Ranch Casita Among Anasazi Ruins
- Minimum stay:2 nights
- Internet:Yes
- Pets allowed:No
- Wheel chair accessible:No
Our Days Available calendars are updated every morning.
This rustic casita resides deep within the heart of the Chama Wilderness (the only privately-owned property in the area). Ranch Casita, located on the site of an early 1900s homestead, is one of three vacation rentals we have in the canyon, with Three Pines Family Camp (exclusively designed for children and dogs) one mile away, and Remote Casita four miles away.
Gallina Canyon Ranch has been featured in many national and regional magazines, including New Mexico magazine, The Santa Fean, Better Homes and Gardens, Sunset, and Martha Stewart Living.
o) Hot and cold running water from a pure fresh-water spring.
o) A bathroom, shower, and toilet.
o) A picturesque kitchen and dining area.
o) A beautiful bedroom with a Queen Size bed with linens.
o) A sunny, comfortable living room.
o) A medium-sized refrigerator and freezer.
o) Low-voltage lighting.
o) A large outside deck.
o) A propane barbecue grill.
o) A private swimming pond complete with kayak (not the community pond shared by all rentals).
o) When available, we will provide eggs from our hens and produce from our garden.
o) Our spring water is excellent for drinking (no need to bring water).
o) 20 miles of peace, quiet, and privacy.
o) We have WiFi internet at the main ranch area. If you wish to check your email (with your your non-cellular mobile internet device, Wifi works at the sleeping deck, grape arbor, and community swim pond: we do not have TV or DVD. You are welcome to bring a swim suit, picnic lunch, and spend the day relaxing at the pond. We will supply iced tea and towels for your use.
o) The outdoor sleeping deck includes a Celestron AstroMaster 70 Telescope.
Casita's living room is bright and sunny, with sky lights and large windows. Partitions separate the living room area from the shower and ecologically- considerate non-smelling composting toilet.
The full kitchen includes a medium size refrigerator - freezer, three-burner propane stove, cold water, and dining and cooking utensils. The kitchen and dining area are next to each other.
The bedroom has a Queen-sized bed, several comfortable chairs, a writing desk, and plenty of space to place one's clothing.
There is a park-like space behind Casita where one may sit in the shade and enjoy the forest. A lighted path leads from this area to Casita's private Sleeping Deck. The sleeping deck is yours to use exclusively. It contains two beds, six pillows, two chairs, two small chest-of-drawers, and a table.
There is also a shady 'Ramada' with a table and chairs.
One may cool off during the hot summer days by jumping into the spring-fed community swimming pond. The pond is next to a wisteria arbor for shade, and there is a small refrigerator nearby where you may keep your drinks cold. There is also a cold-water shower at the pond. Evenings at the pond bring bats, mud swallows, and the call of frogs. You may also enjoy using our two inflatable kayaks to paddle around the pond.
There is a shady grape arbor near the main house, a short distance down the road from Casita. Here you may eat, read a book, enjoy the gardens, and access Internet via WiFi.
Casita has an outdoor propane barbecue on the deck. We provide the propane, and also assorted BBQ tools such as a barbecue fork and wire brush.
Casita is close to Rio Chama: there are plastic chairs at the river you may use, in the river if you wish. There is also a low table at the river with the chairs. One may fish for Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout in the Rio Chama.
Ranch Casita Policies:
o) We require a signed waiver from each person when you arrive. Please read the waiver before reserving the rental.
o) Fires and smoking are prohibited in the canyon due to the extreme fire risk.
o) Loving your pets means visiting here without them; we do not allow pets at Ranch Casita.
o) No hunting.
o) Check-in time is 3 to 6 PM (unless given 24 hour prior notice)
o) Check-out time is 11 AM.
o) This is a hard-working cattle ranch. You may encounter cows, calves, horses, chickens and wild turkeys, elk and deer during your stay; they will peacefully ignore you if you peacefully ignore them.
o) Allergens such as milk weed, horse hair, sage, etc., are common throughout New Mexico. If you have allergies, please bring your allergy medication when you visit.
