Canyon de Chelly

A red sandstone canyon where the Navajo have lived for generations, with ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings beneath its walls. Overlooks on the north and south rims view Spider Rock, and the canyon floor can only be entered with a Navajo guide.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument lies within the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona, with the gateway town of Chinle. The monument is made up of two main canyons: Canyon de Chelly and, to the north, Canyon del Muerto. Red sandstone walls rise up to 300 m, and Navajo families still live, graze livestock and farm on the canyon floor. Beneath the walls are cliff dwellings built by the ancestral Puebloan people about a thousand years ago. The monument was established in 1931. It is jointly managed by the National Park Service and the Navajo Nation, and the land belongs to the Navajo Nation. It is a rare national park unit where an indigenous community still lives within the boundaries.

Ways to explore: (1) The South Rim Drive, about 25 km long, has overlooks including Junction, White House, Sliding House, Face Rock and Spider Rock. (2) The North Rim Drive leads to overlooks at Antelope House, Mummy Cave and Massacre Cave. (3) The White House Ruin Trail lets you hike down to the canyon floor on your own. (4) Other areas of the canyon floor must be reached with a Navajo guide, by off-road vehicle, horseback or on foot.

Seasons: April to May and September to October are the most comfortable. In late October, the cottonwoods on the canyon floor turn golden. Thunderstorms are common in the afternoons of July and August, and winters occasionally bring snow. The Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time, while the rest of Arizona does not, so the time differs by one hour in summer.

Getting there: it's about 3 hours' drive from Flagstaff or Gallup, with no public transport. There is no entrance fee, but guided tours must be booked and paid for separately. Plan 1-2 days, and you can combine the trip with Hubbell Trading Post to the south.

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