The totally awesome Canyon de Chelly
After our visit to Monument Valley, we headed to Chinle and Canyon de Chelly National Park. This is also an area that have lots of significant meaning and history for Adrian as he is a Navajo. We drove around and stopped at different outlooks, on both sides of the canyon. And what a spectacular canyon it is. As we were pretty high up, we could see the road swurling its way thru they canyon. We also saw settlements down there.. evidence that people are still living there, but very scattered.
The reminence of the old Navajo settlement is very clear. In the distance we saw amazing evidence of early days settlement and I really wished we could have been down there to see it up close. Next time for sure....
Here's a little history of the Canyon;
Canyon de Chelly National Monument was established April 1, 1931, as a unit of the National Park Service and is located in northeastern Arizona within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation.
Its 83,840 acres (339 km²), all Navajo Tribal Trust Land, preserves artifacts of the early indigenous tribes that lived in the area, including the Ancient Pueblo Peoples (also called Anasazi) and Navajo.
The Navajo: Just east of the town, the muddy, seasonal Chinle Wash enters the beginning of the canyon, where the walls are only a few meters high, but they rise sharply after a short distance so that there is only one possible entrance for vehicles, next to the river. A sandy track leads alongside the wash to the scattered settlements and ancient ruins, but all visiting vehicles must be accompanied by a guide. The canyon floor remains green and fertile all year round; this, together with the protection offered by the rocky walls and the beauty of the landscape explain why the valley has been inhabited for so long - from primitive peoples 2000 years ago, through the Anasazi civilisation of the twelfth century which occupied a large area of the Southwest before suddenly disappearing, to the Navajo who have lived here for the last 300 years.
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Its primary attractions are ruins of Indian villages built between 350 and 1300 AD at the base of sheer red cliffs and in canyon wall caves.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument is open year-round, but some of the inner canyons are impassable in winter and at certain other times of the year.
Facilities/Features
Stores/Museum
Visitor Center museum has regional books and cultural demonstrations, local artist exhibits and ranger-staffed information desk available.
Programs/Events
Ranger-conducted activities are generally available every day May through September. These activities include morning coffee at the Visitor Center Hogan for orientation, daily canyon hikes, natural history programs at Junction Overlook and campfire programs at the Campground Amphitheater.
This area remains the home of the Navajo people who celebrate Navajo Day every Saturday, May through September, with activities relating to Navajo history and culture.
Food/Supplies
Meals are served at Thunderbird Lodge in the Monument, but no food or supplies are available in the Monument. Food and supplies, motels, gasoline, and other services are available 3 miles west in Chinle, AZ.
Accessibility
The Visitor Center, parking area, rest rooms and some overlook areas are accessible.
Rules, Regulations, Precautions
Federal regulations prohibit entering the canyons without a park ranger or authorized guide with permit.
It is unlawful to enter any ruin of an archeological site, or to deface, disturb or destroy any natural feature or artrifact.
Alcohol consumption or possession is prohibited in the park and on the Navajo reservation.
I fell in love with this Canyon. It's so awesome and spectacular. And the history of the canyon is long and for some part totally sad.
Next time I'm there I will hike down to the canyon floor and maybe even go into the canyon with a guide. Can't wait to go back there.. Thank you Adrian, for taking me there :o)
