Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
109
9
CANYON DE CHELLY NATIONAL
MONUMENT
68 miles NW of Window Rock; 222 miles NE of Flagstaff; 110 miles SE of Navajo National Monument; 110
miles SE of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
It's hard to imagine narrow canyons less than 1,000 feet deep being more spectacular
than the Grand Canyon, but in some ways Canyon de Chelly National Monument is just
that. Gaze down from the rim at an ancient cliff dwelling as the whinnying of horses and
clanging of goat bells drift up from far below, and you'll be struck by the continuity of
human existence. For more than 2,000 years, people have called these canyons home, and
today the canyon is the site of not only prehistoric dwelling sites, but also the summer
homes of Navajo farmers and shepherds.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument consists primarily of two major canyons—
Canyon de Chelly (which is pronounced “Canyon duh Shay” and is derived from the
Navajo word
tsegi,
meaning “rock canyon”) and Canyon del Muerto (Spanish for “Can-
yon of the Dead”). The canyons extend for more than 100 miles through the rugged
slickrock landscape of northeastern Arizona, draining the seasonal snowmelt runoff from
the Chuska Mountains.
In summer, Canyon de Chelly's smooth sandstone walls of red and yellow contrast
sharply with the greens of corn, pastures, and cottonwoods on the canyon floor. Vast
stone amphitheaters form the caves in which the Ancestral Puebloans built their homes,
and as you watch shadows and light paint an ever-changing canyon panorama, it's easy
to see why the Navajo consider this sacred ground. The many mysteriously abandoned
cliff dwellings and the breathtaking natural beauty make Canyon de Chelly as worthy of
a visit as the Grand Canyon.
6
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
From Flagstaff, the easiest route to Canyon de Chelly is I-40 to
U.S. 191 to Ganado. At Ganado, drive west on Ariz. 264 and pick up U.S. 191 N. to
Chinle. If you're coming down from Monument Valley or Navajo National Monument,
Indian Rte. 59, which connects U.S. 160 and U.S. 191, is an excellent road with plenty
of beautiful scenery.
FEES
Monument admission is free.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Before leaving home, you can contact
Canyon de Chelly
National Monument,
P.O. Box 588, Chinle, AZ 86503 (
&
928/674-5500;
www.nps.
gov/cach), for information. The monument itself is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
The visitor center is open daily 8am to 5pm (closed Christmas day). Remember that the
Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The annual
Central Navajo Fair
is held in Chinle in August.
EXPLORING THE CANYON
Your first stop should be the
visitor center
(see above), in front of which is an example
of a traditional crib-style hogan, a hexagonal structure of logs and earth that Navajos use
as both a home and a ceremonial center. Inside the visitor center, a small museum
explores the history of Canyon de Chelly, and there's often a silversmith demonstrating
Navajo jewelry-making techniques. Interpretive programs are offered at the monument
