Best things to do in Gallup

Made famous by its sandstone buttes, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park straddles the border of northeastern Arizona and southeastern Utah. Established in 1956, the park strives to preserve the Navajo way of life and features an otherworldly landscape of rugged sandstone hills and soaring rock spires. The protected park lies within a Navajo reservation near a small town of Goulding, which once served as a trading post. Start your exploration at the visitor center, where you can check for current road conditions, arrange for guided four-wheel drive or horseback tours of the valley, and try authentic Navajo cuisine. As you drive up to the visitor center, keep an eye out for roadside stands selling Navajo arts and crafts.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument is one of the most-visited national monuments in the United States. Its rough walls were carved from water running off the Chuska mountains. Here you can view the canyons that resulted from these waters, home to the ancient Anasazi whose pueblo homes are protected from the sun within the deep crevices. Spider Rock, a spire that pierces the sky with 229 m (750 ft) of rock, draws many outdoor enthusiasts. You can hike the White House Ruin Trail along the canyon floor without a guide. The Navajo tribe owns the land; an authorized Navajo guide can lead you on other trails. Ask about guided tours with a local park ranger.

Like a striking canvas, the Painted Desert builds layer upon layer of color on hills made of siltstone, mudstone, and shale. The resulting view highlights the region's name, alternating oranges, white, reds, and pinks. This badlands area was formed of volcanic rock and limestone revealed by erosion over the years. Drive through the region along a paved road that stretches over plateaus on Navajo land with many lookout points.

Inspired by the Eagles-Jackson Browne song "Take It Easy," Standin' on the Corner has a life-size bronze statue standing on the corner. On the walls surrounding park, you can read the names of donors and the reasons they love the town. Also be sure to see the two-story trompe-l'oeil mural by John Pugh.

Explore the architectural remains of the Pueblo people from 850 CE to 1250 CE preserved at Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Inscribed on the World Heritage List, the park is significant for its ceremonial structures and impressively advanced engineering. Marvel at the quarried sandstone blocks and hauled timber constructions, a testament to the Pueblos' sophisticated understanding. Tourists can opt to tour by foot or by bike and are welcome to partake in campfires and stargazing. The road to the park is quite rough, so expect the trip to require skilled driving. Once there, you'll find plenty of trails to hike and petroglyphs to appreciate. Come prepared with comfortable shoes for the long walks and be sure to pack food and water.

See Sky City Cultural Center & Haak'u Museum, built in accordance with ancestral pueblo architectural designs and showcasing Acoma's arts and historical highlights. Take a guided tour of the center to learn about the Native American philosophies, spirituality, and some of the customs that have held through to the present generations. You'll discover the ancient-style windows made of mica, artwork exhibits, and ceramic chimneys on the rooftop. At the center's cafe, you can taste some traditional meals, such as blue corn porridge or red beef pozole. Check out the local artisans' crafts, which are for sale.

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El Malpais National Monument is a National Monument located in western New Mexico, in the Southwestern United States. The name El Malpais is from the Spanish term Malpaís, meaning badlands, due to the extremely barren and dramatic volcanic field that covers much of the park's area.

It is on the Trails of the Ancients Byway, one of the designated New Mexico Scenic Byways.