The nearest medical services (hospital and doctors) are three hours away.
o) Prior to your arrival you will wish to shop for all of your food, drink, and snacks for your entire stay. The nearest store is 35 miles away.
o) Casita is at the end of a long, adventurous dirt road. If your vehicle has exceptionally low clearance, let us know and we will meet you at the bridge. (Example: Scion xB.)
o) Please leave all gates as you find them.
o) Radios and cellular telephones do not work in the canyon.
o) If you plan on swimming, please bring a bathing suit. We will provide beach towels.
o) The ranch is a great place for amateur astronomers and stargazers: from our main website you may download a star map for the northern hemisphere to bring with you to the ranch.
o) Please remove your shoes before entering Casita, you may wish to bring slippers.
o) Ranch Casita gets its electricity from the sun. During your stay you will find it necessary to avoid long showers, or using all of the lights at the same time.
o) For off-road hiking, long pants, hiking boots, river-crossing shoes, and insect repellent are recommended.
o) A topographic map of the canyon may be downloaded from our main website (link is below).
o) More images of the ranch are on our website.
On occasion there might be a cow staying in the corral near Casita.
A hike through the canyon will reward the visitor with spectacular views of Northern New Mexico geology, wild flowers, and wildlife. Rio Gallina is a seasonal river: there are no fish in the river.
Cerulean skies and wooly white clouds are the norm most days of the year. We are at 6,515 feet elevation, and the sunlight can be intense: sunscreen and a hat is highly recommended for hikers, as are sturdy hiking boots and river-crossing shoes. Usually the days are warm and the nights are cool.
** See the waiver, cancellation policy, and ranch policies on our main website linked below. We require a signed waiver upon arrival: please read the waiver before booking the rental. **
Property Type
- 1 story
- Cabin
- 800 sq. ft.
Accommodation Type
- Vacation Rental
Meals
- Guests Provide Their Own Meals
Suitability
- Not Suitable For Children
- Non Smoking Only
Bedrooms
- 1 Bedrooms, Sleeps 2, Beds for 2
- Bedroom 1
- Sleeping Porch
Bathrooms
- 1.0 Bathrooms
- Bathroom 1
Kitchen & Dining
Amenities
- Towels Provided
Other Amenities
Communications
- Wireless Internet
Outdoor Features
- Outdoor Grill
Location & View
Activities
- Ruins
- Walking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Kayaking
- Rock Climbing
- Rafting
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Mountain Climbing
Other Activities
Reviews
Write a review-
Magical place!
Magical place!
- Guest LCB 2012
- Date of stay 10/18/12
- Review Submitted 10/22/12
My husband and I just got back from our trip to Ranch Casita and there are really no words to explain how magical this place is! Stunning views of the mesa, incredible opportunities to view wildlife, and just an extraordinary peace and quiet in the canyon! The owners of the place were wonderful too and we felt completely welcome there. I emailed them a bunch of questions leading up to the trip and they were quick to respond and very helpful. The Ranch Casita provided everything we could've wanted - we love to cook and had everything we needed, including a nice Weber grill that we used a lot and a full set of herbs, cookware etc that we could use. The listing was very accurate. My husband and i spent a lot of time just exploring different parts of the canyon - and no part of it disappointed! We were there to see the fall colors, which were just beautiful - adding a beautiful yellow glow to the canyon. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and intend to return in the spring to see the wildflowers in bloom. Can't wait to get back there!!Recommended for: Romantic getaway, adventure seekers.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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I love this place
I love this place
- Guest Benutzer
- Date of stay 06/30/12
- Review Submitted 08/04/12
Dear Andrew and Elizabeth, Sadly I am leaving the canyon before you return on Sunday. Not because I wanted to go but rather because I want the time when I get home to hold the quiet and the grace of this place with me --- not to rush back in to a harried existence. Staying an extra day would be an opportunity of one kind, but taking it would mean missing an opportunity of another --- the chance to manifest this calm in the places where I really need it. As I write, I’m sitting at the table in Casita, surrounded by candle light, contemplating all of the beautiful spaces that you welcomed us in to. Your stories of the ranch, the canyon, its history, your history, and all of the objects that have found their home here have become a part of our story here as well. I don’t need to tell you how special the canyon is, but I do want you to know how special it is for me to have been able to spend this time here, to know you, and David, and the dogs (particularly Chica, as she was our companion / guide on our epic stormy hike). We never did make it to any of the ruins, despite our best attempts, but instead the canyon offered up hawk’s wings; the smells of settled Earth and sage; roosters crying to the stars; rain on tin roofs; ancient trees; and views filled with amber, green, water falls, and welcoming walls.Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1
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A hiker's dream
A hiker's dream
- Guest Steven Schiff
- Date of stay 07/24/12
- Review Submitted 08/04/12
Have been coming to Northern NM since I was a kid and seen many spots. This place is the best! Everything was as good and better than described. There is no place like it. We stayed at the casita which is very comfortable and outfitted with everything you need. The sleeping deck is situated in a great spot and an added space for enjoying the place. Lots of nice spots to walk to and good swimming in the pond. It is a garden in the desert that reflects years of creative hand made efforts to sustain a way of life. Our stay was short and we hope to return to explore and know it better. You can walk, hike, relax, read, paint and clear your mind. Bring all the food the and supplies you will need for your stay because it is a long way back to get anything you forgot. But that is what makes the place so great, too.Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1
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Beautiful
Guest comment entered by ownerBeautiful
- Guest Doug Preston
- Date of stay 08/22/11
- Review Submitted 08/04/12
Elizabeth and Andrew own perhaps the most beautiful ranch in New Mexico, deep in the Chama River Wilderness. They own two small casitas that they rent out to working writers who are seeking extreme remoteness, natural beauty, peace and quiet to work.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2
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First time and will return!
