Canyon de Chelly National MonumentMay 17, 2007. We are camped in the free Cottonwood Campground at Canyon de Chelly National Monument, in northeastern Arizona.
Thunderbird Motel & Restaurant complex Canyon de Chelly
This travelogue is going to cover our Navajo guided tour, $44 each, that begins at the Thunderbird Motel & Restaurant complex located next to Cottonwood Campground. We took the 3 1/2 hour tour that started at 2PM. Canyon de Chelly National Monument is also part of the Navajo Indian Reservation --- this is an odd arrangement worked out between the United States Government and the Navajo tribe. No one is allowed to enter the canyon without a Navajo guide. The only exception I know of is the ability to hike into the canyon from several places on the south rim. Even then one has to hike in then hike out by sunset. There is no exploring the canyon without a Navajo guide.
Entering Canyon de Chelly
Within a few hundred yards of the Thunderbird Lodge we are entering the canyon. A river does not flow through the canyon only rain and snow run off. The canyon is a large arroyo that dries up during times of drought and late summer. The canyon had flowing water in it now. There is no "road" into the canyon, at least not a paved road. The Navajo's access their property in the canyon by driving in the arroyo, sometimes in the water sometimes not.
Mouth of Canyon de Chelly
At the mouth of Canyon de Chelly the canyon walls are not very high. The canyon walls will get higher and higher the further we go into the canyon. Along here the canyon walls might be 100' high.
Sandstone boulder Canyon de Chelly
The markings on this sandstone boulder caught our eye.
Canyon de Chelly highway
This is another look at our highway through the canyon.
Canyon de Chelly
Sometimes the canyon gets narrow other times it is possibly a mile across.
Navajo Summer homes Canyon de Chelly
Navajo families maintain summer homes down in the canyon and use this as pasture for livestock. Some of the Navijo families that maintain summer homes down here farm, some have orchards, while others utilize their land for livestock pasture.
Note the road, such as it is, passing next to the cliff. The silvery looking trees are Russian Olive trees, the invasive plant introduced by the SCC.
Magnificent sandstone cliff Canyon de Chelly
This portion of the ride was under the overhang of a magnificent sandstone cliff.
Canyon de Chelly
Still under the overhang of that sandstone cliff.
Exciting ride in Canyon de Chelly
We are about to emerge from under that overhanging cliff. The ride in that stream under the overhanging cliff was exciting.
Navajo garden Canyon de Chelly
It looks like this Navajo family is a bit late getting the garden planted wouldn't you say.
Highway through Canyon de Chelly
This is the highway in and out of Canyon de Chelly.
Canyon de Chelly
Canyon floor Canyon de Chelly
Canyon de Chelly
The scenery is constantly changing. Sometimes the cliff walls are almost straight up while at other times there are multiple layers some like this one with vegetation marking the boundary of a layer. Note the cap rock of that contains a lot of iron.
Navajo road crew working in Canyon de Chelly
These large vehicles belong to a local work crew that were doing work on "roads" deeper in the canyon or so said our guide. It did not appear to me that any work had been done on any "road" road that I saw. The trees are cottonwood.
Driving out of Canyon de Chelly
As we are driving out of the canyon we are also heading west and looking into the afternoon sun.
Things look totally different depending on how the sun is striking the surface.
Canyon walls getting smaller
Note that the canyon walls are getting smaller and smaller as we head out of the canyon. There is a vehicle headed our way. It was a Navajo headed home in his truck.
Near the mouth of Canyon de Chelly
This is near the mouth of Canyon de Chelly on our way out of the canyon.
Mouth of Canyon de Chelly
Near the mouth of the canyon traffic is picking up. This is a group of tourist who have chosed to ride horses into the canyon.
I can't think of a better ending to a wonderful day. Click here for more Arizona travellogs or travel blogsUntil next time remember how good life is. Mike & Joyce Hendrix
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