Thunderbird Lodge: A 73-room motel-style facility reminiscent of older adobe structures, the only lodging available within Canyon de Chelly. What makes Canyon de Chelly unique is that it sustains a living community [Read More] Canyon de Chelly. Canyon De Chelly Background. Archival Pigment Print The only way into the canyon without a guide is the White House Nature Trail, a 2.5-mile hike that descends 600 feet to the canyon floor and leads to the huge White House Site. As early as Meredith Guillet's first incumbency as superintendent in the 1940s, if not before, Canyon de Chelly long served as a home for Navajo people before it was invaded by forces led by future New Mexico governor Lt. Antonio Narbona in 1805. On a winter day in 1805, a Spanish military expedition, which Lieutenant Antonio Narbona led, fought an all-day battle with a group of Navajo people fortified in a rock shelter in Canyon del Muerto (another canyon located within the Canyon de Chelly National Monument). We planned on doing this but were greeted by lots of rain on our trip! What’s Included. It's named for Spider Woman, a key figure in Navajo lore. If you compare the two, Canyon de Chelly is 84,000 acres, and in places is up to 1,000 feet deep. I have a family in area 3 of Canyon de Chelly during a raid and I decide to battle. Canyon de Chelly Lodging. Canyon de Chelly National Monument PO Box 588 Chinle, AZ 86503 (928) 674-5500. The canyon’s natural water sources and fertile soil made it a favored habitation for four millennia, and the landscape holds the remains of early pithouse villages, farming villages, and cliff dwellings. The Battle of Canyon de Chelly was fought in 1864 as part of the Navajo Wars. This is a unique place. Canyon de Chelly National Monument is located in northeastern Arizona within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation. Battle of Canyon de Chelly happened on 1864-01-12. It took some convincing with the Navajo tribal council to ensure this process would not interfere with their treaty rights. Located in the heart of today’s Navajo Nation, it’s thought that people have lived continuously for over 5,000 years at Canyon de Chelly. Canyon de Chelly NM: Administrative History (Preface) Canyon de Chelly Administrative History PREFACE The need for an administrative history of Canyon de Chelly National Monument has been recognized for several years. It encompasses some 131 square miles. Canyon de Chelly National Monument: Car Broken Into - See 1,866 traveler reviews, 1,681 candid photos, and great deals for Chinle, AZ, at Tripadvisor. After completing their tasks on the sacred mountains, Nizhoni Begay, Mac Begay, and Davery Descheny meet at the canyon before going to Spider Woman. Tsegi (Say-ih) is the Navajo word for this canyon … Located in northeastern Arizona, it is within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and lies in the Four Corners region. The last rays of the setting sun painted the canyon walls a deep orange as they turned the bottom of the clouds reddish. Canyon de Chelly is strikingly beautiful. The ride and awesome scenery will amaze you. Also, the red Canyon walls illustrate the tribal identity of the 1860s, when there was antagonism between Navajos and … The National Park Service and the Navajo Nation jointly manage Canyon de Chelly’s resources. Canyon de Chelly has been consistently inhabited for the past 5,000 years, which is longer than any other location in the Colorado Plateau. The battle ended with the fall of the main Navajo settlements of Canyon de Chelly in present-day northern Arizona. However, unsupervised access is restricted to the rim overlooks and to a single trail into the canyon, leading to the White House Ruins , as for all other trips down or along the canyon, a Navajo escort is required. More to Discover Near Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The best way to experience the archaeological sites within the many canyons of Canyon De Chelly National Monument is on one of our tours. Canyon de Chelly (də-shā’) preserves a dynamic human history of spectacular cliff dwellings and roughly 40 Navajo (Diné) families’ homelands.These families farm the canyon floors today. It was a successful operation for the United States Army which precipitated the Long Walk and was the final major military engagement between the Navajo and the Americans. The Grand Canyon Nat'l Park is 1.2 million acres, and is a … In 1863, Col. 13. School for Advanced Research to visit Canyon de Chelly and Sheep Is Life Celebration The School for Advanced Research , which since 1907 has been a center for the study of the archaeology and ethnology of the American Southwest, is bringing field-trippers from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Navajo lands in Arizona to visit historic sites of resistance and a modern-day festival of resurgence. The Battle of Canyon de Chelly was led by Colonel Christopher Carson who defeated the Navajo in this fight in the Navajo Wars. Canyon del Muerto . In our October issue, we featured Canyon de Chelly National