactusAtlas]

🤣🤣🤣 I can't say that I've ever referred to a road as peanut butter but it feels so on point that I might have to snag it for future use. Glad you all made it out of that mess. Wouldn't want to get stuck out there as there's just nothing there really. Hope you get a chance to camp there in the future! 😊

[@SwiftyTravels]

@@CactusAtlas it looked like peanut butter too! I've never experienced anything like it!! Someone parked on the side of the road waiting it out had these boards to help our wheels get traction, we were so lucky!!

[@jackgebhart9952]

I’ve camped in that same spot

[@johnnyduong77]

Quality contents as always. Thank you for visiting my home state New Mexico.

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! Lots more to discover and experience in New Mexico for sure. 👍

[@SomeplaceOrAnother]

Neat to camp so close to the ruins 😎

[@CactusAtlas]

It's a big selling point of staying there. Thanks for watching! 👍

[@ShelleeGraham]

Great 👍 job on this Chaco Culture overnight stay! Wow, it was lovely seeing your lantern reflected onto the stone walls of Pueblo Bonito. And watching you walk amongst the ruins at that late hour was very cool. Thank you for sharing this unique experience. Cheers, SGraham

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks so much! Glad that you enjoyed it! 😄

[@BridgetCollins]

Such a perfect overview - thank you! It looks like you were there in August? I am planning an August trip there next year and our family in Arizona doesn't think we should due to the heat (we lived and backcountry camped in Utah for 2 years so I'm not as worried). Due to the road conditions and the heat I'm leaning towards renting a camper van vs. and SUV and tent - any advice?

[@CactusAtlas]

Glenn was actually there in late July. If I remember right, I think the summers are milder there in that region than parts here in Arizona. The only thing to be concerned about would likely be rain and the roads getting muddy and difficult to travel on.

[@BridgetCollins]

@@CactusAtlasthanks for the quick response! I think we'll go for it and just have a plan B for washed out roads!

[@scrapiron1952]

Lived I New Mexico for a few years! Rio Rancho 15miles N/W of Albuquerque! HOT? Yeah But It's A Dry Heat 🤔😂🤣 That's New Mexico talk.😁

[@CactusAtlas]

I do believe New Mexico might have borrowed that from us here in Arizona when it's 110+ degrees on the regular in summer. 😂

[@scrapiron1952]

@@CactusAtlas yeah. You may be correct. It's HOT both places 🤔😁

[@gstiles7]

Wow, that place is amazing! Next time you should try spending the night inside that inner room, then you can really amp up the creep factor 🤣Thanks for another great trip!!

[@CactusAtlas]

If one could successfully hide from the park rangers maybe buuut... 😅

[@tpseeker3367]

Looks like every picnic table is ada. What a nice campground. Even though to me ALL Reserved sites Should be open to Anyone an hour before gates are closed & can stay till check out time next day. Another top notch review. Lol I still wear a 😷 Anytime I'm out in public. Heck of a place to try out a (cough cough) ghost box. Oh you're gonna have to give us a link for that flickering lamp light

[@CactusAtlas]

I want to say Glenn got the lamp off Amazon. I'll have to see if he still has the link in his history but if I had to GUESS which one it is, it's likely this one: www.amazon.com/Unilamp-Hurricane-Antiqued-Flickering-Decorative/dp/B07KLTZHHL?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

[@tpseeker3367]

Thanks Amy. That flickering light is one of the best I've seen@@CactusAtlas. Have we thought about the Garmin InReach yet? Perfect for texting you when Glenn looses cell signal. I don't like the mini's cause you Need yer cell basically to use it except for emergency button.

[@shylerbecenti]

It had trees “1000yrs ago”

[@davidanderson6632]

Can i set up a camp shower?

[@CactusAtlas]

We don't have that information unfortunately. Our apologies.

[@disconnectpub]

That ceiling you show was recreated/ reconstructed. Obviously not original

[@jessfulbright9015]

@12:32 Sure looks like a horse's head, of course this could not have been done by the original occupants, horses were not introduced to North American for another 200 years or so. Maybe more modern Navajos drew the horse after the white man introduced them to the continent.

[@thedeafcattledog8608]

Do you know the difference between ancient graffiti and modern graffiti? Time. LOL

[@lusolad]

Jealous of you.

[@lakefromeshippingcompany]

That looks like a great place to pitch your tent! I've never seen a campsite with an iced water dispenser before. My only concern with tents is that in my (limited) experience they are relatively easy to keep warm in cold weather but in hot conditions they can get stifling. 🏜️🏕️

[@CactusAtlas]

True! The cold water dispenser was a first for us as well! Also true about warm tents. Seems to take forever to cool off sometimes. 👍

[@robinhunt6644]

The dessert sun insures you do not sleep in since your tent turns into an oven by 9am.