Cities

Window Rock

Head into the heart of Navajo Nation on this scenic Southwest road trip.

Named for a large hole carved by wind and rain in a sandstone cliff overlooking town, Window Rock is the capital of Navajo Nation. All road trips through these inspiring landscapes pass bewildering geologic formations and historic trading posts where modern Navajo artists sell traditional creations. Annual events bring in tribal members and visitors from across the region. Visitors to the Four Corners region of Arizona prefer to stay in the slow lane to soak it all in.

What’s in Town

From its perch on the Arizona-New Mexico border, Window Rock is a gateway to the vast Navajo Nation that covers Northeast Arizona and extends into neighboring New Mexico and Utah. Cherished sites and landscapes take some effort to get to but reward visitors with history, geology and cultural connections unique to this part of the desert Southwest. Base a Navajo Nation tour in Window Rock to become fully immersed in this picturesque backcountry known for its mesas, buttes and magnificent landscapes that seemingly stretch past the horizon. While in town, visit the excellent botanical garden and zoo, plus a tribal park at the base of the “window” that features a WWII Navajo Code Talkers memorial.

Navajo Nation Museum

Navajo culture and art are preserved at Navajo Nation Museum, which features a significant collection of indigenous art and artifacts, plus an authentic hogan on-site. The permanent collection includes some 40,000 photographs that chronicle the Navajo story, plus the work of Navajo artists practicing traditional methods of rug making and jewelry making. Once visitors experience this expert artistry, they will want to pull over at every roadside market they pass and make a quick side trip to Ganado to visit the legendary Hubbell Trading Post.

Gateway to Navajo Nation

Road trips to Window Rock often pass through Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert to the south, two stunning landscapes forever tied to Navajo Nation. Continue north to take a scenic drive through Monument Valley and to tour ancestral pueblo cliff dwellings at Navajo National Monument near Kayenta. Between those magnificent bookends, Canyon de Chelly National Monument is a sacred site that spans vast swaths of Northeast Arizona and is located just north of Window Rock near Chinle. Marvel at red sandstone cliffs rising 1,000 feet from fertile valley floors. Ride canyon rims for nearly 150 miles on self-guided driving tours of the area or plan ahead to join guided tours that go deep into the canyon by Jeep, on horseback and on foot to remote sites that capture the natural brilliance and cultural significance of Navajo country.

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