Gallo campground is nice with trash, flush toilet bathrooms and non-potable water. Potable water is available at the visitor’s center.Fajada Butte as seen from Gallo campground. Home of the sun dagger (top center).A closeup of the sun dagger atop Fajada Butte.
If you haven’t seen this video on Chaco Canyon, it is *amazing* and details the archeoastronomy that occurred here!
Click to enlarge. Chaco map from the brochure you get at the visitor’s center.These long straight walls are on all of the valley’s great houses and mark astral events.These elk were around the canyon most of the days we were there.Interesting camping–a couple of rooftop tents from California at the campground.This didn’t look very comfortable, there was a large bed in this trailer. Black sides would make it hot I would think?
The trail/road to Wijiji site. A short hike from the campground with amazing pictograms and great house. About 3 miles roundtrip.Pueblo BonitoWijijiWijijiPictograms near WijijiPictograms near WijijiExcavated kiva.Kin Kletso as seen from the trail heading to the rim of the canyon.The birds sang to us each morning, very loudly I might add!Casa ChiquitaCollared lizard protecting the great house Casa ChiquitaBall pin hammer art?My personal favorite, boom box pictogram. Definitely “retro”, but not by the Anasazi!Supernova pictograph along the Penasco Blanco trail. If you want to just see this, it is a 4 mile round trip hike. They are now theorizing that the pinky on the hand pointed to the exploding supernova.Along the Petroglyphs trail on the way to Penasco Blanco.A neat layer of iron-based fossiles in this part of the canyon.The amazing view at Penasco Blanco.
Along the Petroglyphs trail on the way to Penasco Blanco.Along the Petroglyphs trail on the way to Penasco Blanco. Obviously not Anasazi, but who knows how old…Along the Petroglyphs trail on the way to Penasco Blanco. Obviously not Anasazi, but who knows how old…Group shot at the Nebula Pictogram.Penasco Blanco, unexcavated. Heck of a hike but worth it! 7.2 miles round trip. Take plenty of water!!!Awesome masonry throughout the canyon!Penasco Blanco masonry!Jim at Penasco Blanco!Someone left a display of shards and old workings.Lots of coral fossils on the trail up the canyon to Penasco Blanco.Interesting mushroom on the trail. We saw several.