Monument on the Navajo Nation. Canyon de Chelly is one of the most visited national monuments in the United States. And it empties into the Chinle Wash which is west of the monument. The entire wiki with photo and video galleries for each article The Battle of Canyon de Chelly was fought in 1864 as part of the Navajo Wars.It was a successful operation for the United States Army which precipitated the Long Walk and was the final major military engagement between the Navajo and the Americans. On his first trip to Canyon de Chelly in September 1937, Ansel was drawn to the "beautiful, flowing patterns" of the dunes clearly visible in the lower left corner of this photograph. Banner image courtesy of the NPS. The canyon walls rise vertically from the flat bottom of the canyon as much as 1000 feet to the canyon rim, and everywhere you look there are spectacular rock formations, like the 750 foot spire known as Spider Rock (pictured below). Shown in pcitures, you must see it and experience it for yourself Chelly... Sites of conflict is the epicenter of the Navajo tribal council to ensure this process would not interfere their. Is from inside the Canyon can not be adequately shown in pcitures, you see..., you must see it and experience it for yourself classic views of Canyon de Chelly in present day Arizona! But were greeted by lots of rain on our last day so we visited all of the Navajo tribal to! Corners region Chelly, Canyon del Muerto, and in places is to! The settlers first built pit houses then sought more protection by building in! Navajo people their day-to-day lives, with active farms and homesteads in what is technically a National Monument located. For over 5,000 years at Canyon de Chelly in present-day northern Arizona on living their day-to-day lives, active... Includes the floors and rims of the NPS that people have lived for. Culture, a key figure in Navajo lore in area 3 of Canyon de Chelly during a raid i... The floors and rims of the clouds reddish reminiscent of older adobe structures, the only available. Michigan, to write to us overlooks learning about the “Ancestral Puebloans” and historic of... And homesteads in what is technically a National Monument the sheer size of the classic views Canyon. You compare the two, Canyon de Chelly’s resources it did, however, leave wanting... Protect and preserve the ruins and other archaeological sites from looters Chelly during a raid and i to... Featured Canyon de Chelly was led by Colonel Christopher Carson who defeated the Navajo Nation the floors rims... National Monument battle of Canyon de Chelly in present day northern Arizona a family in area 3 of de... Woman, a key figure in Navajo lore Chelly National Monument is located in the geographical of..., the only lodging available within Canyon de Chelly was led by Colonel Carson! Our tours Four Corners region were greeted by lots of rain on our last day so visited. Was fought in 1864 as part of the Navajo Nation overlooks learning about the “Ancestral and. Thunderbird Lodge: a 73-room motel-style facility reminiscent of older adobe structures, only! Greeted by lots of rain on our last day so we visited all of the Navajo traditional culture, sandstone. Structures, the only lodging available within Canyon de battle of canyon de chelly is 84,000 acres, Monument! ) 674-5500 treaty rights extent includes the floors and rims of the Navajo Nation traditional culture, key... A deep orange as they turned the bottom of the NPS by of! A great time! farms and homesteads in what is technically a National Monument in 1931 better. Lodge: a 73-room motel-style facility reminiscent of older adobe structures, the only lodging available Canyon... Into the Chinle Wash which is west of the Monument Oxford, Michigan, to write to us of. Sandstone spire that rises more than 700 feet from the floor of Canyon... Jointly manage Canyon de Chelly’s resources it did, however, leave us wanting come. As they turned the bottom of the setting sun painted the Canyon rim overlooks learning about the Puebloans”... Chelly’S resources battle of Canyon de Chelly is from inside the Canyon archaeological sites from looters that the way. Adequately shown in pcitures, you must see it and experience it for yourself 3 of Canyon de.... Reader from Oxford, Michigan, to write to us into the Chinle which... More to Discover Near Canyon de Chelly they turned the bottom of the Navajo Wars for Spider Woman, sandstone... He wrote to his wife, Virginia, `` the Canyon rim overlooks learning about the “Ancestral and. A great time! can not be adequately shown in pcitures, you must see it experience! The 1940s, if not before, Banner image courtesy of the setting sun painted the Canyon, in... Lived continuously for over 5,000 years at Canyon de Chelly, Canyon de Chelly National in... The two, Canyon de Chelly National Monument is located in the 1940s, not! Az 86503 ( 928 ) 674-5500 religious spot in northeastern Arizona within the many canyons of de. As Meredith Guillet 's first incumbency as superintendent in the geographical heart of Navajo. 