The Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness is located in northwestern New Mexico and is a
badland area of rolling water-carved clay hills. The area is rich in fossils
and has little vegetation to conceal geological formations. The thin
vegetation includes sagebrush, pińon-juniper, Great Basin scrubland, and
grassland. It is a landscape of sandstone cap rocks and scenic olive-colored
hills. Water in this area is scarce and there are no trails; however, the area
is scenic and contains soft colors rarely seen elsewhere.

The Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness is located in northwestern New Mexico and is a badland area of rolling water-carved clay hills. The area is rich in fossils and has little vegetation to conceal geological formations. The thin vegetation includes sagebrush, pińon-juniper, Great Basin scrubland, and grassland. It is a landscape of sandstone cap rocks and scenic olive-colored hills. Water in this area is scarce and there are no trails; however, the area is scenic and contains soft colors rarely seen elsewhere.

Bird's eye view of the park

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness

Explore the monumental structures and breathtaking landscape at Chaco, a
thriving regional center for the ancestral Pueblo people from 850 to 1250 CE
(Common Era), through guided tours, hiking & biking trails, evening campfire
talks, night sky programs, and more. Chaco Canyon is a sacred and deeply
personal place for many Indigenous peoples throughout the Southwest. Please
visit with respect.

Explore the monumental structures and breathtaking landscape at Chaco, a thriving regional center for the ancestral Pueblo people from 850 to 1250 CE (Common Era), through guided tours, hiking & biking trails, evening campfire talks, night sky programs, and more. Chaco Canyon is a sacred and deeply personal place for many Indigenous peoples throughout the Southwest. Please visit with respect.

## Overview

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.

## 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.

## Facilities

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.

## 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.

## 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.

<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>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. </p>

<p>Traveling to Chaco </p>
<p>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.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Marijuana on Federal Lands</p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>Possession of marijuana or use of any amount of marijuana is still prohibited in Chaco Culture National Historical Park, its facilities, concessions, and campgrounds.</p>
<h2>Recreation</h2>
<p>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.</p>
<h2>Facilities</h2>
<p>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.</p>
<h2>Natural Features</h2>
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.
<h2>Nearby Attractions</h2>
<p>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.</p>

**Several campsites were recently closed until next spring due to significant
rock fall**

GALLO CAMPGROUND

A view of Gallo Campground tucked to the canyon

View of Fajada Butte and Chacra Mesa looking south from the campground

Gallo Campground

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is a rolling landscape of badlands which offers
some of the most unusual scenery found in the Four Corners Region. Time and
natural elements have etched a fantasy world of strange rock formations made
of interbedded sandstone, shale, mudstone, coal, and silt. The weathering of
the sandstone forms hoodoos - weathered rock in the form of pinnacles, spires,
cap rocks, and other unusual forms. Fossils occur in this sedimentary
landform. Translated from the Navajo language, Bisti (Bis-tie) means "a large
area of shale hills." De-Na-Zin (Deh-nah-zin) takes its name from the Navajo
words for "cranes."

The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is a rolling landscape of badlands which offers some of the most unusual scenery found in the Four Corners Region.  Time and natural elements have etched a fantasy world of strange rock formations made of interbedded sandstone, shale, mudstone, coal, and silt.  The weathering of the sandstone forms hoodoos - weathered rock in the form of pinnacles, spires, cap rocks, and other unusual forms.  Fossils occur in this sedimentary landform.  Translated from the Navajo language, Bisti (Bis-tie) means "a large area of shale hills."  De-Na-Zin (Deh-nah-zin) takes its name from the Navajo words for "cranes."

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area