|
Canyon de ChellyAncient Culture and Modern ConvenienceAs one of the world’s leading regions for tourism, the American West offers a tremendous selection of destinations, including one of the finest examples of spectacular geological formations meeting the mysteries of past cultures Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
Accommodations in Canyon de Chelly are provided by the historic Thunderbird Lodge, featuring 72 modern rooms equipped with comfortable beds, full bathrooms, rustic furniture, Navajo paintings and cable television. The lodge’s pink adobe construction is reminiscent of ancient pueblos with ceiling fans and air conditioners to keep the rooms cool in the hot summer months. Guests enjoy sitting in the shade of cottonwood trees planted in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The lodge sits on the site of a trading post built in 1896, and its cafeteria-style restaurant is located in the trading post’s original building. The all-day cafeteria serves Native American dishes as well as continental cuisine. Adorning the walls of the dining room are excellent examples of Navajo rugs and artwork available for purchase. In the center of the dining area is a vault-like room that at one time served as a jail for the trading post. The Thunderbird Lodge gift shop and rug room offer some of the region’s finest Native American jewelry, crafts and Navajo rugs as well as mementos, clothing and other items. The entire staff at Thunderbird Lodge is comprised of Navajo or individuals of other Native American descent. A trip into the canyons is practically a necessity. With the exception of hiking the White House Ruin trail, travel in the canyons is permitted only with a park ranger or other authorized Navajo guide. Visitors have the option of Thunderbird Lodge tours, hiking, riding horses or traveling by permit with an authorized guide in their own four-wheel drive vehicles. Thunderbird Lodge is the only authorized provider of group tours in Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Experienced Navajo guides explain the significance of man-made structures and symbols while pointing out natural points of interest. Heavy-duty six-wheel drive touring vehicles are equipped with padded seats to provide a comfortable and memorable experience. Guests typically enjoy an open-air ride, but during inclement weather the vehicles can be covered with clear caps engineered by the lodge’s maintenance staff. The tours stop frequently for photographs and to visit ruins, Navajo farms and rock art. Half-day tours departing at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., depending on the season, take visitors into the lower halves of both Canyon de Chelly and Canyon del Muerto and last 3½ hours. Full day tours begin in the spring and last until late fall. They depart at 9 a.m. and return at 5 p.m. The full-day tours take visitors on a 60-mile round trip through Canyon del Muerto to Mummy Cave and Canyon de Chelly to Spider Rock. Visitors who prefer self-guided tours are welcome to travel the 22-mile South Rim Drive providing access to six scenic overlook points and the trailhead of White House Ruin. The North Rim Drive, also approximately 20 miles in length, includes four overlooks. Thunderbird Lodge is located within Canyon de Chelly National Monument and is open year-round. For reservations, call 1-800-679-2473. Canyon de Chelly National Monument Homepage Edited by Dave Shultz -Updated 1-7-00- |
|
TM
Located in northeast Arizona on Navajo Nation land,
Canyon de Chelly (pronounced "Canyon de Shay" from the Navajo word "Tseyi" which means "in the rock") contains 83,840
acres and was authorized as part of the National Park System in 1931. Today, the site preserves ruins of Native American Anasazi
villages built in steep-walled canyons between A.D. 350 and 1300 as well as pictographs and
petroglyphs. The monument is actually comprised of two large canyons Canyon de Chelly and Canyon
del Muerto (Spanish for "Canyon of the Dead") and several smaller canyons.