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Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Photo: James St. John / CC BY 2.0 · source

🏜️ Canyons & deserts

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Chinle, AZ · Colorado Plateau, Navajo Nation, Northeastern Arizona

About

Three canyons meet here, cut into De Chelly sandstone that rises in sheer red walls, over 1,000 feet at the deepest. People have farmed the floor for nearly 5,000 years, and Navajo families still live down there, so the canyon bottom is closed to unaccompanied visitors. The two paved rim drives are the exception, ten overlooks, ending at Spider Rock, a spire 750 feet above the floor. The only self-guided hike is the White House Ruin Trail, 2.5 miles round trip, 600 feet of switchbacks to a cliff dwelling. No entrance fee or reservation, and the rim drives stay open year round. Everything below the rim takes an authorized Navajo guide plus a backcountry permit from Navajo Parks (928-674-2106). Approach from US-191 in Chinle; Route 7 from the east near Sawmill is unpaved and unmaintained. Start early, carry water, skip 10am to 4pm in summer, and turn back if rain threatens: this canyon floods fast and sheds rock.

Highlights

Canyon floor: authorized Navajo guide plus Navajo Nation backcountry permit requiredWhite House Ruin Trail is the only self-guided hike (2.5 mi, 600 ft)No NPS entrance fee and no reservation; permit and guide fees are paid in cash to Navajo ParksPaved North and South Rim drives, ten overlooks, open year roundSpider Rock spire stands 750 ft above the canyon floorFlash flood and rockfall risk in rain; avoid 10am to 4pm summer heatDo not enter on Route 7 from the east (unpaved, unmaintained past Sawmill)Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time; the rest of Arizona does not

Getting there

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