Canyon de Chelly National Monument (say Canyon d’Shay) in the Navajo Nation, is a Y-shaped labyrinth of nearly 84,000 acres. The northern, larger arm is Canyon del Muerto, the southern arm is Canyon de Chelly. At the canyon mouth, the rock walls are only 30 feet high. Deep in the canyon, they rise to over 1000 feet.
People have lived here for nearly 5000 years. The earliest residents left no artifacts, their stories are etched or painted on the canyon walls. Ruins remain of villages that date to about CE 300.
There is much to be said about the people who lived in this beautiful, fertile place. I’m going to leave that for my next post when we go down into the canyon. This time, let’s stand on the rim and imagine what life must have been like for those who lived in the valley and on the canyon walls.
Follow along on this map as we travel from overlook to overlook.
Spider Rocks Overlook
Why spider? No idea. You’ll have to ask the Diné (Navajo) people.
Face Rock Overlook
Other visitors, with sharper eyes than mine, spotted several settlements in this part of the canyon.
Sliding House Overlook
No paved path here! A few stone steps, a dire warning, and an obscure arrow are the only guides to the overlook.
Junction Overlook
This wide part of the valley is home to several families.
Tsegi Overlook
We are getting close to the mouth of the canyon. Notice how the clifftops are getting closer to the valley floor.
Tunnel Overlook
The area lacks hiking opportunities. There is only one self-guided trail from rim-to-valley at White House Overlook. Both the overlook and the trail are closed with no reopening date.
Tunnel Overlook is the terminus of a short hike back to the campground via a manmade tunnel. A guide is required.
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