National park · United States
Canyon de Chelly National MonumentTséyiʼ
Drive both rims for free in 3–4 hours, walk White House Ruins Trail (Apr–Sep) for the only unguided canyon floor access, or pay for a Navajo-guided canyon tour; skip the floor on foot without a guide — it is not allowed.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
339 km²131 sq mi
approximate
Established
1931
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 339 km²131 sq mi
- About 84,000 acres of Navajo Tribal Trust Land; the monument is entirely within the Navajo Nation (check).
- Established
- 1931
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Canyon de Chelly is the rare National Park Service unit that sits entirely on Navajo Tribal Trust Land: the canyons, the cliff houses and the farms on the floor are part of a living community, and the Navajo Nation manages access with NPS support. That single fact drives every decision here. The rim drives and their overlooks are free and open to anyone, and White House Ruins Trail is the one signed descent to the floor you can walk without a guide, usually April to September. Everything else on the floor — longer walks, drives, bikes, backcountry camping — needs a licensed Navajo guide, so the real question is whether you pay for a half or full day in a six-wheel or 4x4 vehicle or settle for the views from above. Come in April, May, September or October for mild days and clear light; July and August bring monsoon storms and flash-flood risk in the narrow sections, and December to February can ice the rim roads. Chinle, five to ten minutes from the visitor centre, is the only practical base.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1931.
Size and age
339 km²131 sq mi · national park since 1931
About 84,000 acres of Navajo Tribal Trust Land; the monument is entirely within the Navajo Nation (check).
Why go
- Three canyons cut 300 m into the Defiance Plateau, with Ancestral Puebloan cliff houses and Navajo farms still worked on the floor.
- The rim drives and overlooks cost nothing and take half a day.
- White House Ruins Trail is the one canyon-floor walk you can do without a guide.
- It is a living Navajo community, not a museum: a few dozen families still farm and herd here.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanCold, snow possible; rim roads can ice
- FebCold; quiet
- MarMild days, cold nights; wind
- AprWhite House Trail opens; mild
- MayWarm, dry, long days
- JunHot on the floor; afternoon storms start
- JulMonsoon: flash-flood risk in the canyon
- AugMonsoon peak; trail may close
- SepStorms ease; clear light
- OctCool, dry, best walking
- NovCool and clear; few visitors
- DecCold; some services closed
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mule deer and livestock on the roads at duskAll year · Drive slowly after sunset; animals are drawn to roadside vegetation. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Raptors and canyon wrens on the rimsMar–May, Sep–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Wildflowers on the plateauApr–May | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Flagstaff
I-40 east to Chambers, then US-191 north to the monument.
3–3.5 h
From Gallup, New Mexico
I-40 west to Chambers, then US-191 north; Gallup has the nearest Amtrak station.
2.5–3 h
From Albuquerque
I-40 west to Chambers, then US-191 north.
4.5–5 h
From Farmington, New Mexico
South on US-491 and US-191; stop at the North Rim overlooks on the way in.
3–3.5 h
From Grand Canyon South Rim
East on I-40 via Flagstaff and Chambers, then US-191 north.