First time and will return!
- Guest Steve
- Date of stay 07/24/12
- Review Submitted 07/29/12
Have been coming to Northern NM since I was a kid and seen many spots. This place is the best! Everything was as good and better than described. There is no place like it. We stayed at the casita which is very comforfortable and outfitted with everything you need. The sleeping deck is situated in a great spot and an added space for enjoying the place. Lots of nice spots to walk to and good swimming in the pond. It is a garden in the desert that reflects years of creative hand made efforts to sustain a way of life. Our stay was short and we hope to return to explore and know it better. You can walk, hike, relax, read, paint and clear your mind. Bring all the food the and supplies you will need for your stay because it is a long way back to get anything you forgot. But that is what makes the place so great, too.Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1
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Beautiful and relaxing
Beautiful and relaxing
- Guest lmnmadison
- Date of stay 05/18/12
- Review Submitted 06/26/12
I booked a last minute trip to the Southwest so my recently college graduated daughter and I could relax and have a little adventure. I can't tell you how beautiful this was. It is an easy drive from Albuquerque, the trip from the main highway into the ranch was stunning, (Bring plenty of groceries, you will not want to leave the valley once you get there.) The cabin was lovely. The kitchen had everything we needed including a propane grill. The bed was large and comfortable and our hosts lent us a futon so my daughter used the living room as her room. The ranch and canyon are beautiful, the sleeping porch is amazing, the hummingbirds are pretty darn magical. Andrew and Elizabeth were warm and welcoming and generous with their time and asparagus. We spent a day just hiking along the river bed, picking up rocks and admiring the light on the canyon walls, Reading on the sleeping porch was also pretty dreamy. I am going back next year with my husband. My daughter insists she will also return. Just FYI-We visited their other cabin further back in the canyon. A little more remote, a little more primitive but incredibly charming and private. A great place for a spiritual retreat, or a romantic getaway.Recommended for: Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2
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Ahhh....Bliss!
Ahhh....Bliss!
- Guest Yatma
- Date of stay 06/18/12
- Review Submitted 06/23/12
This ranch casita is 16 miles into the land traveling on a dirt road that follows the Chama River. It is equipped with the necessary essentials for living frugally and supports an Earth friendly, solar energy, organic way of life. Everything is HAPPY here! The mesa smiles each morning! The vegetables and flowers are beautiful, the dogs, goats, chickens, horses, dogs, and hummingbirds are all full of JOY! The owners and care taker work very hard as they embrace the beauty that surrounds them. I felt overwhelmed with gratitude that they share such a sacred place with others. My heart is full. Next time, I'll be camping in that outdoor bedroom for a month! :)Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1
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Magical Stay
Magical Stay
- Guest Lisa
- Date of stay 05/31/12
- Review Submitted 06/17/12
I read all the reviews before writing mine and I have to say that all those wonderful things that were said about this casita and canyon are true. The listing description was right-on. The owners, Elizabeth and Andrew and David are charming, warm, helpful. David even lent me his African drum which I used once for a short ceremony. The casita had everything one would need to have a wonderful time. Even cornmeal to give "thanks" in the ancient way. The sleeping deck was perfect. Being awakened by the hummingbirds just set up my day perfectly. There was so much peace and joy in this canyon that it was astounding. It seemed to me that all living beings were happy and joyful: The winged ones, the four leggeds, the two leggeds! I am grateful, and it was an honor to be allowed to share and see this. There was the sound of a rooster crowing, hummingbirds, ravens, eagles, turkeys, the birth of a calf, we rode horseback and we got to "help" find a wayward cow and her calf and help herd them back, we dipped in the nearby pond, and walked to the Chamas river, we hiked and explored, we sat and read books, meditated and reflected, and most of all we never tired of looking at the magnificent canyon walls in the changing light of the day and night. We are working out on when we can return.....hopefully next time to Jackal. Soon.Recommended for: Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, adventure seekers, girls getaway.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1
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Returning to Heaven
Returning to Heaven
- Guest Steve P.
