Remote Casita Among Anasazi Ruins; Dogs Welcome 7th Night Free

Remote Casita

Satellite image of Gallina Canyon Ranch and all of the vacation rentals.

The canyon's cliffs expose more than 30 million years of geography.

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Last updated: 04/20/2014

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Minimum stay:3 nights
Internet:No

Pets considered:Yes
Wheel chair accessible:No

Abiquiu cabin description

Our Days Available calendars are updated every morning.

Remote Casita resides deep within the heart of the Chama Wilderness (the only privately-owned property in the area). Remote Casita, located on the site of an early 1900s homestead, is one of three vacation rentals we have in the canyon, with Anasazi Ruin Family Camp (exclusively designed for children and dogs) three miles away, and Ranch Casita four miles away. Remote Casita offers a more primitive wilderness experience than Ranch Casita; continuing up the canyon from Remote Casita you will find unparalleled solitude (see pictures).

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) Fresh water from a roof cachement system, dish soap and paper towels are provided.
o) We provide fresh drinking water: two 5-gallon containers and one 6-gallon.
o) A Queen Size bed with linens.
o) A picturesque kitchen and dining area.
o) A three-burner propane stove.
o) A propane barbecue grill.
o) A large outside deck.
o) An outhouse, with toilet paper.
o) French coffee press.
o) When available, we will provide eggs from our hens and produce from our garden.
o) An outdoor wood-burning stove with firewood.
o) 20 miles of peace, quiet, and privacy.
o) Dogs are welcomed at Remote Casita.
o) A 4-gallon solar shower bag, liquid bath soap provided.
o) No electricity.
o) A full-size refrigerator - freezer that makes ice.
o) Solar-powered flashlight.
o) Kerosene lamp.
o) Technology-free vacation.
o) Perfect for writers, photographers, artists, and people who want to 'get away from the world for awhile.'
o) Ideal for hiking enthusiasts.

Due to the 14 crossings of Rio Gallina required to get to Remote Casita, we take all visitors regardless of what type of vehicle they have, and their provisions in our truck. We will return you to the main ranch and your vehicle at the end of your stay.

Remote Casita is one large room, with a queen-size bed (linens provided), dining table, dining chairs, lounge chairs, small propane heater, and wood-burning stove (firewood provided). The full kitchen includes a medium size refrigerator - freezer, three-burner propane stove, cold water, and dining and cooking utensils.

There are tables and chairs outside on the deck; the deck is protected by a roof. A solar-heated shower bag is provided, as are bath towels and liquid soap. Remote 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. We provide toilet paper.

A hike through the canyon will reward the visitor with spectacular views of Northern New Mexico geology, wild flowers and wildlife. 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.

Rio Gallina is a seasonal river: there are no fish in the river.

Other details:

o) Directions on how to get here are available on our main website (links below).
o) This is a hard-working cattle ranch. You may encounter cows, calves and horses, chickens and wild turkeys, elk and deer during your stay; they will peacefully ignore you if you peacefully ignore them.
o) The kitchen contains salt, pepper, sugar, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and various seasonings. Prior to your arrival you will wish to shop for all of your food, drink, and snacks for your entire stay.
o) Gallina Canyon Ranch is at the end of a long, adventurous dirt road. If your vehicle has exceptionally low clearence, 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 in the pond or the Rio Chama, please bring a bathing suit. We will provide beach towels. You might also wish to bring water shoes.
o) We do not have cellular telephone access at our ranch. We have WiFi internet at the main ranch area, but not at Remote Casita. If you wish to check your email (with your your non-cellular mobile internet device), or go for a swim, you are welcome to bring a swim suit, picnic lunch, and dog if you have one and spend the day relaxing at the pond. We will supply iced tea and towels for your use. The walk to the swim pond from Remote Casita is about an hour and a half away (4 miles); you might wish to bring water shoes, as the road to the pond crosses the Rio Gallina drainage 14 times one-way. It is possible for Rio Gallina to flash flood: do not attempt to cross in times of flooding.
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) For off-road hiking, long pants, hiking boots, river-crossing shoes, and insect repellent are recommended.
o) You may wish to bring slippers to wear inside Remote Casita, as the floor is tiled.
o) A topographic map of the canyon may be downloaded from our main website.
o) More pictures of Gallina Canyon Ranch are available on our 'More Images' page found on our main website (links below).

Please check our availability calendar before emailing. Tax is included in the rates. Our cancellation policy is based upon the number of days between when you cancel and your scheduled arrival date:

30 days or more: 100%; From 29 days to 8 days: 50%; Less than 8 days: 0%

Property Type

500 sq. ft.

