CANYON DE CHELLY
& Spider Rock
Location: just east of Chinle, AZ, off Highway 191
Address: Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle,
Arizona, phone (928) 674-5500
Distance: 76 miles from I-40 (Chambers), 218 miles from Flagstaff, 355
miles from Phoenix
Opening hours: no restrictions to the viewpoints
Fees: no entrance fees
Direction: from Phoenix use I-17 north to Flagstaff, then I-40 east to Exit
Chambers, go north on US-191 to Chinle, then east on AZ-64.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Within the park are two bigger canyons,
the Canyon de Chelly (pronounced da-shay) with the Spider Rock and the Canyon del Muerto
(coming from north) and two smaller canyons, the Black Rock Canyon and the
Monument Canyon.
The history. For more than 1,500 years, many groups of Native Americans
have called this place home. Today it is administered by the National Park Service,
but Canyon de Chelly is tribal land and home to the Navajo.
The canyon is a place with many ancient ruins like the White House Ruin,
a large multistory pueblo that dates to as early as A.D. 1060.
In the winter of 1864, US soldiers led by Col. Kit Carson killed and captured
Navajos living in the canyon.
The visit. Before entering the park stop at the visitor center to get
any information you might need.
There are two scenic drives in the park - the north rim drive (road #64)
along the Canyon del Muerto to several ruin overlooks and the better known
south rim drive (road #7) to the Spider Rock.
The north rim drive. This beautiful drive leads to several viewpoints.
The first is Ledge Ruins Overlook, followed by the Antelope Ruins Overlook and a
few miles farther you have access to the Mummie Cave Overlook and the
Massacre Cave Overlook. All of them provide incredible views at ancient places.
The south rim drive. This drive is better known because it leads to the
amazing Spider Rock (first photo on top). On the way there stop at the viewpoints.
The first is the Tsegi Overlook which gives you a first glimpse at the green
canyon ground surrounded by high canyon walls. The Junction Overlook (junction
of the Canyon del Muerto and the Canyon de Chelly, photo above on the right)
and the White House Trail Overlook follow.
This is the only stop where you can
hike (2.5 miles round-trip) into the canyon without a permit. The trail passes
through two rock tunnels on the way to the canyon floor. In an alcove is the
white-walled cliff dwelling - called White House Ruins (in Navajo:
Kínií'Na'ígai - white house in between). It was
first described by U.S. Army Lt. James Simpson in 1849.
The next is Sliding House Overlook which provides great views at the Wild Cherry Ruins,
Cave Ruins and Sliding House Ruins.
The last and most amazing stop is at the Spider Rock Overlook.
The Spider Rock. The canyon is 1,000 feet deep at the Spider Rock
Overlook and the Navajo say 800-foot-high monolith called Spider Rock (in Navajo:
Tsé Na’ashjéii dabijiní) is the
home of Spider Woman, who taught them how to weave.
Note: It is not allowed to enter (hike or drive) the canyons without a guide
(except the trail from the south rim drive to the White House Ruin). But you
don't need any permit for the scenic drives on the rims and their overlooks.
Navajo Song of the Earth:
"Éíbiyázhí nishij.
Nahosdzáán ts’idá biyázhí nishij."
Translation:
"I am indeed its child.
Absolutely I am earth's child."
(Source: sign at the Spider Rock Overlook)
Links to websites and infos about the
Canyon de Chelly National Monument and the Spider Rock (links open in a
new window):
Canyon de Chelly National Monument official website of the National Park Service
E
Canyon de Chelly park geology of the National Park Service
E
Canyon de Chelly Tours Unimog Tours and Navajo guides
E
Canyon de Chelly the unofficial Navajo Central Website
E
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