Church Rock Trail

Red Rock Park is a multi-use park just outside of Gallup. There is an amphitheater for musical events, a small campground, and a huge open area that hosts a balloon festival in December each year. One of the most popular features of the park are the two hiking trails that wind up into the red rock country to the north of the interstate. Church Rock Trail is probably the most popular hike in the park, but it is still lightly-used and offers solitude and fabulous scenery. Starting from the small parking area near the campground and post office, the trail first traverses the previously-mentioned open space and then starts to climb lightly on the east side of the wash. There are frequent rock cairns to follow as well as signs. After reaching the end of the wash, the trail crosses to the west side of the canyon and climbs a series of steps carved in the sandstone to eventually reach the intersection with the Pyramid Trail. From here the Church Rock Trail heads up into a box canyon near the foot of the trail's namesake rock formation.