5–5.5 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| South Rim Drive | Seven overlooks along a 26 km road to Spider Rock, the classic view.Seven overlooks along a 16 mi road to Spider Rock, the classic view. | Free, open daylight hours. |
| North Rim Drive | Three overlooks into Canyon del Muerto, including Mummy Cave and Massacre Cave. | Free; partly unpaved, check conditions. |
| Canyon floor | Farms, cliff houses, petroglyphs and the living Navajo community. | Guided only, except White House Ruins Trail. |
| Chinle | Nearest town: lodging, fuel, supermarket. | Open; 5–10 min from the visitor centre. |
Sketch map
- 1Visitor Center · Headquarters≈36.153, -109.539Map ↗
- 2Tunnel Overlook · Viewpoint≈36.143, -109.517Map ↗
- 3White House Overlook · Viewpoint≈36.130, -109.479Map ↗
- 4Spider Rock Overlook · Viewpoint≈36.103, -109.357Map ↗
- 5Mummy Cave Overlook · Viewpoint≈36.229, -109.361Map ↗
- 6Chinle · Town≈36.154, -109.553Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance (rim drives and overlooks) | Free | vehicle | No NPS entrance fee; the monument is on Navajo land. |
| White House Ruins Trail | Free | person | Free; open seasonally, usually April–September (check). |
| Navajo-guided canyon tour (half day) | US$75–120 | person | 2026 estimate; required for any canyon-floor access beyond White House Trail. |
| Navajo-guided canyon tour (full day) | US$130–200 | person | 2026 estimate; prices vary by operator and vehicle. |
| Backcountry camping permit | Free | group | Only with a licensed Navajo guide; fee set by the operator (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Rim drives and overlooks no permit
Canyon floor beyond White House Trail permit or guide
Backcountry camping permit or guide
Park rules
- Guides
- Any canyon-floor access beyond White House Ruins Trail requires a licensed Navajo guide.
- Alcohol
- Prohibited on the Navajo Nation; keep any you have locked in the vehicle and do not take it into a room.
- Drone use
- Not allowed without permission from the Navajo Nation and the park (check).check
- Climbing and touching ruins
- Do not climb on or enter cliff houses, and do not touch petroglyphs.
- Photography of residents
- Ask before photographing people, homes and ceremonies.
Where to stay
In the park
Thunderbird Lodge
Motel-style rooms at the canyon mouth; open year-round.
Near the park
Chinle hotels
Chain and independent motels 5–10 min from the visitor centre.
In the park
Monument campground
About 15 basic first-come sites, open year-round, no hook-ups.
Near the park
Spider Rock Campground
Tent and RV sites plus Navajo hogans; no credit cards (check).
Safety
Flash floods in the canyon high
Heat on the canyon floor medium
Altitude and cold low
Remote roads medium
Accessibility
- The visitor centre, its parking and most South Rim overlooks are paved and reachable by car with short walks.
- White House Ruins Trail is steep, rough and not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
- Guided tours use high-clearance vehicles; ask operators about mobility needs before booking.
Visiting lightly
- Book tours with Navajo-owned operators so the money stays in the canyon community.
- Carry out all rubbish; there is little waste collection on the rims.
- Buy crafts from vendors at the overlooks rather than imported souvenirs.
- Stay on trails and do not handle artefacts or rock art.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Canyon de Chelly National Monument?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee for the visitor centre, the rim drives or the overlooks, and White House Ruins Trail is free. Costs start only if you hire a licensed Navajo guide for the canyon floor, roughly US$75–200 per person for a half or full day in 2026.
What are the best hikes in Canyon de Chelly National Monument?
White House Ruins Trail is the only unguided hike: about 4 km round trip with a 180 m descent to the floor, open seasonally (usually April–September). Everything else on the floor, including longer walks to ruins and rock art, needs a licensed Navajo guide.
When is the best time to visit Canyon de Chelly National Monument?
April, May, September and October: mild days, clear light and the White House trail open. July and August bring monsoon storms and flash-flood risk in the canyon, and December to February is cold with possible snow and ice on the rim roads.
Can I drive into the canyon myself?
No. Private vehicles are not allowed on the canyon floor. You can drive both rim roads for free; the floor is guided-tour or guided-hike only, except the White House Ruins Trail.
Do I need a reservation for a canyon tour?
Book ahead in spring and autumn, when tours fill. Operators run from the canyon mouth and Chinle, and most use high-clearance vehicles; confirm the meeting point and whether lunch is included.
Is there alcohol at Canyon de Chelly?
No. Alcohol is prohibited on the Navajo Nation. Keep any you are carrying locked in your vehicle and do not take it into a hotel room.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go