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Pro
Beautiful Sacred Area
Con
Too few places able to tour due to Navajo restrictions
In a nutshell
Worth a Visit
BruceDunning Says: Either the Navajo guide you into the other parts of the park, or maybe Thunderbird Lodge also has that opportunity to access to White HOuse Ruins. They had a truck full of people drive through while we were down there. Navajo jeep tours are $175 for 3 hours with 1-3 people,...
toonsarah Says: Spider Rock is an 800-foot (240 m) sandstone monolith at the junction of Canyon de Chelly and the smaller Monument Canyon. According to traditional Navajo beliefs, the taller of the two spires is the home of Spider Woman, who lives at its top. Spider Woman (also known as...
toonsarah Says: This is the only one of the ruins you can get close to without taking a guided tour, as the one open trail crosses the canyon from White House Overlook to the ruin on the opposite side. As I have said elsewhere however, we hadn’t allowed enough time for a proper visit to the...
toonsarah Says: This is the point where the northern Canyon del Muerto and southern Canyon de Chelly come together, and the valley walls really start to climb. Several Anasazi ruins can be seen from here, most notably Junction Ruin. This takes its name from its location at the junction of...
toonsarah Says: There are three main ways to explore the Canyon: driving along one or both of its rims, with stops at the frequent pullouts; a hike to the White House Ruins (the only permitted unguided access to the Canyon floor); or a guided tour with one of the local Navajo. We were short...
BruceDunning Says: This is the only self guided hike that can be taken in the park. The rest require a Navajo guide to assist and either hike with you?, or take a jeep ride. The hike down to these ruins at the valley floor was exhausting and rather difficult as compared to what I expected....
Sliding House & Spider Rock Overlooks
BruceDunning Says: These are tow other places toward the south end of the road on Hwy 7 for overlooks. I did not see the 50 room dwelling said to be at Sliding Rock, but who knows, it must be there. Spider Rock is self evident., as its 800 feet tall twin spires reach to the sky. The other...
Tsegi & Junction CAnyon overlooks
BruceDunning Says: There are a number of places to stop and view down into the canyons for views of the valley, green and the cliff dwellings in some areas. The views are nice and colorful. The rock of 30 to 1,000 depth make for a woozy moment if you get too close to the edge-I have...
Canyon de Chelly Picnic Grounds: Picnic Lunch
ATXtraveler Says: Canyon de Chelly National Monument does not have any restaurants onsite, so your options are to either bring your own food or to head back in to Chinle, AZ which is the closest town with services. Since we were road tripping it, we opted for a picnic, and found the picnic...
a bit out of the way but free once you get there
richiecdisc Says: Canyon de Chelly National Monument is a bit off the beaten path, even if you are traveling around the Arizona/Utah National Parks. In the far east of Arizona, the park had eluded me on two previous trips to the area. It is about a 170 miles and nearly 4 hours to Mesa Verde...
gubbi1 Says: You can download a pdf-map of the canyon beforehand you start yor travel, so you can plan a little your day in the park of Canyon de Chelly.Also check the main page of the park for information about directions. It is a great help and I can't stop to express my respect for...
BruceDunning Says: At every overlook there are between 2-10 Indians selling jewelry, sandstone pieces, baskets and any other type of ancient looking artifact you can think of. I did not buy from them at every stop, but you really do feel for them and they look sad if you do not purchase....
ATXtraveler Says: Canyon de Chelly is a wonderful place for children to enjoy some beautiful canyon views. Unfortunately, children sometimes have minds of their own and can wander away from you pretty fast. Only a handful of locations at the park are toddler safe, and mainly that is the...
What to pack depends on what you plan to do ...
toonsarah Says: Summer days can be are hot, so thin cotton tops or t-shirts and light-weight trousers or shorts are your best option. You’ll want comfortable walking shoes if you plan to take the White House Ruins Trail, and ideally proper hiking boots if you want to join one of the...
ATXtraveler Says: One of the most important pieces of gear you can bring if you travel with children is your baby/toddler backpack. Canyon de Chelly is a National Monument, and as much as possible has been done to protect your children, but there are many places where it is not appropriate...
toonsarah Says: Chinle is the largest town in the area (though not very large) and is regarded as the gateway to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. There are a couple of motels and restaurants, but little of great interest in the town itself. When we visited in 1993 the Navajo Reservation...
BruceDunning Says: This is the oldest trading post still doing business. It is now under the supervision of National Park Service in order to maintain the premises and allow for visitations of tourists. The store having goods and gifts is open 8-6 in summer and 8-5 in winter months. There is...
this could be a backpacking paradise
richiecdisc Says: Canyon de Chelly would be an ideal backpacking park if visitors were allowed in the canyon on their own. Obviously, quotas would have to be made to properly protect the natural balance of the canyon's ecosystem. As it stands, a Navajo guide must accompany anyone entering the...
toonsarah Says: The Canyon floor has been inhabited for thousands of years: primitive peoples lived here 2,000 years ago; the Anasazi civilisation of the twelfth century dominated this whole region (before suddenly and inexplicably disappearing) and has left its remains here; and today the...
hampering exploration led to less ties formed
richiecdisc Says: The good part is those manning the park are quite welcoming and much of what they offer is also free, including an infrequent ranger-led walk into the canyon. Luckily, there is one hike into the canyon that can be done sans guide, surprisingly to the canyon's best...
Plan a Canyon de Chelly National Monument vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Canyon de Chelly National Monument locals
Junction Ruins is the first site you encounter along the south rim drive and is located where Canyon De Chelly and Canyon Del Muerto come together. It is...
Q: I'm going to Canyon de Chelly in April - thought I'd stick around for a day. Any good hikes? Restaurants? Motels? Other tips?
A: We had a horseback ride in the canyon with a native american, just this guy and the two of us. It was absolutely marvellous although I am not into horseback riding and...
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Sometime around 350 AD the Pueblo or Anasazi People entered the area now known as Canyon De Chelly. The Anasazi lived at the base of these sheer cliffs and in dwellings built into the canyon walls...
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Canyon de Chelly: A National Treasure?
Canyon de Chelly National Monument is a place of great contrasts and showcases the good and bad of the National Park system. It is a valiant attempt to maintain some connection with the natural...
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canyon de chelly national monument
i liked the canyon de chelly much. you see all kind of think like petroglyphs,ruines and some stories about what is what and what happened. sylvia t. watchman and her brother hadley (we had here...
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The Indian name if Tsegi. The Indians believe we are in the beginning of the seventh generation of time where the Great Spirit will create devastation of the earth by fire and the prophecy is that...
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A brief encounter with a special place
The Canyon de Chelly is one of the longest continually inhabited landscapes in North America, and it is the combination of stunning natural scenery with signs of both past and present human...
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