canyon de chelly national monument tours

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OUR CANYON DE CHELLY TOURS

Tour the canyon with us, we have multiple options for touring Canyon De Chelly. The ride and awesome scenery will amaze you. The best way to experience the archaeological sites within the many canyons of Canyon De Chelly National Monument is on one of our tours.

Our All-Day Tour includes the entire length of Canyon De Chelly and Canyon Del Muerto.

The all day tour leaves at 9:00am and lasts approximately 8 hours. The first canyon for the day is Canyon De Chelly and includes the highlights of Spider Rock and White House Ruins.  You will travel the full length of Canyon De Chelly, traveling to the base of the towering 800 foot monolith of Spider Rock, where canyon walls rise over 1000 feet.  White House Ruins and many other ruins are along the way in the lower canyon.  This portion of the trip exceeds 32 miles.

The next leg of your tour is Canyon Del Muerto.  You will travel almost the full length of Canyon Del Muerto with Mummy Cave, Antelope House Ruin and Navajo Fortress being the highlights of this canyon.  Mummy Cave is a partially restored ancestral apartment complex constructed under an arching overhang in the weathered sandstone.  At Antelope House, colored drawings of antelope created at the beginning of the last century are side by side with creations of the Ancestral Pueblo.  Canyon walls at Antelope House Ruin arch into the canyon over the stream bed below.  The round trip for this canyon exceeds thirty miles.

Lunch and snacks are provided.  

Rate: $150.00 per person

Note: This tour is currently unavailable.

Our Four-Hour Tour includes the following major ruins;

• Kokopelli Cave
• Petroglyph Rock
• Junction Ruin
• Ceremonial Cave
• Antelope House Ruin in Canyon Del Muerto
• White House Ruin in Canyon De Chelly

The 4-hour tours leave daily, either in the morning (9am), afternoon or sunset.

Departure times for our afternoon tour:

• November through March: 1pm departure
• April through October: 2pm departure

Our Sunset tour is seasonal, operating April through October.

Departure times for the sunset tour: May through September – 4:00pm departure April and October – 3:00pm departure

Rate: $70.00 per person

Spider Rock Rim Tour & Storytelling  

Spider Rock Rim Tour & Storytelling leaves at 5pm, departing from the front of the Thunderbird Lodge. This two-hour tour includes traveling 37-miles along the South Rim, viewing different overlooks and ruins along the way. When arriving at the Spider Rock Overlook, you have the option to stretch your legs, catch a great view, hear the history, and stories of the Navajo (Dineh) and the infamous Spider Rock.

Highlights include

• Scenic Views
• Historic Ruins
• Native American History
• Storytelling

Rate: $35.00 per person

OUR VEHICLES AND GUIDES

Our tours are conducted on Pinzgauer army troop carriers, built by Steyr-Puch of Austria, manufacturer of the Mercedes G Wagon. Our Pinzgauers have seat belts for all 10 passengers. They are very impressive off road, and in 6wd with 3 axles locked, they will go places where Hummers and Jeeps fear to tread. Our model is the Soft Top 6×6 with two rear axles. The soft tops are easily and quickly rolled up for exceptional viewing.

Our Navajo guides teach you the history of the canyons and about Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi), Hopi and Navajo peoples. We offer you more than just viewing our scenery. Every guide is a professional, certified by the National Park Service and the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department.

All tours depart from Thunderbird Lodge Trading Post. Please check-in at least 20 minutes prior to your departure time. Bottled water and snacks are provided.

For more information about our Tours:

Phone: 928-674-5842 Email: [email protected]

CLOSURES MAY BE POSSIBLE, DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.

Canyon de Chelly Tour Operators

Navajo nation park & recreation.

To book a guided tour in Canyon de Chelly, select a tour operator from the list below, please call to make an appointment or take a look at the link provided for more information. All Navajo Tribal Park areas are Guided Tour only.

All Day Tour

Take a tour of the entire length of Canyon De Chelly and Canyon Del Muerto. You will travel approximately 60 miles throughout the spectacular canyons stopping at the base of the 800-foot monolith, Spider Rock.

