Oct 18, 2012 - Canyon de Chelly

We started the day with a stop at the Canyon de Chelly Visitor Center, where we picked up a map of the park and watched a good 23 minute video on the canyons. Canyon de Chelly (pronounced Canyon de Shay) is a striking geological feature cut into the very center of the Navajo Reservation. It is formed by the confluence of two ancient rivers, and while it is nowhere as deep as the Grand Canyon a hundred miles away, it’s walls are over 600 feet deep in most places and much deeper in some. Ruins built into the cliff walls show that the canyon...

May 3, 2011 - Canyon De Chelly

Dixie (Stone Canyon Inn - Bryce Canyon) had recommended that we be sure to see this. We tried when we left last winter, but it was too cold. Timing was perfect and it was on the way....sooooo Canyon De Chelly is in the northeast area of Arizona. We drove through some really desolate areas to get here - mostly Native American land. It's a very scenic drive, but sure not a thriving economy area. However, we were really impressed with the Canyon. We spent several days in a just renovated Federal RV Park that wasn't collecting fees yet - really...

May 28, 2010 - Canyon de Chelly, Chinle, AZ

Chinle, AZ Canyon De Chelly NM Our drive, Hwy 264, from the Grand Canyon was across the desolate mesas of the Navajo Nation. We stayed in the NM on one of a few sites larger enough for the Alfa. We spent one day driving the rim of the canyon to view many of the cliff dwellings. We spent a day with a Navajo native who took us in his jeep exploring the bottom of the Canyon. He was an excellent guide pointing out cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, relating stories of the past and helping us to understand native life today. He showed us his...

May 20, 2010 - Canyon de Chelly

On the way to Canyon De Chelly we (Gene and Cyndy) stopped at Hubbell Trading Post which is a National historic site full of living history. There is a nice visitors center, with an actual trading post with groceries and drinks and it is also full of beautiful Native American rugs and artwork done by the local Navajo tribe. There is an old stable, blacksmith shop, and old time fencing. You can take a tour of the home, but we did not due to time constraints. It is well worth your time to stop and take a look. We continued on to Canyon de...

Mar 21, 2010 - Canyon de Chelly

We left Flagstaff this morning in brisk weather, hoping things would warm up along the way. We had to make the prerequisite stop in Winslow, AZ to sing a few bars of “Standin’ On The Corner” with Heather; then a quick drive through tour of the Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert. From there we turned north into Navajo territory and made another quick stop at the Hubbell trading Post, the oldest continuous run trading post in the United States. Some of the wool rugs, weavings and jewelry here are astounding. We arrived at...

Mar 18, 2010 - Canyon De Chelly

Arrived at Canyon De Chelly, pronounced “deshay”. This place is a mini grand canyon. You are limited to one trail into the canyon and a north and south rim drive, with many lookouts. You can hire a guide to take you into the canyon for a fee. Nice but like many of the parks very controlled and restricted access.

May 22, 2009 - Canyon de Chelly National Monument

We have been looking forward to visiting Canyon DE Shelly National Monument in Northeastern Arizona for some time--we've heard lots of good things about it from several people over the last two years. The canyon contains a large number of ancient Indian ruins tucked in alcoves and on ledges high above the canyon floor--sort of like at Mesa Verde, but not as extensive. There are a number of overlooks that provide viewpoints down into the canyon at several places. But if you want to go into the canyon itself, you have to hire a Navajo guide...

Oct 10, 2008 - Canyon De Chelly

Today we visited Hubbell Trading Post and Canyon De Chelly (pronounced Shay). The trading post is the oldest operating trading post within the Navajo Nation. They sell every thing from sodas to traditional woven Navajo rugs. Which I wish we could afford to buy. It was very windy here today so we didn't spend as much time at the canyon as we would like to have. The canyon is also on the Navajo Reservation and has several ruins in it, you can see a few in the pics. People still live in the canyon even though it is a National Parks Monument....

Sep 22, 2008 - Canyon de Chelly National Monument

We arrived at Canyon de Chelly National Monument today. The weather was perfect at about 87 degrees at 6,800 elevation. The campground is free but there are no hook-ups so we "dry camped". Which suited us just fine as we are totally self-contained but must simply be a little energy conscious of our battery power and electricity. We still had all the conveniences of home as the refrigerator runs on propane when we do not have an external source of power. The overlooks are just spectacular. Spider Rock is really a must see as you can feel the...

Jun 1, 2008 - Canyon de Chelly

On may 14th we decided to head for Canyon de Chelly, it is an absolutely beautiful drive. We followed the rim route & at several of the turn-outs, there were Native Americans selling their jewelry & other crafts (of course being the shopper that I am, I bought a few things). There are guided tours available, we could have taken a jeep tour through the canyon floor, but it was a little to pricey for us. Canyon de Chelly National Monument was established in 1931 to preserve archaeological ruins within these canyons & their important record...

May 14, 2008 - Canyon de Chelly

During our travels the girls have been playing the license plate game and until today they have seen all states except Rhode Island, Delaware and Hawaii. Much to our surprise they already found Alaska. The girls had started the game over a few days ago, somewhat giving up on the last three states. That morning we stopped at the visitor center and the girls spotted a car with a Rhode Island license plate. They were convinced they would see one until we got closer to Boston. Only two states to go. As we drove to the different areas of the...

Apr 14, 2008 - Canyon de Chelly Nat'l Monument ... Far NW Arizona

Here we are at Canyon de Chelly National Monument. We heard from a friend of Bonnie's about this place ... a canyon beyond description with Native American Cliff Dwellings and current Navajo living. The canyon beauty is as mentioned above ... beyond description. We viewed the canyon from the top the first day, then took a Navajo guided tour the second day down through the bottom of the canyon. Archeological evidence shows that people have lived in these canyons for nearly 5,000 years -- longer than anyone has lived uninterrupted anywhere...