On Thursday, May 16, I left Petrified National Forest and drove roughly 100 miles to Canyon de Chelly National Monument, located just east of Chinle, AZ. The park is located on the Navajo Nation and is managed cooperatively by the Navajo Nation and National Park Service. The park encompasses roughly 84,000 acres in three canyons – Del Muerto, de Chelly, and Monument. People have lived in the canyons going back 5,000 years; some 2,400 archeological sites have been identified. About 40 Navajo families presently live in the canyons.

Flickr Album for photo slideshow

Cottonwood Campground is located just below the visitor center. Camping fee is $14 per night, payable in cash. It is operated by Navajo Parks, thus the various US parks passes are not valid. Occupancy was light when I was there so people were spread out pretty well.

My site in Cottonwood Campground, looking down from the visitor center

On Friday, I drove the North Rim and South Rim roads, visiting the overlooks. There are three overlooks on the north rim – Antelope House, Mummy Cave, and Massacre Cave. It is about 18 miles from the visitor center to the last overlook.

Antelope House Overlook into Canyon Del Muerto

Antelope House Ruins

Mummy Cave Overlook

Mummy Cave Ruins

There are seven overlooks along the South Rim, the last being roughly 16 miles from the visitor center. Ruins are visible at nearly all the overlooks by scanning the alcoves along the canyon walls.

Along the South Rim Drive

Ruins viewed from South Rim overlook

The last overlook is Spider Rock. Spider Rock is a sandstone spire rising close to 800 feet from the canyon floor.

Spider Rock at junction of Canyon de Chelly and Monument Canyon

Hedgehog cactus in bloom along Spider Rock Overlook trail

Saturday morning I hiked down to the White House ruins. This is the only self-guided access to the canyon floor. The trail descends 600 feet into the canyon and it is about 1.25 miles to the ruins. There are several switchbacks, so the trail isn’t very steep.

Looking down on the White House Trail to the canyon floor

White House Ruins

White House Ruins from rim overlook

Jeep, hiking, and horseback trips into the canyon are available with Navajo guides. Time didn’t allow me to do that this trip; but I would like to do a jeep trip on a future visit.

Looks like fun

Sunday morning I leave Canyon de Chelly headed for the red rock country of southeast Utah.