While You're In The Neighborhood - Canyon de Chelly

The Grand Canyon is one of the most well-known natural landscapes in the world, visited by almost five million people annually. Only a few hours away lies another canyon with a fascinating history and unsung beauty - Arizona's Canyon de Chelly National Monument.

Spider Rock in Arizona's Canyon de Chelly

The Four Corners region - the area of the southwest United States where the states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet at Four Corners Monument, is only hours from the eastern rim of the Grand Canyon National Park and has an abundance of breathtaking landscapes and national parks, but most of these incredible vistas are too often missed by visitors in their rush to get to the Grand Canyon. A beautiful crimson-and-coral hued sandstone canyon, Canyon de Chelly is one such locale.

Canyon de Chelly, 1904

Canyon de Chelly National Monument is unique among U.S. National Park units in that it is situated completely on Navajo Tribal Land, rather than on federal land. The canyon preserves dwelling places from some of the earliest tribes in the area, dating back even prior to the 1800s. The canyon ravines also served as one of the last points of resistance for the Navajo nation in the 1860s.

In total, the monument landscape covers 131 square miles, making it manageable enough to see in a few hours, and at only 7% of the area of the Grand Canyon, Canyon de Chelly National Monument feels infinitely more accessible than the overwhelming magnitude of its better-known neighbor.

Ruins in Canyon de Chelly

The canyon floor is flat enough for even tentative hikers to enjoy, or the canyon can be see by car from the upper rim.

In addition to the ruins and the spectacular geological formation of the canyon, natural features such as Mummy Cave and spire-esque Spider Rock are among Canyon de Chelly's noteworthy sights.


The Grand Canyon - certainly worth seeing, but while you are in the neighborhood don't miss a chance to hike Canyon de Chelly and the Four Corners region's other overlooked gems.