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One of the great national monuments to explore in the Navajo Nation of northeastern Arizona is Canyon de Chelly National Monument (none of the land is federally owned). It is in the Four Corners region and is one of the most visited national monuments in the United States.
The Navajo Nation is the largest Indian reservation in the United States and is home to some of the most iconic landscapes of the Southwest. Some of the leading attractions in the Navajo Nation is Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon (which is only open to visitors with guided tours).
Canyon De Chelly National Monument - One Of The Longest Continuously Inhabited Places
Canyon de Chelly National Monument was established in 1931 and is one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes in North America. The canyon continues to preserve the ruins of ancient indigenous tribes that inhabited the area long ago (from the Ancestral Pueblo to the Navajo). Visitors step back in time as they explore the canyon walls cradling hundreds of ancient pueblo ruins.
- Ruins: From Between 350 and 1300 AD
People get to see pueblo ruins that were built between 350 and 1300 AD (as well as the contemporary Navajo community that calls the canyon home). The Navajo herd sheep there in the summer months.
One of the best places in the United States to see ancient pueblo ruins is Mesa Verde's Cliff Palace - the largest cliff dwelling in North America. There is even a "lost city" of the Ancestral Pueblo now submerged under the waters of Lake Mead (but it has a museum dedicated to it).
Canyon De Chelly - The Great National Monument In The Navajo Nation
While the park is owned by the Navajo, it is cooperatively managed with the National Park Service. While visitors are able to explore the park by themselves, access to the canyon floor is restricted to being accompanied by a park ranger or by an authorized Navajo guide.
Visitors are free to hike and explore the White House Ruin Trail by themselves without a guide.
Explore the canyons that people have called home for almost 5,000 years. Today around 40 Navajo families continue to live in the park.
One of the most eye-catching geologic features of the park is Spider Rock. Spider Rock is an impressive sandstone spire rising some 750 feet or 229 meters from the canyon floor.
The two scenic routes are North Rim Drive and South Rim Drive.
- Established: 1931
- Size: 83,840 acres (131 sq mi; 339 km2)
Canyon de Chelly National Monument includes three major canyons - de Chelly, del Muerto, and Monument.
Watch out for the time zone when arranging tours; the Navajo Nation has its own time zone apart from the rest of the state of Arizona.
To get the most out of the national monument, consider taking a guided jeep or horseback excursion offered by authorized Navajo guides. Refer to Navajo Nation Parks for a list of authorized tour operators in the Canyon De Chelly National Monument.
Jeep Or SUV Tour Of Canyon De Chelly National Monument
One of the favored ways to explore Canyon De Chelly is with an off-road guided tour. Canyon de Chelly Tours offers a Jeep tour of the canyon floor with a guide. The tour includes the Antelope House Ruin in Canyon del Muerto and the White House Ruin in Canyon de Chelly, as well as other Ancestral Pueblo ruins.
- Duration: 3 Hours
- Cost: $247.50 Private Jeep For Up To Three People
Visitors may also be able to explore Kokopelli Cave, Petroglyph Rock, First Ruin, Junction Ruin, Ceremonial Cave, and Ledge Ruin.
The expert guide opens up the canyons and brings their stories and legends to life. People learn all about the history, geology, culture, and archeology of the storied area.
Planning A Visit To Canyon De Chelly National Monument
Visitors can choose to take a guided tour of the canyons or explore the open parts by themselves. There are two self-guided drives from the visitor center that follow the rims of the canyon. People can even hike or cycle the 130-mile loop road around the canyon.
Stay the night in the national monument at the Cottonwood Campground.
- Opening Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Year-Round
- Visitor Center: 8.00 am to 5.00 pm Daily
- Entrance Fees: Free
After a long period of being closed or heavily restricted during the pandemic, the Navajo Nation is once again 100% open for tourists. Since August 2022, tourists have once again been able to enjoy overnight tours on the reservation.