Members Trip to Zuni Pueblo and El Morro National Monument  

Trip Leaders, Richard McGaugh and Monica Buckle 

Sunday, April the 27th – Wednesday, April the 30th

$385 Per Person 

Limit of 12 Participants 

Join us for an extraordinary guided tour of El Morro National Monument and Halona Idiwan'a "The Middle Place" also known as Zuni Pueblo. Zuni Pueblo was one of the six Zuni settlements that existed at the time of contact with the Spanish. Today, Zuni is a thriving modern community maintaining its cultural activities and traditional ceremonies. 

Our journey starts at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel located in Gallup, New Mexico. We will check-in to the hotel the afternoon of Sunday, April the 27th and enjoy a group welcome dinner, next door at Cracker Barrel Restaurant. 

The tour of El Morro National Monument, guided by Richard McGaugh begins the following morning, Monday, April the 28th. We will meet in the hotel’s lobby and depart for El Morro, approximately a 50-mile drive from Gallup. 

Translated to “Anything that is round like the head” or “The nose” El Morro National Monument also known as, Inscription Rock is a rock face that has prehistoric rock images, Spanish inscriptions from the 15th Century, and inscriptions from many explorers that followed the Zuni Trail. The Zuni Trail was an extension of the Santa Fe Trail that went further into the New Mexico Territory. This route became the 35th parallel route into what became Arizona.

After visiting El Morro, we will travel an additional 20 miles to Bandera Ice Cave. Bandera Ice Cave has a long history of private ownership. The area was a homestead in the 1850’s and also served as a Trading Post. It is now a museum showcasing prehistoric artifacts, Apache basketry, and historic Mexican artifacts. The ice cave itself has been used for thousands of years. In the late afternoon we will return to the hotel in Gallup, relax, and have a group dinner at El Rancho Mexican Restaurant. The restaurant is a short 5-minute drive from our hotel and is located within The El Rancho Hotel, a National Historic Landmark. 

The following day, Tuesday, April the 29th we have an early morning and will meet in the hotel's lobby at 7:30am and travel to the Zuni Pueblo. A Zuni guide will tour us through Zuni's museum. Our guide will show us the museum, teach us about their murals, and the Zuni migration. Then we will visit and go inside the famous Spanish Mission. The original Mission building was destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, and the church was rebuilt in 1705 and renamed Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Zuni. It underwent a third rebuild in 1780. After the Mission tour we will visit Zuni's Middle Village and meet with Zuni artists. 

After spending the day at Zuni we will drive back to the hotel in Gallup, relax, and have a group dinner at Oasis Mediterranean Restaurant, which is a short 5-minute drive from the hotel. Oasis Mediterranean is one of Gallup's top-ranked restaurants with rave reviews. 

The following morning, Wednesday, April the 30th we will check-out of the hotel and depart home. 

Additional Information

The trip includes admission and tour fees for El Morro National Monument, Bandera Ice Cave and its museum, Zuni Pueblo, Zuni Museum, and the Mission. 

The three-night stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Gallup is an additional fee. VVAC has a discount group rate, that is $169.00 per night. The rate includes taxes, fees, and freshly prepared breakfasts each morning. The discount code will be provided to registered participants. 

Transportation to Gallup, El Morro National Monument, Bandera Ice Cave and its museum, and Zuni Pueblo is not provided. Lunches and dinners are also separate expenses. 

Please be aware that photography, video/audio recording, and sketching are prohibited at Zuni Pueblo unless our Zuni guide instructs otherwise.

Please note, this trip involves a great deal of walking, standing for long periods of time, and being outdoors.   

The trip leader is Richard McGaugh who is from a fourth-generation Verde Valley family and has spent his time studying and exploring Central and Northern Arizona. Richard is a VVAC Docent and Volunteer. He is also a VIP Interpretative Ranger at Walnut Canyon National Monument and Wupatki/Sunset Crater National Monuments. Richard also serves as a VIP Docent at the Museum of Northern Arizona.

Hotel Information

Hilton Garden Inn Hotel 

1530 W Maloney Ave

Gallup, NM 87301

Phone: (505) 722-9600

Advance registration is required. Due to demand this tour is only available for VVAC members.