Canyon de Chelly Travel Information
Canyon De Chelly National Monument (pronounced "d shay") offers a
spectacular collection of sheer red sandstone cliffs forming a maze of
canyons that all lead into the main Canyon De Chelly. Although none of
the cliffs exceeds 1000 feet (300 meters) the huge 800-foot monolith
"Spider Rock" is an awesome sight. The canyon, which is controlled by
the Navajo Indians and is part of the Navajo Reservation, is also home
to thousands of Ancestral Pueblo ruins and archaeological sites,
dating as far back as 2500 BC. Two scenic drives provide great
overlooks of Canyon De Chelly and Canyon del Muerto (canyon of death),
and the canyon floors can be explored by foot, jeep or horseback with
Navajo Guides . The only way into the canyon without a guide is the
White House Nature Trail, a 2.5 mile hike that descends 600 feet to
the canyon floor and leads to the huge White House Ruins. The summer
monsoon season often generates late afternoon thunderstorms that
produce dozens of short-lived waterfalls; autumn provides a feast of
colors. Located in Northeastern Arizona, Canyon De Chelly is rather
isolated. Holiday Inn Thunderbird Lodge or Cottonwood Camp can provide
for your overnight stay, and there are limited services nearby in
Chinle. View Area Map.
To learn more about Canyon de Chelly, select a topic of interest
from the list to the left.
| 
