Canyon de Chelly

There is one National Monument on the Navajo Reservation and we happen to live about a fifteen minute walk away. Canyon de Chelly (pronounced Shay) is made of red rock and green cottonwoods. There are abandoned cliff dwellings hidden in its nooks and native people continue to live, plant and camp in its confines. The park is closed to tourists, but since we are residents and with a local guide we are allowed to explore.

There are a few cliff dwellings that we can see from the rim. Its a great place to bring binoculars!

The name"Chinle" means "flowing out" and refers to its position where the water flows out of Canyon de Chelly.

Not too long ago a river flowed through this canyon and made the area very fertile. Now it has been dammed above the canyon so only seasonal floods come through.

Access inside the canyon is limited unless you are native and farm land in the canyon or know someone who does. So far we have only viewed the canyon from the edge, but we hope to go inside soon!