Home / Adventures / Canyon De Chelly 2003

Canyon De Chelly, Navajo Nation Arizona
Date 07/10/2003
Attendees

Strassman Family- 1999 Land Cruiser UZJ100
Scott and Stephanie Brady- 2001 Land Rover Discovery II and VenturCraft Tent Trailer
Trail Time 2-3 Days for the Petrified Forest, Painted Desert and Canyon De Chelly. Canyon Del Muerto and Canyon De Chelly can be run in one day.
Location Navajo Nation in North Eastern Arizona
Mapping / Waypoint / GPS File Use a certified navajo " Tseyi " guide. Cynthia Hunter was our guide, and she was fantastic! You can reach her at (928) 674-8272 or cendo_24@yahoo.com . For National Park Service Information call (928) 674-5500

Trail Rating: 2 (1-5 scale)
The only significant challenge in the canyon is the deep, soft sand. One of the Navajo guides was driving a Honda Element. The Element is a low clearance all wheel drive unibody vehicle without a low range ratio in the transfer case. The Element had no trouble. The end of Canyon Del Muerto requires slightly more clearance due to a few steep wash banks and a short rocky hill climb. This trail is well within the capabilities of most stock 4wd SUV's.

Note: The water in the canyon can be very deep, and rise suddenly. This is a picture from the 1998 Border to Border event, a Land Rover Expedition Organization (picture courtesy of B2B society).
Major Obstacle None
Our 3 day trek through Canyon De Chelly, Canyon Del Muerto and the neighboring Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Parks started in the City of Holbrook, AZ, allowing for an early start in the beautiful Petrified Forest.


The Petrified Forest National Park is an area of over 93,000 acres and numerous hiking trails with amazing views, petrified trees, and Native American historical sites. Most of the petrified trees are an extinct species of Conifer (Araucarioxylon Arizonicum) from the late triassic period. Some examples are well over 100 ft. in length. Most can be seen on the "Long Log" Hiking Trail near Mile Marker 26. There are several excellent Hikes in the area. Bring plenty of film (or memory).
The trip through the National Park was highlighted by views of the Painted desert along the 20+ mile drive. We stopped at Blue Mesa and the Painted Desert Rim Trail for pictures and exploring.

The end of the NP drive joins at Interstate 10, and our continued journey towards Canyon De Chelly, and the ancients.

Canyon De Chelly is located off of Route 191, near Chinle, Arizona. Directions to the Park are clearly marked when you enter town, and the sites influence is clearly visible in the shops and local architecture. The visitor center is open from 8-5pm and should be contacted to verify guide availability (928-674-5500. Navajo guides are available for tours at the visitor center, and are required when entering the canyon by vehicle, or on foot. They charge $15 per hour and are well worth the expense. Cynthia was our guide, and provided valuable insights on the history of the canyon, and the people that live there. Canyon De Chelly is one of the most beautiful canyons in the US, far more picturesque than the Grand Canyon, and on par with Bryce Canyon and Zion in Utah.


Four wheel drive is required due to the soft sand, and the loss of traction and increased throttle input is felt immediately after leaving the packed trail from the visitor center. The canyon is lined with Cottonwood, Sycamore, Fig, Apple, and many other species of trees. You are immediately rewarded with soaring cliffs and green vegetation.
Our first stop within the canyon allowed us to view on of several Petroglyph and Pictograph sites. Many included the Kokopelli, and the imprint of their hands both directly and as a negative (Where paint is blown from the mouth over the hand on the rock). There were several excellent examples.
The canyon walls soar above you, as you gaze on centuries old Anasazi ruins. Canyon De Chelly splits several miles in, giving you the choice of the more popular "Tseyi" canyon, or the more rugged Canyon Del Muerto. We chose Del Muerto, and headed north at the confluence of the canyons. Canyon Del Muerto is an excellent choice if you are short on time, as much of Canyon De Chelly (Including Spider Rock and White House Ruins) can be seen from the South Rim Drive.
After entering Canyon Del Muerto you can see Navajo Pictographs depicting Spanish invaders on horseback. The Navajo suffered greatly in this area with attacks from the Spanish, and the eventual defeat by the US Cavalry in 1863 by Colonel Christopher "Kit" Carson. Many Navajo died in the attacks and subsequent "Long Walk". The Navajo were forced to walk 300 miles to Fort Sumner in New Mexico.
Driving "under" an overhang in Canyon Del Muerto. This would make a fantastic Camp.
Additional pictographs depicting Navajo life in the canyon
The aptly named "Cat Rock"
Our trip in Canyon Del Muerto terminated at the Mummy Ruins, which contained mummified remains of several Anasazi, well preserved by the dry desert air. These ruins are quite large, and beautifully preserved. They represent later architecture, which included a second floor and straighter, better built walls.
We camped in the Cottonwood Campground near the visitor center (you cannot camp in the canyon without a guide), and enjoyed pleasant temps' and the sounds of Coyotes. We woke early the next day to explore Canyon De Chelly via the south rim road, which starts near the visitor center. There are fantastic views, and a much different perspective of the canyon than the drive at the bottom. One of the most impressive sites is that of Spider Rock, the tallest free-standing spire in the world.
You can also view White House Ruins from the south rim. White House ruins are the largest ruins in the canyon. They are somewhat difficult to enjoy from the rim, and require a long focal length to capture a quality image.
This is the view of the confluence of Canyon De Chelly and Canyon Del Muerto from the south rim
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