Spider Rock

A sandstone formation rising 830 feet (253 meters) emerges from the canyon floor at the junction of two major side canyons within the national monument. The red-tinted rock walls display horizontal layering from different geological epochs. Wind and water erosion have carved the characteristic shape over millions of years.

The surrounding protected area was created by presidential proclamation in 1931 and covers more than 83,800 acres (33,900 hectares) in northeastern Arizona. Archaeological findings in the adjacent canyons document human occupation spanning over two thousand years by Ancestral Puebloans and later Navajo communities.

In Navajo tradition, the formation marks the home of Spider Woman, a spiritual being who taught people the art of weaving and whose presence remains embedded in the tribe's cultural memory. For the Navajo Nation, this site represents a living connection to their ancestors and craft traditions.

Visitors reach several viewing areas along South Rim Drive, which opens from sunrise to sunset year-round. The nearest parking area lies about seven miles (11 kilometers) from the visitor center. Descending into the canyon requires a guided tour with Navajo guides, as the area is tribal land.

The formation comprises two separate rock towers rising independently from the canyon floor, separated by a narrow gap. Geologists have determined that the rock layering contains deposits from roughly 230 million years ago, when the region was covered by a shallow sea.