Cabin

1 story

Accommodation Type

Vacation Rental

Meals

Guests Provide Their Own Meals

Suitability

Pets Considered:
Dogs are welcome at Remote Casita....more less
Minimum Age Limit For Renters:
Twenty-five years of age....more less

Events Allowed
Not Suitable For Children

Non Smoking Only

Bedrooms: 1 Bedroom, Sleeps 2, Beds for 2

Bedroom 1
...more less
Queen size Beds (1) Queen-size brass bed.

Bathrooms: 0 Bathrooms

Kitchen & Dining

Kitchen:
Paper towels, napkins, Ziploc bags, foil / Saran Wrap, French coffee press, Italian hand coffee bean grinder, three burner propane stove, plates, bowls, eating utensils, drinking glasses, cutting board, knives. No oven....more less
Cooking Utensils:
Assortment of various pots and pans. All common silverware and cooking utensils are provided....more less

Refrigerator:
There is a full size refrigerator freezer....more less
Stove:
Three-burner propane....more less

Toaster:
Stove-top toaster...more less
Coffee Maker:
French Press...more less
Dining Area Seats:
2...more less

Amenities

Linens Provided:
100% cotton sheets, two comforters with duvet covers, pillows, blankets, extra sheets and pillow cases. Also bath towels and wash cloths....more less

Wood Stove:
There is a wood stove outside on the deck to enjoy during cool evenings. Firewood is provided....more less

Towels Provided

Outdoor Features

Deck / Patio:
Remote Casita's large wooden deck provides excellent shade all summer long; it faces the multi-colored southern cliffs of the canyon, and has chairs, tables, and the barbecue....more less

Outdoor Grill:
Propane Weber BBQ...more less

Wood Deck
Outdoor Grill Gas

Theme

Romantic

Historic

Adventure
Away From It All

Location & View

Mountain View:
The Casita is nestled against a red sandstone cliff, with a spectacular view of the southern mesa rising more than 1000 feet above the canyon floor. A short distance from Casita the multi-layered cliffs plunge under a fault line to form the breathtaking Alameda Canyon rift....more less

Activities

Hiking
Rock Climbing

Wildlife Viewing
Forests

Walking

Other Activities

There is a cattle trail that climbs 1,500 feet up to 8,000 foot Golondrino Mesa; this all-day hike is the trail that we use to move our cattle herd to their summer home up to the mesa. This hike is recommended for experienced hikers. There is a laminated topographic map of the canyon at this Casita. Rio Gallina is spring-fed and offers many bank-side locations for picnicking. The river is seasonal, with dry spots and wet spots throughout the canyon....more less

