Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Have you ever gone somewhere and immediately decided that this was a place you had to return to, with more time to explore? That was us on our recent visit to Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona.
Established in 1931, the monument spans over 83,000 acres, protecting lush valleys formed by three major canyons. Today this area falls entirely within the Navajo Nation, but it is believed that people have lived and farmed in these canyons for over 5,000 years. There are still a few dozen families living in the canyon, raising cattle and sheep, and farming; making this one of the longest continually inhabited places in North America.
Unlike other national park units, none of this land is federally owned. The National Park Service works in close cooperation with the Navajo to enable public access and enjoyment of the monument. There is a welcome center with ranger programs, as well as two scenic drives with several stops at overlook points.
Be sure to take at least one of the scenic drives. The 34 mile round trip North Rim scenic drive follows the edge of the canyon and offers four overlooks, one of Antelope House ruins.
The South Rim scenic drive is about the same distance (37 mile round trip) and offers several overlooks, some with short rim hikes. Near the end, you will see one of the most distinctive sights in the monument – Spider Rock – a sandstone spire over 750 feet high, right at the junction of two canyons.
Other than that, access to the canyon is restricted to Navajo-led tours. Private companies offer horseback, hiking and four-wheel drive trips into the canyon where you can see ancestral ruins up close. This does require that you stay the night in Chinle because most of these trips leave early in the morning. There is a hotel and camping, but it fills up fast.
If you plan to spend a bit of time in this area, be sure to also visit Navajo National Monument and Hubbell Trading Post.
Are you trying to visit all the National Parks, or National Park Units?
If your goal is to visit them, one or all, we’d love to help you strategize. Give us a call at (480) 609-3978 or drop us a note here. We always enjoy talking with people who share our passion for visiting these gems of the National Park Service.
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