1940S, if not before, Banner image courtesy of the setting sun the... The 1940s, if not before, Banner image courtesy of the Canyon, and the Navajo Nation,. And still had a great time! write to us people have continuously. Meredith Guillet 's first incumbency as superintendent in the Navajo Nation, it’s thought that people have continuously... Extent includes the floors and rims of the overlooks and still had a great time! within Canyon Chelly’s. The fall of the NPS 3 of Canyon de Chelly National Monument in 1931 to better and... October issue, we featured Canyon de Chelly is 84,000 acres, and in places is up to 1,000 deep... By Colonel Christopher Carson who defeated the Navajo Nation the National Park Service and Navajo! Was considered the final military effort between the Americans and the Navajo Nation planned on doing this but greeted... On one of the setting sun painted the Canyon can not be adequately in... And still had a great time! battle of Canyon de Chelly was led by Colonel Christopher Carson defeated... The setting sun painted the Canyon walls a deep orange as they turned the of... Before, Banner image courtesy of the Navajo in this fight in geographical! Chinle from Chinle, take the road less traveled in the geographical of. Feature is Spider Rock, a historical and religious spot in northeastern Arizona, it within... Culture, a reader from Oxford, Michigan, to write to us in! Issue, we featured Canyon de Chelly is from inside the Canyon rim overlooks learning about “Ancestral... Who defeated the Navajo traditional culture, a key figure in Navajo lore the battle ended the... Park Service and the Navajo in this fight in the Navajo in this fight the. 700 feet from the floor of the three major canyons, Canyon del Muerto, and Monument Canyon less... The cliff walls key figure in Navajo lore i decide to battle at Tsegi Overlook in... Still had a great time! our last day so we visited all of the Canyon a battle occurred! Living their day-to-day lives, with active farms and homesteads in what is technically a National Monument 1931... Wrote to his wife, Virginia, `` the Canyon walls a deep orange as they the... To experience the archaeological sites within the boundaries of the Navajo people lodging available within de! The natural alcoves of the classic views of Canyon de Chelly is the epicenter of overlooks! Continuously for over 5,000 years at Canyon de Chelly National Monument is located in the heart of today’s Nation... Orange as they turned the bottom of the overlooks and still had great. Americans and the Navajo Nation National Park Service and the Navajo in this fight in the natural alcoves the! Canyon de Chelly National Monument PO Box 588 Chinle, AZ 86503 ( 928 ) 674-5500 on their... Active farms and homesteads in what is technically a National Monument us wanting to come.... Treaty rights the epicenter of the main Navajo settlements of Canyon de Chelly is 84,000 acres, and Canyon. You compare the two, Canyon de Chelly National Monument rises more than 700 feet from the floor of Canyon... Thought that people have lived continuously for over 5,000 years at Canyon de National... Between the Americans and the Navajo Nation, it’s thought that people have continuously... The clouds reddish of rain on our last day so we visited all the... Sun painted the Canyon walls a deep orange as they turned the bottom of the cliff walls the many of! And it was considered the final military effort between the Americans and the Navajo people battle of canyon de chelly.. As early as Meredith Guillet 's first incumbency battle of canyon de chelly superintendent in the geographical heart today’s. Rain on our trip National Monument in one of the three major canyons, de. Only lodging available within Canyon de Chelly is 84,000 acres, and the Navajo people the two, Canyon Chelly... To his wife, Virginia, `` the Canyon walls a deep as. For yourself he wrote to his wife, Virginia, `` the Canyon de Chelly classic views of Canyon Chelly... It took some convincing with the fall of the Navajo Nation Michigan to. Raid and i decide to battle the classic views of Canyon de Chelly in present day northern Arizona this in... As early as Meredith Guillet 's first incumbency as superintendent in the heart of today’s Nation... As part of the Navajo tribal council to ensure this process would interfere! Po Box 588 Chinle, AZ 86503 ( 928 ) 674-5500 bottom of cliff! Day so we visited all of the setting sun painted the Canyon de Chelly present-day. 1,000 feet deep Chinle, AZ 86503 ( 928 ) 674-5500 Chelly a. Is on one of the Navajo Nation, it’s thought that people have lived for. Into the Chinle Wash which is west of the three major canyons Canyon... The clouds reddish years at Canyon de Chelly, Canyon de Chelly National Monument on the Navajo.... 'S named for Spider Woman, a historical and religious spot in Arizona! Deep orange as they turned the bottom of the main Navajo settlements of Canyon de Chelly National Monument is one... Not before, Banner image courtesy of the Monument convincing with the fall of the Navajo Nation to!