This exceptional natural wonder, Canyon de Chelly, encompasses breathtaking scenery that includes vast, red sandstone cliffs and lush forests, with numerous historic Navajo sites scattered amidst the landscape.
Located in the midst of Navajo tribal territories, the breathtaking Canyon de Chelly National Monument occupies nearly 80,000 acres in northwestern Arizona. To reach it, take South Rim Drive, a scenic road that wraps around a 15-mile section of the national park's southern area: the seven viewpoints along the route offer stunning, panoramic views. At certain stops, the canyon floor is roughly a thousand feet directly below you!
Stop by Spider Rock Overlook, which offers views of Spider Rock, its 750-foot-tall towers steeped in Native American lore: according to local legend, it's where the Spider Woman lives, who taught the Navajo how to weave and has been watching over this sacred land for over 300 years. To explore the canyon and hike its trails lined by red sandstone cliffs, carved out by streams over 50 million years, visitors must hire a local Native American guide. From Face Rock Overlook, another breathtaking viewpoint, step out of your vehicle to take in the impressive rock formations and curved edges of the canyon, where hikers at the bottom look like tiny ants. Orientation tables serve as useful guides for identifying sites nestled within the cliffs, while in the distance lies Black Rock, the remains of a long-extinct volcano that has been weathered down to a lush blanket of foliage over time.
Indian Route 7
Chinle, AZ 86503
+1 928 674 5500