Canyon de Chelly: Canyon de Chelly National Monument. This beautiful canyon at the far northeast portion of the Navajo Reservation in Arizona can only be toured with local natives as...

rondmallett Loc: Colorado, near Wyoming

Canyon de Chelly National Monument. This beautiful canyon at the far northeast portion of the Navajo Reservation in Arizona can only be toured with local natives as your guide. There are still human remains in these dwellings and they cannot be approached any closer than the fence. It is a fabulous place to visit, and is far more interesting than Colorado's Mesa Verde (which, as a Coloradan native, I find hard to admit). It is 35 miles long, far outpacing the Colorado attraction.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Joexx

Unless rules have changed ,that is not a requirement. Several years ago we hiked in the canyon with no guides. Beautiful place. One local law you should be aware of reservation. is forbidden to have even un opened any alcohol on the reservation. The whole town and national monument is on the reservation.

rondmallett Loc: Colorado, near Wyoming

You got lucky. I just copied this from the park service guide. "CANYON TOURS: Fees required. Contact a private company for a tour into the canyon by hiking, horseback or vehicle. Tours require a backcountry permit and hiring an authorized guide. No pets allowed on tours." You can go online and confirm this. The only 'authorized guides' are local natives.

Joexx

I'm not certain, but I think that is only for tours. I remembered several trails down into the canyon. But that may have changed. The following is from (probably) the same document.

SELF GUIDED HIKE: On your own, drive about 6 miles up the South Rim to the one public hiking trail at the White House Overlook. Allow 2 hours round trip to hike about 600 feet down/up the switchback trail to the White House Ruin. Restrooms at overlook and bottom of trail. No pets allowed on the trail.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

MT native Loc: Big Sky Country — Montana

Excellent. I look forward to future posts.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Joexx wrote:

I'm not certain, but I think that is only for tours. I remembered several trails down into the canyon. But that may have changed. The following is from (probably) the same document.

SELF GUIDED HIKE: On your own, drive about 6 miles up the South Rim to the one public hiking trail at the White House Overlook. Allow 2 hours round trip to hike about 600 feet down/up the switchback trail to the White House Ruin. Restrooms at overlook and bottom of trail. No pets allowed on the trail.

As far as I know you have always been allowed to hike down to the White House ruins and back without a guide. But to enter the Canyon at the mouth in Chinle and travel around in the Canyon you are required to be with a licensed Navajo Guide. Well worth it, though! Although Mesa Verde has much larger ruins, Canyon de Chelley is more mystical.

dreff Loc: Bow, WA

👍

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

You're correct. There is a trailhead right by the parking lot for Whitehouse Overlook. I've been there many times and see people hiking, unaccompanied, down to the canyon floor from there.
--Bob

sb wrote:

As far as I know you have always been allowed to hike down to the White House ruins and back without a guide. But to enter the Canyon at the mouth in Chinle and travel around in the Canyon you are required to be with a licensed Navajo Guide. Well worth it, though! Although Mesa Verde has much larger ruins, Canyon de Chelley is more mystical.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Very nice. I think it could be improved by dealing with hue contamination. This would bring out the features a bit better.
--Bob

rondmallett wrote:

Canyon de Chelly National Monument. This beautiful canyon at the far northeast portion of the Navajo Reservation in Arizona can only be toured with local natives as your guide. There are still human remains in these dwellings and they cannot be approached any closer than the fence. It is a fabulous place to visit, and is far more interesting than Colorado's Mesa Verde (which, as a Coloradan native, I find hard to admit). It is 35 miles long, far outpacing the Colorado attraction.

rondmallett Loc: Colorado, near Wyoming

Joexx wrote:

I'm not certain, but I think that is only for tours. I remembered several trails down into the canyon. But that may have changed. The following is from (probably) the same document.

SELF GUIDED HIKE: On your own, drive about 6 miles up the South Rim to the one public hiking trail at the White House Overlook. Allow 2 hours round trip to hike about 600 feet down/up the switchback trail to the White House Ruin. Restrooms at overlook and bottom of trail. No pets allowed on the trail.

That is new. We were there over 10 years ago... so things change. Thanks Joe. Good to know!

rondmallett Loc: Colorado, near Wyoming

MT native wrote:

Excellent. I look forward to future posts.

That's kind of you, MT. Thank you.

rondmallett Loc: Colorado, near Wyoming

rmalarz wrote:

Very nice. I think it could be improved by dealing with hue contamination. This would bring out the features a bit better.
--Bob

I'm 84 years old and dealing with hue contamination is out of my league.
I am housebound with an incurable neural condition so I gotta take what
comes from my camera and live with it.

You are offering wisdom and help, which I much appreciate. Thank you.

rondmallett Loc: Colorado, near Wyoming

sb wrote:

As far as I know you have always been allowed to hike down to the White House ruins and back without a guide. But to enter the Canyon at the mouth in Chinle and travel around in the Canyon you are required to be with a licensed Navajo Guide. Well worth it, though! Although Mesa Verde has much larger ruins, Canyon de Chelley is more mystical.

Thanks for the correction. I was unaware of the exception.