Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Canyon de Chelly is a national monument in Arizona featuring three sandstone canyons with vertical walls rising up to 1,000 feet and containing ancient cliff dwellings and rock carvings. The canyons form a complex landscape of natural rock formations and archaeological remains built over many centuries.

People lived in the canyons starting around 350 CE and left behind structures that remained occupied for several centuries before the region was eventually abandoned. Official protection came in 1931 when it became a monument, with management shared between the National Park Service and the Navajo Nation.

The name comes from the Navajo word "Tsegi," meaning rock, reflecting the deep connection between the Navajo people and this place. You can see this bond today in the traditional homes and fields scattered throughout the canyons, where families maintain their way of life.

The easiest way to explore is along South Rim Drive, which has seven overlooks offering views of the canyons from above. For a closer experience, you can book a tour with an authorized Navajo guide who can take you down into the canyons to see the sites up close.

The cliff dwellings are spread across all three canyons rather than concentrated in one area, showing how the ancient people adapted to different parts of the landscape. Some structures are so tucked into the canyon walls that they only become visible when walking through the canyons with a guide.