Reviews

Write a review

if you like remote, this is perfect
if you like remote, this is perfect
- Guest maufrais (Austin)
- Date of stay 08/03/13
- Review Submitted 11/11/13
We stayed at the remote casita in august- with our two dogs. It was the best place I've ever stayed in my life. It is 4 miles from the remote Gallina ranch. You usually get there by the owners' pickup, but it had rained heavily and we had to go in by horse. No electricity, no cell phone reception. You don't see anyone until they come back to collect you. It is a one-room cabin, with a queen-sized bed and a twin daybed on the porch. (We had our 12-year-old daughter with us. This really is a 2-person place, and we discussed this with the owners. We were willing to use the daybed--it is chilly at night, but the stars are amazing.) There is a gas stovetop inside and a gas grill outside, gas fridge, kerosene lamp, solar bag shower, outhouse. (The other review here for the ranch casita is less rustic, I think, and at the ranch. I didn't see it, but I'm sure it is nice. There is also a popup trailer site.) The little casita is so lovely. The road to the ranch is rough--they can pick you up at the river if you want (it was tricky after rain in a Prius, but we made it). It is in a beautiful canyon, with amazing views and hikes all around. We swam in the river and climbed into little caves. Andrew, Elizabeth and David were wonderful hosts. Beautiful. Remote. Simple. Really, if you like remote, this is perfect.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
The stillness, vibrancy, moods, vastness and beauty are stunning.
The stillness, vibrancy, moods, vastness and beauty are stunning.
- Guest Shelly (USA)
- Date of stay 09/13/13
- Review Submitted 10/02/13
During the days between my yearly visits to Jacal, I find my body and heart return there easily as I imagine and remember this very special place. It's stillness, vibrancy, moods, vastness and beauty are stunning. While I am there, I find I pinch myself and ask "Am I really here??!" What a thrill and a gift when the answer is 'yes'! I go to Jacal for retreat and each time, the 'treat' truly happens in a sustained and often surprising way. What also happens is kindness. Elizabeth, Andrew and David, their animals, their gardens and the land ooze kindness, humor and support for which I am so grateful. I'm so looking forward to many more Jacal journeys, from my frequent imaginings of it to those sage-filled, canyon-walled, river-singing days of deep nourishment!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, sightseeing, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1
Fabulous Setting!
Fabulous Setting!
- Guest ArchaeologyGals (Washington, DC)
- Date of stay 07/23/13
- Review Submitted 09/15/13
We were really looking forward to some down time after a fast-paced road trip from Santa Fe to LA and back. The remote casita “Jacal” was the perfect off-grid antidote. The drive in is 16 miles on a dirt road, but we made it a rental Mini Cooper going slow. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by Elizabeth and Andrew at their ranch house, where they provided us with eggs, and herbs and vegetables from their wonderful gardens. From there we were loaded into their 4-wheel drive truck to do the multiple river crossings to get the cabin. The casita had everything we needed to be comfortable in a remote setting. The kitchen had all of the basics to prepare some wonderful meals, and we took good advantage of the gas grill on the porch. The setting is stunning, and the open-air amenities (the pink toilet out-house, the solar shower, and the porch complete with great chairs, and a day bed) take full advantage of it. We spent our days hiking upstream to explore historic homesteads, and to the top of the ridge to see Ancestral Pueblo ruins occupied by people of the Gallina culture. There’s no trail but just be careful, bring lots of water, and read the landscape. The architectural remains and great views are worth the climb. We spent three nights at the cabin, grateful to unwind, and will look forward to returning with our dog for a longer stay.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, pet owners, girls getaway.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1
Magical place!
Magical place!
- Guest Lisa (New Haven, CT, USA)
- Date of stay 10/18/12
- Review Submitted 10/24/12
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: Sightseeing, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1
Beautiful!
Beautiful!
- Guest Steven Schiff (United States)
- Date of stay 04/17/12
- 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.

