Canyon de Chelly is a unique place in the National Park system because it is located on Navajo Reservation in Northeast Arizona. It is also different because it is mostly tribal land and it is still farmed in the valley by Navajo as they have for generations. The National Park service is a partner here but the only access you have today is the south or north rim drives and very short walks from a few of those overlooks. To enter the canyon you must hire a Navajo guide and, since many points are sacred to the Navajo tribe you must stay within the parameters of the tour with limited photography and out-of-the-jeep walks. We did not do this for two reasons, first we were committed to a tour in Monument Valley so we did not want a second expense and, two, because the river was high some of the jeeps were stuck or the tour shortened. We originally planned two nights here but in one afternoon and the next morning we were able to view all the points on the two drives we were allowed. The scenery in the canyon is exceptional and the farms we could see added interest to the landscape. We did camp in the local campground with no services for $20.