- Date of stay 03/26/12
- Review Submitted 04/23/12
On our second trip to Gallina Ranch, we quickly settled into the cozy casita (with a really great bed). The kitchen has everything you need from ice to fresh mint and parsley grown on the farm. We enjoyed sitting at the kitchen table with a perfect view of the Navajo Sandstone Cliffs. Elizabeth and Andrew go out of their way to attend to every detail even water at the sleeping porch . This beautiful location provides another space to enjoy the view, red cliffs ,the backdrop to their house and gardens. As we were there in early spring, I have to imagine the hollyhocks in full bloom against the bluest sky. Our hosts were preparing the flower beds ,weeding and watering ,surrounded by classical music and the fortunate dogs rescued from the shelter. Hiking is unlimited, on a well traveled road or exploring rougher terrain. Expect the unexpected! We got to watch the birth of a beautiful Black Angus calf from a foot away. We have yet to see the Elk. And then there are the dogs ! Bowser and his buddies showered us with canine affection and kept an eye on us. We are grateful that Elizabeth and Andrew are so thoughtful and generous in every way and I will make sure that I return again for a longer stay.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Return to Heaven
Return to Heaven
- Guest Steve P.
- Date of stay 03/26/12
- Review Submitted 04/23/12
On our second trip to Gallina Ranch, we quickly settled into the cozy casita (with a really great bed). The kitchen has everything you need from ice to fresh mint and parsley grown on the farm. We enjoyed sitting at the kitchen table with a perfect view of the Navajo Sandstone Cliffs. Elizabeth and Andrew go out of their way to attend to every detail even water at the sleeping porch . This beautiful location provides another space to enjoy the view, red cliffs ,the backdrop to their house and gardens. As we were there in early spring, I have to imagine the hollyhocks in full bloom against the bluest sky. Our hosts were preparing the flower beds ,weeding and watering ,surrounded by classical music and the fortunate dogs rescued from the shelter. Hiking is unlimited, on a well traveled road or exploring rougher terrain. Expect the unexpected! We got to watch the birth of a beautiful Black Angus calf from a foot away. We have yet to see the Elk. And then there are the dogs ! Bowser and his buddies showered us with canine affection and kept an eye on us. We are grateful that Elizabeth and Andrew are so thoughtful and generous in every way and I will make sure that I return again for a longer stay.Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2
Rates
| Dates | Nightly | Wknd Night | Weekend | Weekly | Monthly * | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Rate 2 night min stay |
$125 | $750 | ||||
Additional information about rental rates
** We require a signed waiver upon arrival. ** No cleaning fee or security deposit. Please check our availability calendar before emailing. There will be no additional charge for extra nights in case heavy rain prevents you from leaving after your paid-for nights.
We accept credit card payments via PayPal. See our website's link (below) to pay. (You do not need a PayPal account to make a reservation with a credit card.) Half the rental fee is due at the time of booking and the other half upon arrival.
Additional Fees and Taxes:
Add 6.5% county boarding tax to rates above.
This owner accepts: Credit cards.
Call the owner directly to confirm reservation details and pay with an approved method (credit card, check, or bank transfer), to protect your payment up to $1,000.
Location
Owner info
Year Purchased: 1977
About the owner: Andrew, Elizabeth, and David will be your hosts at Gallina Canyon Ranch. We purchased the ranch in 1977.
The Unique Benefits at this Cabin:
The geology of Gallina Canyon is similar to Bryce National Park and Sedona AZ.
Links to more information:
Photos
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Ranch Casita
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Living Room
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Ranch Casita's Bedroom
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View from the sleeping deck
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Community swim pond
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A view of Rio Gallina
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Ranch Casita's Living Room
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Ranch Casita's Kitchen
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Ranch Casita's sleeping deck, with two beds and telescope.
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Ranch Casita's swim pond
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The grape arbor
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Rio Chama
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Date last modified - Monday, May 20, 2013