Recommended for: Sightseeing.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1
Our 10th anniversary
Our 10th anniversary
- Guest Andrea M. (Trinidad Colorado)
- Date of stay 05/28/12
- Review Submitted 08/02/12
We came to the jacal to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We were looking for solitude, beauty, peace, healing and a place to spiritually mark the decade together. The jacal was perfect. We brought our border collies, who were in heaven the whole time, and we were, too. The temperatures at the end of July were fresh and cool in the morning and evening, warm enough in the afternoon for siesta and water play. What could have been a disaster, Lori FORGETTING her duffel full of clothes and female accoutrements, turned out FINE because the jacal was thoughtfully stocked with shampoos and lotions, bug spray, etc. She was able to relax without her "stuff". We ritually marked our anniversary, painting the spectacular cliffs and making a clay piece to place in a canyon rock nicho, from the raw clay on the Gallinas river bank. We have pictures for many paintings in our camera, and beautiful memories. Andrew and Elizabeth and Dave were wonderful hosts. Thank you so much for a beautiful retreat. We want to return every year now, instead of every ten!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, sightseeing, romantic getaway.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2
Ideal for Any Artist, Writer, or Thinker Seeking Solitude & Inspiration in a Gorgeous Setting
Ideal for Any Artist, Writer, or Thinker Seeking Solitude & Inspiration in a Gorgeous Setting
- Guest Canyon Poet (New York, NY)
- Date of stay 06/01/12
- Review Submitted 07/03/12
I stayed in Jacal for the month of June. I went there with the primary goal of completing a poetry manuscript and, though I was thankfully able to do so, I discovered a great deal more--outside and in--than I had initially expected. As far as the writing went, as someone who often struggles to write a poem a week, I was amazed to find myself completing one or two poems a day. Being completely cut-off from the distractions of internet and email was an immense gift, allowing me intense focus and clarity. Any artist would be well served to use Jacal as his or her own private retreat--with none of the trappings, pressure, or enforced sociability of many of the formal residences and retreats ostensibly for the purpose of artistic creation. My time there was also spent exploring the canyon. I ran barefoot in the riverbed, which was mostly dry in June; hiked the spectacular mesa trail, which took me up over 8500 ft and offered views out over the canyon floor; and explored the western cliffbands, marveling at seeing ruins of the Gallinas' towers directly above the remains of homesteaders' cabins--a powerfully resonant layering of history. The wildlife also offered ready companions. In addition to my own dog, I saw birds, elk, deer, cattle, jackrabbits, chipmunks, and more. The lack of electricity in Jacal helped put me on a healthy schedule of going to sleep a little after dark and being up just before sunrise--a wonderful way to get the most out of every day. A solar cell was provided to power my laptop (for word processing), which worked perfectly and was a great help. Andrew and Elizabeth, the owners, and David, the caretaker, were unerring in their hospitality, making sure I was comfortable and well-supplied throughout my time there. They are lovely people and are clearly happy to share their beautiful land. If you are looking for a space that will truly allow you to be alone with your thoughts, Jacal is the place. I have no doubt I will be returning there and cannot recommend it highly enough.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, sightseeing, romantic getaway, pet owners.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3
A Long Weekend in Paradise
A Long Weekend in Paradise
- Guest David (Massachusetts)
- Date of stay 05/10/12
- Review Submitted 05/15/12
My wife and I spent three incomparable days at this remote, silent (except for birds and the riffling of the Gallina river) cabin in the Chama Wilderness. Gallina Canyon is a national treasure: A pristine, wild and magical place. Redwall cliffs flanking a desert river that feeds groves of majestic cottonwoods, many of them hundreds of years old. To experience this paradise, you must be willing to do a little bit more than simply hop on a plane or into your car. The cabin, or Jacal, can only be reached via a 4 mile drive in Andrew's unstoppable 4-wheel drive truck in which you ford the Gallina no fewer than 14 times. And to get to the Gallina Canyon Ranch, where Andrew and Elizabeth will greet you warmly, you must drive about 16 miles over rough dirt roads and dirt tracks that, when wet, are not for the faint of heart. So you earn your stay in paradise. And what you earn is access to an entirely private canyon, in which you can hike to the ruins of homesteader cabins abandoned a hundred years ago, and to the ruins of Anasazi settlers abandoned 700 years ago, and to sandstone cliffs that would be a significant tourist attraction were they located somewhere more accessible but instead simply wait silently for the few who make the journey up the Gallina for a private viewing. The cabin itself, your base camp in paradise, is cozy and plenty spacious for a couple. Although it has no electricity, it has a well-functioning propane powered stove and refrigerator (small), a small propane space heater and a wood stove, a comfortable Queen size bed, and a large front porch where you will undoubtedly spend most of your time at the cabin, sitting and staring endlessly at the shifting clouds overhead, or listening to the birds or the gentle sounds of the Gallina river. I spent the last hours of my visit on the porch, planning my next visit to the Jacal.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, pet owners, girls getaway.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3
Jacal stay April '12
Jacal stay April '12
- Guest E.S. (South Bend, IN)
- Date of stay 04/20/12
- Review Submitted 05/02/12
It was just what I needed: a little "high-tech" down time, a lot of great hiking, and some quiet. I hope to end up there again (sooner rather than later!). The owners were very helpful and the place was very comfortable. Must be willing to "rough it" a little to stay at Jacal, but well worth it.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, sightseeing, pet owners.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3
Why we came back again
Why we came back again
- Guest Doug (Tallahassee)
- Date of stay 06/23/11
- Review Submitted 07/06/11
As far as a brief review of our visit to the Jacal... I gave an online review after our stay in 2010. What prompted us to stay again? Remoteness and beauty, along with the security of having you folks nearby. I think your web site accurately represented what we experienced at the Jacal, as much as the experience can be described. The directions to get here were accurate and clear, the [Skull Bridge] lock was a small adventure in that I had trouble seeing the numbers in the bright sun. The rental was exactly what expected. It was clean & well-maintained. You gave us great info and answered questions. Thanks for the refrigerator--- it was wonderful, and for the extra water. There was really nothing lacking in our visit!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, sightseeing, romantic getaway, tourists without a car.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6

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Rates

Rental basis: Per property

Dates	Nightly	Weekly

My Standard Rate 3 night min stay	$138	$828

Additional information about rental rates

Fees:

Taxes Included

Notes:

Please check our availability calendar before emailing. Tax is included in the rates. Our cancellation policy is based upon the number of days between when you cancel and your scheduled arrival date:

30 days or more: 100%; From 29 days to 8 days: 50%; Less than 8 days: 0%

Cancellation policy:

Policy available by contacting owner when booking.

This owner accepts: Credit cards.
Always make sure to call the number on the listing to confirm payment details. Only pay using credit card, PayPal, check or direct bank transfer. NEVER pay by cash or instant money transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram. Learn more

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