Fort Wingate in McKinley County encompasses more than 400 sites that can be traced to Navajo and Zuni traditions. Chaco Culture National Historical Park also tells a long story of settlement and use of the canyon: More than 4,000 cultural sites are associated with Paleoindian groups, the Ancestral Puebloans, the Navajo, and Euro-Americans. The archaeological sites differ not only in size, but also in their building styles and roads.
Archaeological Sites and Architecture
Pueblo Bonito was a D-shaped building four to five stories high. It covered three acres and contained more than 600 rooms, 40 kivas, and two plazas. A 9-mile loop road in Chaco provides access to five major Chacoan sites, including Pueblo Bonito. This makes it possible to see several archaeological sites along a single road.
Casa Rinconada offers a different scale: It is the largest excavated Great Kiva. Several small house sites lie along the loop trail there; the trail is 1 mile (1.6 km) long. In Chaco Canyon, trails also lead to Una Vida, along the Petroglyph Trail between Pueblo Bonito and Chetro Ketl, and on the Peñasco Blanco Trail. Fort Wingate is also associated with Anasazi sites within the Chacoan Interaction Sphere.
Road conditions are especially important when planning a trip to Chaco Canyon: The canyon is accessible only via unpaved roads, which may be rough or impassable. Check road conditions before you set out. This keeps the drive as a distinct part of trip planning, rather than confusing it with getting around inside the park.
Red Rocks and Trails near Gallup
East of Gallup lies the 640-acre Red Rock Park. Its red sandstone cliffs formed more than 200 million years ago. The park's outdoor arena hosts the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, rodeos, and the Red Rock Balloon Rally. The Ceremonial takes place every August; check event dates before your trip.
The trails in the surrounding area also showcase a range of landscapes. The 3.4-mile Church Rock Trail passes sandstone spires and deep canyons. The High Desert Trail System around Gallup has more than 22 miles of singletrack for hiking and biking. The Pyramid Rock Trail reaches a 7,487-foot summit with panoramic views of Gallup and the Zuni Mountains.
Casamero Pueblo is a small Chacoan outlier set against the red sandstone cliffs of Tecolote Mesa (Owl Mesa). Its stabilized ruins are open to public view via a short path from a small parking lot. The trail and nearby mesa give the site a distinctive landscape setting, while its archaeological context draws attention to its history.
Museums, Art, and Local History
Interpretive exhibits at the Red Rock Museum offer insights into the life and culture of the Anasazi and today's Zuni, Hopi, and Navajo people. Permanent exhibits include kachinas, pottery, rugs, and silver and turquoise work, alongside changing art exhibitions. The Rex Museum has a different focus: Its exhibits cover the region's early inhabitants, mining, the railroad, and present-day Gallup.
Most of Gallup's gallery and trading post activity is concentrated along Route 66 and Coal Avenue. The George Galanis Multicultural Center offers another perspective on the city's history. It is housed in a building constructed in 1918 as the headquarters of the Santa Fe Railway, which also serves as an Amtrak station. As train services may change, check current connections before traveling. Public New Deal art tours, led by a knowledgeable guide, visit the historic McKinley County Courthouse and the public library in downtown Gallup.
History and Encounters in Zuni
At the Zuni Visitor Center, you can book tours of historic Middle Village, considered the oldest part of Zuni Pueblo. Tours of the ancestral village of Hawikku can also be booked there. In 1539, European explorers first made contact with the A:shiwi at Hawikku. Confirm tour arrangements and access rules before your visit.
The Hawikku exhibit at the A:shiwi A:wan Museum features 221 representative objects selected by Zuni representatives from the Hawikku collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. The Mission Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is part of Halona Pueblo (Zuni Pueblo) on the Zuni Indian Reservation. Together, the two sites complement the tours and exhibits with different insights into cultural heritage.
Art is also featured at the ARTZ Co-op Art Markets and the Zuni Pueblo ArtWalk, both held throughout the year. Check dates and participation options before your visit. For public transportation to recreational destinations, A:shiwi Transit of the Pueblo of Zuni works with Gallup Express and the Navajo Transit System; routes and schedules may change.
Discover more destinations: Gallup, Zuni, Ramah, Lea County, Grant County, Socorro, Union County, Mora County.
For the main travel overview: New Mexico.
