Pilgrimage: An ancient tradition in tune with today’s needs
A Pilgrimage is a meaningful journey to a sacred place – and the journey to get to Chaco is a wonderful part of the process.
It provides us the opportunity to wind-down as we step out of the non-stop busyness of our lives before entering the sacred space. It can be a time of quiet and reflection or a highly social activity. Either way – it provides a wonderful bridge from our daily lives as it gives us the chance re-energize mentally, physical and spiritually.
This is a tremendous and important part of coming to Chaco – preparing your mind and spirit for the magic that awaits you there and the slower in-tune-with-nature experience.
Driving from Southern California to Gallop
The drive takes approximately 13 hours. We recommend leaving early in the morning and driving 10 hours to Gallop New Mexico and staying overnight in there.
Take the opportunity to bond with your fellow travelers, listen to inspiring talks or groove out to music along the way.
Gallop has all the facilities you need including hotels and restaurants for every budget. There are also many services there and you should be able to pick up any last minute items you might need (or have forgotten…).
You will need to leave on the 19th to be in the valley on the 20th.
From Gallop to Chaco
The drive to Chaco from Gallop takes about 3 hours. We will expect you in Chaco before noon on September 20 – to set up camp – so please plan accordingly.
Please fill up your gas tank at the last gas station before Chaco – so that you have plenty of fuel to drive through the valley as well as make it back to that gas station on your way out.
The last gas station before Chaco is located in Crownpoint (39 miles south of the park off HWY 371).
Directions from GPS are not recommended by the Chaco Culture National Park. The directions that they recommend are below and included in the link.
We will publish more detailed directions once we know where you will be originating from. When reading the link below – keep in mind you are likely entering from the Southern route:
More info from Chaco NP – below is the link to their expanded directions:
Chaco Canyon is located in northwestern New Mexico. The park can only be accessed by driving on dirt roads.
From the south, two routes access Chaco from Highway 9, which runs between Crownpoint, Pueblo Pintado, and Cuba. Both routes can be rough and not recommended for RVs. If you are traveling from the south, please call ahead for the latest conditions.
Via Hwy 57 (Hwy 14 on some maps): This turnoff is located on Highway 9, – 13 miles east of Highway 371, at the former Seven Lakes Trading Post (20 miles of dirt). Note that the signs directing you to turn off of Hwy 371 onto Highway 9 are missing.
The northern and southern routes include 13, 20, and 33 miles of dirt roads, respectively. These sections of road are infrequently maintained, and they can become rough during inclement weather.
https://www.nps.gov/chcu/planyourvisit/directions.htm
