A Guide to Visiting Canyon de Chelly The “Right Way”

Located in northeastern Arizona, Canyon de Chelly National Monument is home to cliff dwellings built into canyon walls and farmlands sprawled below. For more than 5,000 years, the people of the Navajo Nation have lived in Canyon de Chelly (pronounced “shay”) and adjoining Canyon del Muerto, both part of Canyon de Chelly National Monument. You can drive the park’s two rim drives for free or hire a guide to take you by foot, off-highway vehicle (OHV) or horseback into the canyon.

Getting to Canyon de Chelly

From 1-40, take exit 333 and head north on US-191 toward Ganado. Continue for 30 miles to the roundabout and take the first exit for Indian Route 7 heading into Chinle. At the next roundabout, use the second exit to stay on Indian Route 7 and enter Canyon de Chelly National Monument.

The Basics

When to Go

Canyon de Chelly is open year-round from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Generally, summer is the best time to visit for tours into the canyon. However, temperatures average a high of 90 degrees Fahrenheit in June, July and August. Visit in May or September to avoid the heat. Temperatures dip in October and reach an average high of 40 degrees in January.

What to Bring

You’ll definitely want to capture the spectacular sights of the canyon, so be sure to bring a camera. Make sure you have a fully charged cell phone. Additionally, a good pair of binoculars can help you spot horses, sheep and Navajo homesteads from the rim overlooks. Drones are not permitted.

What it Costs

It is free to drive the park’s two rim roads and stop at its overlooks. However, you will have to hire a Navajo guide to enter the canyon. Expect to pay about $90 per person for an OHV tour through Canyon de Chelly and $75 per person for a guided hike. Prices can vary depending on the length of the tour and number of people touring with you.

A Day at Canyon de Chelly

Start with one or both rim drives, each of which start at the visitor center. The 15-mile North Rim Drive hugs the edge of Canyon del Muerto and features overlooks of the Antelope House cliff dwellings and Massacre Cave, where Spanish soldiers killed 115 Navajo in 1805.

If you have time for only one drive, make it the South Rim Drive. It heads 16 miles along Canyon de Chelly to seven overlooks, including Spider Rock, an 800-foot spire rising from the canyon floor. Unfortunately, the White House Ruin Overlook — and the trail from there to the ruins — is closed indefinitely for safety concerns.

To enter the canyon, you’ll need to hire a Navajo guide. Book online before you go to ensure you get the hike, OHV tour or horseback ride you want, especially if you’ll be visiting during the peak summer season. The Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation maintains an updated list of current tour operators here. Hotels in Chinle can also arrange tours if you arrive without a booked tour.

Where to Stay

Because Chinle is a small community, there are few accommodations near Canyon de Chelly. However, there is one lodge and two campgrounds inside the park. Here are two options for an overnight stay.

• Thunderbird Lodge: Operated by the Navajo Nation, this historic lodge is the only hotel located inside Canyon de Chelly. It offers daily tours of the canyon in its distinctive Pinzgauer army troop carriers to guests and park visitors.
• Best Western Canyon de Chelly: Only four miles from the park’s entrance, this chain hotel gets high marks for its friendly staff and clean rooms. The onsite eatery, Junction Restaurant, serves some of the area’s best food, including Navajo favorites.