Use of drones are NOT permitted inside National Parks. Each drive has scenic turnouts that give spectacular views of the canyon below. According to traditional Navajo beliefs, the taller of the two spires is the home of Spider Grandmother. Much like the South Rim drive (6 overlooks) there are two spots to pull off the highway 64 and look down into Canyon de Chelly. With stops, the drive along either rim road can easily take 2 to 3 hours. It has served as the scene of a number of television commercials. Canyon de Chelly National Monument: Absolutely stunning, don't miss if you can help it. Also available is a 2.5 mile 2 hour round trip hike into the canyon to see White House Ruin, a Anasazi Indian cliff dwelling, The drive's starting point is at the visitor center of Canyon De Chelly National Monument. Overlooks open year round. A little-known option, you can drive through the canyon in your own four-wheel-drive vehicle (a necessity due to deep-sand roads) as long as a Navajo guide rides with you. Waterless restrooms at overlook and bottom of trail. Each rim provides different views over the canyon with many convenient stops along the way where Navajo sellers also display their souvenirs. ALERT: The Navajo Nation is currently closed to visitors and under Stay At Home & Curfew orders. Yes, the driving distance between Phoenix to Canyon de Chelly National Monument is 382 miles. CANYON TOURS: Fees required. Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Chinle boasts a 15-mile drive that showcases some of the most iconic natural features on its sacred lands. Closer to town, southern most, is Antelope House overlook. Canyon de Chelly National Monument is a place that my brother Leo has always talked about: “It is a sacred place. It takes approximately 7h 23m to drive from Phoenix to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Check at the Welcome Center for current activity schedule. Accompanied by a Navajo guide, you'll see petroglyphs, Anasazi ruins at White House and Mummy's Cave plus hear the story of Spider Woman. This is the first of two videos about Canyon de Chelly (de SHAY). Read more about this adventure in Chinle, AZ. You easily go back in time.” He said that the town of Chinle has food, gas, convenience stores, and ample lodging but encouraged me … Allow 2 hours to visit 7 overlooks on the South Rim Drive;best for afternoon photos. Use a current road map. Be aware of rules and regulations for outdoor activities, commercial filming or photography, or special events when planning to visit tribal lands. If you have specific questions, please call and ask. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. Tours require a backcountry permit and hiring an authorized guide. Roads to the overlooks are paved. Take for example the looko… At that moment, I had no idea what an amazing park it is. Rock climbing, base jumping or scattering of ashes are not permitted on tribal lands. Stay on paved roads and take recommended routes only. There are really three different components to a comprehensive Canyon de Chellyvisit: 1. WELCOME CENTER: Free. Jeep Ride inside Canyon de Chelly. And you should ask permission before … Canyon de Chelly is a unique place. SCENIC DRIVES: Free. Pick up a park map at the Welcome Center which features a park store, orientation video and activity schedule. Getting to Canyon de Chelly and Chinle, AZ from Phoenix. You will … From White House overlook, visitors can take a 2-hour round trip hike down to the site. No, driving to the overlooks on the rim drives and hiking the White House Trail are self-guided activities that do not require a fee, guide or permit. Overlooks open year round. Canyon de Chelly National Monument can be explored by car, along the North and the South Rim of the canyon. Arizona and the Grand Canyon are synonymous in most people’s minds, but the state is also home to another deep cut in the Colorado Plateau—the Canyon de Chelly. Very different views of the monument's system of canyons are provided by the 15-mile North Rim and 16-mile South Rim drives. No showers or hookups. No private vehicles or ATV’s are allowed. Serves navajo, southwestern and American dishes. Drop by for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You will find guides soliciting business in the visitor center parking lot. It is entirely owned by the Navajo Nation, but it is managed and operated by the National Park Service. Call Navajo Parks and Recreation Department at 928-674-2106 for details. The Canyon De Chelly Scenic Drives provide numerous overlooks of the canyons and ruins. As you can imagine, National Parks and Monuments are some of my favorite travel destinations. It, along with the adjoining Canyon del Muerto (Canyon of the Dead) and Monument Canyon form the Canyon de Chelly National Monument, which lies entirely within the Navajo Nation in the northeastern corner of the state. We have two children, 8 and 10. The drive between Tuba City and Canyon de Chelly may be the most intriguing road trip in Arizona. To drive the rim drives, you don’t need a tour, or four wheel drive, or a guide, and, unlike most National Parks and Monuments, there’s not even an entrance fee. When Canyon de Chelly National Monument popped up in my Passport to Your Parks app, I was intrigued. From Phoenix, drive north northeast and expect the drive to take just under 5 hours with no stops. There is only one possible entry for vehicles. This Southwestern state is full of ol’ west history, Native American culture, spectacular natural beauty and wide-open spaces. Canyon de Chelly is located in northeastern Arizona, inside the Navajo Nation native american territory. Allow 2 hours to visit 7 overlooks on the South Rim Drive;best for afternoon photos. A backcountry pass and guide are required for … To drive “in” the canyon, you need to arrange for a tour with a Navajo Nation member. While Canyon De Chelly may be considered a stepchild of the Grand Canyon, its beauty is no less spectacular. 