Travel the Trails

Trip 15: Navajo Route 7 East: Chinle to Spider Rock

30 miles (48 km) from Chinle to Spider Rock

Disclaimer: NANACT trip guides are based on information from Native Roads: The Complete Motoring Guide to the Navajo & Hopi Nations, 2nd Edition by Fran Kosik (Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2005). Some information may have changed since the publication of the book. While NANACT will attempt to maintain current information, consider verifying the current operation/existence of businesses, accommodations, dining and similar interests before planning your trip.

Scenic & Historic:

Chinle

The Navajo name for this community is Ch’inlih, meaning “water flowing.”

Chinle Rug Design

One of the more common rug designs throughout the Navajo Nation because of its relatively easy pattern is the Chinle design. It is simply a banded rug without borders. Developed during the Revival Period of weaving, from 1920 to 1940, the Chinle Rug has solid lines of color alternating with more complex bands that contain geometric designs.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Perhaps the most obvious question about this canyon is why is it named de Chelly (pronounced de-SHAY)? The generally accepted answer is that de Chelly is the Spanish mispronunciation of the Navajo word Tséyi’, meaning “rock canyon.”

Canyon de Chelly became a national monument in 1931, but unlike all other U.S. national monuments, the Navajo Tribe holds claim to the land. The park is administered by the National Park Service, whose visitors center provides valuable information about the ethnohistory and geology of the canyon.

The Southwest Parks and Monuments Association operates a nonprofit bookstore in the visitors center specializing in books and maps about the local area and the Navajo and Hopi nations.

Mile 5.7 (9.2 km) Turnoff to White House Overlook and Trail

This is the only ruin in the park that you may hike to without a Navajo guide and is well worth the time and effort. It is about 1.25 miles (2 km) one-way to the ruin, with a drop in elevation of about 500 feet (152 m). The well-marked trail starts at the south end of the parking lot. Because of the high temperatures in summer, carry at least a quart (1 L) of water with you on this hike. This trail is not wheelchair-accessible. You can buy a White House Trail guide at the visitors center for 50 cents, which explains the history of the ruin, as well as the geology and plant life found along the trail.

Accommodations (Hotels/Camping/RV Parks):

Canyon de Chelly and Vicinity - Lodging 

Garcia's Trading Post (North)

Now the Holiday Inn, the former trading post is about three miles east of the junction of U.S. Highway 191 and Navajo Route 7. (800)-HOLIDAY or (520) 674-5000.

Thunderbird Lodge

In 1902, Sam Day built a trading post that would eventually grow into the beautiful Thunderbird Lodge of today. The Thunderbird Lodge offers half or full-day jeep tours of Canyon de Chelly. Half-day tours will take you to the lower halves of both Canyon de Chelly and Canyon del Muerto. The full-day tour takes you on a sixty-mile roundtrip tour of Canyon del Muerto to Mummy Cave and Canyon de Chelly to Spider Rock. The jeeps are open, so bring a hat and sunscreen.  Half-day tours: Departs at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2 p.m. Full-day tour: Departs at 9 a.m., returns at 5 p.m. For reservations call: (800) 679-2473 or (928) 674-5841.

Best Western (formerly Canyon de Chelly Motel)

On the right as you turn onto Navajo Route 7 from U.S. Highway 191. This hotel has an indoor pool and restaurant. (800) 327-0354 or (928) 674-5875.

NOTE: Both Holiday Inn and Thunder Bird Lodge will pack lunches. Also, there is a Bashas Grocery store US-91 near junction IR-7

Canyon de Chelly and Vicinity - Camping and/or RV

Cottonwood Campground

Free year-round camping on a first-come, first-served basis. Five-day limit per visit or fourteen days per year. From April through October, facilities include restrooms, picnic tables, and water. From November through March, there are portable toilets and picnic tables only. There are no shower facilities. RVs are allowed but are restricted to thirty-five feet (11 m). A dump station is available.  928-674-5501, Groups of 15-20 call 928-674-8261

Spider Rock RV Park, 928-674-8261

Tsaile Lake Campground

928-871-6645 or 928-871-7307, 2 miles off IR -12  S. of Dine’ College in Tsaile, eastern tip of Canyon De Chelly.

Tours:

Canyon de Chelly National Monument Tour Guides

You will probably want to hire a Navajo guide to take you on a tour of the canyon. Except for White House Ruin Trail, you may not enter the canyon without an authorized guide. Members of the Tsegi Guide Association offer interpretative hikes, horseback trips, and jeep tours. You can also hire someone to take you for a tour through the canyon, using your own four-wheel-drive vehicle. Make arrangements and obtain a permit at the visitors center.

De Chelly Tours (928) 674-5433 or 928-674-3772; www.dechellydours.com (4-wheel drive tours)

Tseyi Jeep Tours (928) 674-3262 (4-wheel drive tours)

Footpath Journey (928) 724-3366

Antelope House Tours (928) 674-5231

Justin Tso Horse Rental (928 674-5678

Twin Trail Tours (928) 674-8425

Totsonii Ranch (928) 755-6209

Sandstone Tours  (928) 674-3134 (4-wheel drive tours)

Canyon Hiking Services, 928-674-5326 PO BOX 2832, Chinle , AZ 86503

Food & Dining:

Services (Auto/Gas/Repair/Emergency):

Chinle and Vicinity Emergency Numbers

Navajo Police (928) 674-2111 x206

Hospital 928-674-7001

Ambulance 928-674-7098

Art & Culture (Galleries/Trading Posts/Museums):

Canyon de Chelly Visitors Center

928-674-5500, Information on ranger activities.

Permissions

• Trip information is condensed with permission from Native Roads: The Complete Motoring Guide to the Navajo and Hopi Nations, by Fran Kosik, Rio Nuevo Publishers, Tucson, Arizona, 2005. Trip numbers generally coincide with chapter number in the book. Fran's full book contains much more wonderful information on traveling our Native roads. For more detailed information, the book can be purchased from:

  Museum of Northern Arizona bookstore, 3101 N. Ft. Valley Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86001; phone #: 928-774-5213 or direct 928-774-5211 + Ext 261. Or, contact the publisher, Rio Nuevo Publishers, PO Box 5250, Tucson, Arizona 85703; phone #: 520-623-9558 or 800-969-9558. Trip numbers generally correspond to chapter numbers.