Gallup, New Mexico, is the perfect stop on a Route 66 road trip! It was once an old western frontier town that offers a rich tapestry of cultural heritage, outdoor adventures, and unique experiences. Whether you’re a history buff, nature enthusiast, or just passing through, here are the best things to do in Gallup, NM!
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product or make a booking through the link provided, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. We really appreciate your support!
7 Things to Do in Gallup, NM
Table of Contents
- Stay at El Rancho Hotel
- Visit the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary
- Attend the Gallup Open Rodeo Show
- Take a Hike at Red Rock Park
- Go on a Downtown Mural Walking Tour
- Shop at the Gallup Flea Market
- Take a Tour of Zuni Pueblo
Stay at El Rancho Hotel
The El Rancho Hotel was built in 1936 and stands as a historic landmark. It is the perfect spot to embrace the nostalgia of yesteryear while enjoying modern-day comforts.
El Rancho Hotel has been nicknamed the “Home of the Movie Stars”. Over the years, it has welcomed numerous Hollywood celebrities while they were filming Western movies in the area.
A few of its guests include Katherine Hepburn, John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Humphrey Bogart, and many more. You can find memorabilia and vintage photographs displayed around the hotel.
As you step into the hotel lobby, you’ll be charmed by its warm rustic interior and old Western motifs. The rooms have been recently renovated and provide the perfect home base for your weekend explorations.
The Silver Screen is the hotel’s onsite restaurant. We ate there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and the food was delicious!
For dinner, try the Christmas-style burrito. This signature New Mexican dish features both red and green sauce and it has the perfect amount of flavor and kick!
For more Route 66 recommendations, see our guide 12 Stops on a Route 66 Road Trip in Arizona!
Visit the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary
The Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary is located about an hour outside of Gallup in the small town of Candy Kitchen. As an interesting side note, “Candy Kitchen” got its name from a candy store located here that doubled as a secret liquor store during the prohibition.
This sanctuary has rescued captive-bred wolves and wolfdogs for the past 40 years. It is home to over 70 wolves.
Wolves typically live 5-6 years in the wild, but the sanctuary provides a safe home where they have a lifespan of 10-15 years.
Visitors can take guided tours to learn about these magnificent creatures, their habitats, and the challenges they face in the wild. The sanctuary provides a unique opportunity to see wolves up close and support their conservation.
We learned so much about wolves and absolutely loved having the opportunity to cuddle and play with these beautiful creatures.
Wild Spirt Wolf Sanctuary offers a variety of tours including feeding tours, enrichment tours, photography tours, VIP tours, twilight tours, and educational wolf encounters.
I though it was interesting to learn that some of the wolves from the sanctuary have even appeared on the hit series, Game of Thrones. Writer, George Martin, lives in Santa Fe and is a benefactor of the sanctuary. He helped fund a major rescue and named the pack after characters in the book.
It is worth the extra drive to meet these sweet animals. You can even sponsor a rescue wolf while you are there!
Attend the Gallup Open Rodeo Show
Throw on a pair of boots and celebrate the region’s cowboy heritage at the Gallup Lions Club Open Rodeo Show!
The annual rodeo is typically held in June and showcases traditional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, barrel racing, and roping.
The Gallup Rodeo is a fun event for the entire family and includes other activities such as a Downtown BBQ Celebration and live music.
I especially loved the event venue. The arena is located at Red Rock Park with beautiful views of the surrounding red rocks.
It’s particularly spectacular in the evening when the red rocks glow against the hazy pink summer sky.
Take a Hike at Red Rock Park
Speaking of Red Rock Park, this is a great spot for an outdoor hike!
The most popular hike is Church Rock Trail. This moderate 2.2-mile loop trail offers stunning views of the park’s iconic red sandstone formations and surrounding landscape.
The trail leads to the base of Church Rock, a towering natural rock formation that resembles a cathedral.
Red Rock Park is also the location for Gallup’s annual Red Rock Balloon Rally. The event is typically held in December and features hundreds of colorful balloons floating over the red rocks.
Go on a Downtown Mural Walking Tour
Downtown Gallup is a charming and vibrant historic district with local shops and cafes. At night, the area is lit up with strings of lights draped over the street.
The buildings in historic downtown Gallup are adorned with approximately 24 colorful murals. The murals are hand-painted by talented local artists and depict the rich history, culture, and landscape of the area.
This interactive map provides walking directions and a brief history of each of the murals.
A few of my favorites include the intricately detailed mural on the Jewels and Java building, the colorful “Coal Mining Era” mural, the arched Rex Museum murals, and the “Welcome to Gallup” mural.
Shop at the Gallup Flea Market
Gallup is known as the epicenter of Native American culture, history, art, and tradition. It has even been given the nickname the “Indian Capital of the World”.
The Gallup Flea Market is one of the largest Native American markets in the US. It’s a great place to pick up a beautiful piece of authentic handmade Native American jewelry.
The market is open every Saturday year-round and features a wide array of handmade crafts, jewelry, pottery, and traditional foods.
I couldn’t get enough of the food and essentially ate my way through the market! Definitely order the elote (grilled Mexican street corn) and Navajo fry bread.
You’ll also find unique and delicious flavors of homemade lemonade. My favorite was the spicy cucumber lemonade with tajin powder and the blackberry lemonade.
Take a Tour of Zuni Pueblo
There are 19 New Mexican pueblos and the Zuni Pueblo is the largest. This Native American settlement spreads across approximately 700 square miles and is home to a population of over 10,000 people.
The Zuni/Ashiwi people have continuously inhabited these lands for over 500,000 years and visitors will have a chance to dive deep into their ancient history and cultural heritage while on a guided tour.
We went on a cultural and archeological tour with Kenny, a certified archeologist. He is so passionate about sharing his culture and the history of his ancestors.
Our half-day tour took us on an adventurous ride where he showed us ancient ruins like a lookout tower where the Zuni/Ashiwi people would use mica plates to reflect the sun in order to communicate with surrounding villages.
We also visited a buried city that was the location where Europeans first made contact with the native people back in the 1500s.
Thousands of shards of ancient pottery have been unearthed at this site. It was fascinating to hear him explain about the different types of pottery and how he can identify how old it is and where it originated from.
I especially loved visiting the petroglyph panel with intricately carved petroglyphs. The entire panel extends for about one mile!
Our tour included a traditional Native American meal and ended at the Old Zuni Mission.
This church was built in 1631 when the Spanish tried to convert the Zuni/Ashiwi people to Catholicism.
Conclusion
Gallup is a surprising destination. Millions of people drive through this small town while traveling between Phoenix and Albuqurque or Durango. However, most people just stop for gas and a bite to eat without realizing how many things there are to do in Gallup, NM! If you have time, spend a few days exploring this unique area and embracing a piece of the Southwest’s history!
Other posts you might like:
- First Time Guide to Old Town Santa Fe
- Tips For Visiting White Sands National Park
- Why You Need to Visit Cloudcroft, NM This Fall
- 5 Awesome Things to Do in Santa Fe With Kids
*CLICK THE LINK TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THIS GUIDE
Pin it for later:
Leave a Reply