Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Spider Rock at Canyon de Chelly.

Explore the wide expanse of Canyon de Chelly.

The White House Ruin at Canyon de Chelly.

The canyons of the Canyon de Chelly National Monument sheltered prehistoric Pueblo Indians for 1,500 years and served as an ancestral stronghold of the Navajo Indians.

In addition, the canyons and upland rim country are the setting of many accounts and histories of Native American communities, including the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Jicarilla Apache, Jemez and Western Keresan Puebloan people, whose stories collectively span 4,000 to 5,000 years.

The ruins of these prehistoric Native American communities are nestled below towering cliffs or perched on high ledges.

Located in the center of the Navajo Reservation, 83,840-acre Canyon de Chelly extends from the highlands of the Defiance Plateau and Chuska Mountains in the east to the arid expanse of the Chinle Valley in the west.

Although established as a national monument in 1931, Canyon de Chelly continues to support a living community of Navajo families.

An excellent way to view Canyon de Chelly is to hike the moderate, 2.5-mile White House Ruins trail, which descends 600 feet to the canyon floor.

To hike anywhere else in the canyons, visitors must be accompanied by an authorized Navajo guide. Guided tours are offered on foot or horseback or on four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Visitors also can view Canyon de Chelly and Canyon del Muerto by driving along the north and south rim drives.

The monument has a campground and lodge. Park rangers offer talks throughout the summer on geology, Navajo history, culture and other topics.

The park is currently undergoing an extensive watershed restoration project to remove exotic, invasive vegetation. Volunteers can help remove exotic species, collect native seeds for planting and help inventory wildlife.