2 Days - Visit all 10 overlooks on South and North Rim Drives, hike White House Trail AND join an all-day guided tour. Camp at the Cottonwood Campground with sites available first-come, first-serve. The northern most pull off you can see Massacre Cave and Mummy Cave overlooks. Where are the restrooms located in the park? Anyone entering by vehicle must be accompanied by a Navajo guide. Spider Rock can be seen from South Rim Drive. Drive the two paved rim drives to the overlooks which provide excellent views of the canyon below. There’s a south rim drive along the southern edge of Canyon De Chelly and a north rim drive along the northern rim of Canyon Del Muerto. Canyon de Chelly is definitely worth the trip. It’s the only park like that in America! The North Rim Drive overlooks Canyon del Muerto, while the South Rim Drive overlooks Canyon de Chelly. About a 5 minute drive west of the Canyon de Chelly at the junction of Highway 191 and Indian Route 7 (Main Street). Canyon de Chelly National Monument History Canyon de Chelly is one of the longest continuously occupied areas of the country. 1/2 Day - Visit all 10 overlooks on South and North Rim Drive OR Visit the South Rim Drive and hike White House Trail OR take a half day canyon tour. South Rim Drive – As the drive climbs higher above the canyon floor, Tunnel and Tsegi Overlooks takes visitors on to Junction Overlook where Canyon De Chelly and Canyon Del Muerto meet where kivas and ruins can be seen along the curving cliff walls. The canyon is surrounded by Canyon de Chelly Highway, a 130-mile, partially paved loop, that is completely bikeable but not recommended for most vehicles on the unpaved stretches. Another road runs along the south side, the Canyon de Chelly side, for a similar distance, ending at the Spider Rock overlook. No pets allowed on tours. Allow 2 hours to visit 3 overlooks on the North Rim Drive;best for morning photos. Watch for animals on road especially at night. Visitor Center and parking lot gates open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. The South Rim Drive through Canyon de Chelly is 18 miles one way and features several overlooks of Canyon De Chelly, Spider Rock and Monument Canyon. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. Do not rely on GPS or cell phone services. Drive the two paved rim drives to the overlooks which provide excellent views of the canyon below. Although many visitors to the canyon enjoy the scenic views of imposing Spider Rock from the canyon’s rim, there are many that miss out on opportunities to hike on the canyon floor or hike up side canyons like Canyon del Muerto. There are two ways to see the canyon, from the rim and from the canyon floor. CAMPING: Fee required. You can walk the White House Trail on your own. The area is made up of a series of sandstone canyons, some span for many miles. canyon de chelly national monument, ariz.- You can't drive around on your own in this canyon, or hike where you please. You can drive between these overlooks along the North and South rim drives. Get … Active boomers travelers will love it! This is the only way to camp and hike at Canyon de Chelly without a Navajo Guide. Many roads are open range. The main way to see the Canyon for most visitors is along two canyon rim drives. From the parking area the trail makes a loop around a broad point where the ruins of Antelope House and other smaller sites can be seen in the canyon below. The views from the various overlooks each provide a different, but equally awe-inspiring scene. The park's distinctive geologic feature, Spider Rock, is a sandstone spire that rises 750 feet (229 m) from the canyon floor at the junction of Canyon de Chelly and Monument Canyon. Exploring Canyon de Chelly National Monument by four-wheel drive is an unforgettable experience. The Antelope House Overlook is along the North Rim Drive in the Canyon de Chelly National Monument near Chinle, Arizona. Canyon de Chelly looks beautiful, but… we have a family trip planned that's mostly around Grand Canyon itself: (Zion, Bryce, and South Rim.) There are opportunities for ranger-led hikes in Canyon de Chelly as well and these can give you access to other areas. Allow 2 hours to visit 3 overlooks on the North Rim Drive;best for morning photos. You can also plan side trips to Monument Valley and the Petrified Forest. Enjoy a Ranger Program including hikes and talks from Memorial Day through Labor Day. SELF GUIDED HIKE: Free. The are not a lot of signs, so if you see the Brown Signs with white or yellow lettering, make sure you slow down and pull over. Allow 2 hours to hike 600 feet down and back up the switchback trail to the White House Ruin. SCENIC DRIVES: Free. Contact a private company for a tour into the canyon by hiking, horseback or vehicle. RANGER LED PROGRAMS: Free. No pets allowed on trail. Canyon de Chelly Tours, Chinle: "Can you access the canyon & tour guides from the..." | Check out 6 answers, plus see 540 reviews, articles, and 256 photos of Canyon de Chelly Tours, ranked No.14 on Tripadvisor among 26 attractions in Chinle. The two scenic drives, one along the North Rim, best taken in the mornings, and the drive along the South Rim, best taken in the afternoon....two to three hours each. Canyon de Chelly remains very remote even today. 1 Day - Visit all 10 overlooks on South and North Rim Drives PLUS hike White House Trail OR visit all 10 overlooks PLUS take a half day canyon tour OR join an all-day canyon tour. Hike the one public trail starting at the White House Overlook on the South Rim. 2 Hours - Visit all 7 overlooks on South Rim Drive OR all 3 overlooks on North Rim Drive. The hike is a 3 mile loop, but can be extended to 13 miles if you want to check out Spider Rock Overlook. Since most of the park is inaccessible without a tour guide, this is a perfect way for the public to enjoy the splendorous views. Do you see the skeleton in the rock, because I definitely do! Arizona is without question one of the best road trip states in the country. 2. - See 1,866 traveler reviews, 1,669 candid photos, and great deals for Chinle, AZ, at Tripadvisor. The drives and trail are open all year long. 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