Departs at 9:00 am each day.

Highlights include

• Spider Rock
• All other major ruins included on the 4-hour tour

Click here for more information on the All Day Tour

$150 per person

4-Hour Tour

Choose from Morning (9 am), Afternoon (2 pm) or Sunset departure times. Our Sunset tours are offered seasonally from April through October.

During the 4-Hour Tour, you will travel approximately 24 miles on the breathtaking canyon floor.

• Antelope House
• White House Ruins
• Navajo Fortress

Click here for more information on the 4-hour tour

$70 Per Person

Spider Rock Rim Tour & Storytelling

Spider Rock Rim Tour & Storytelling leaves at 5pm, departing from the front of the Thunderbird Lodge. This two-hour tour includes traveling 37-miles along the South Rim, viewing different overlooks and ruins along the way. When arriving at the Spider Rock Overlook, you have the option to stretch your legs, catch a great view, hear the history, and stories of the Navajo (Dineh) and the infamous Spider Rock.

• Scenic Views
• Historic Ruins
• Native American History
• Storytelling

Click here for more information on the Spider Rock Rim Tour & Storytelling tour

$35 Per Person

T: 928-401-0430

Footpath Journeys

Canyon de chelly.

Ya'at'eeh

My name is Lupita McClanahan and my family has lived in Tse’gi (Rock Canyon) at Canyon De Chelly National Monument for as long as there have been stories. I offer hiking, camping, and cultural immersion tours through my business Footpath Journeys.

Dine’ (Navajo) culture teaches that we must walk in beauty. Footpath Journeys is my way of sharing the beauty of the canyon, our traditions, and our stories with you.

Lupita's Story

Lupita McClanahan grew up in the canyon and then worked for years as a Park Service Ranger. She has dedicated her life to building a bridge between the modern world, and traditional Dine' culture. Through Footpath Journeys, watch how she brings people like you into the canyon to have an immersive cultural experience, while also re-educating the next generation of Dine’ peoples in their culture.

Camp and Hike in the Canyon

4 Days and 3 Nights of Cultural Immersion

Available every week in the Spring and Fall for Private Groups

Imagine visiting an ancestral Hogan whose residents still live there. Then put that Hogan in a remote part of a National Monument where you are one of just a handful of people who get to stay there each year. Spend your mornings taking hikes along ancient trails to see cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, and majestic canyon walls. In the afternoons, join residents of the canyon as you participate in seasonal cultural activities like corn planting or weaving. Then sit by the campfire and watch the stars come out while you hear stories from an elder who was raised in the traditional ways.

This is just the beginning of your experience with Footpath Journeys.

We offer Cultural Immersion Experiences at two unique locations at Canyon De Chelly. The itinerary of both 4-day trips is similar in that you will explore the land and participate in cultural activities with Lupita and her relatives.

Multilingual Functionality

Advanced tech.

Choose Your Experience:

Yei Bi Cheii is a remote camp on the canyon floor about 3 miles from a trailhead. Lupita’s ancestral hogan sits at the confluence of Canyon del Muerto and Canyon de Chelly, nestled among cottonwoods. This experience focuses on ancient history with visits to White House Cliff Dwellings, Ledge Cliff Dwelling, and the Birthing Hogan. Petroglyphs and pictographs cover the canyon walls, and participants get to enjoy the canyon’s beauty and solitude day and night. Camping gear is transported there on a 4x4 so that you can just carry a daypack. Yei Bi Cheii camp is best for groups of 15 or less who want to immerse themselves in the canyon itself.

Sheep Camp is located near the rim and is accessible by car. It can accommodate larger groups like schools, or groups that prefer sleeping in camper vans. This camp will help you understand the daily life for the year-round residents of the Navajo Nation. Corn is planted, wild onions are harvested, and Lupita keeps her sheep here. From Sheep Camp you will ride in a pickup to the rim to go on hikes. Wind Arch is a 5-mile round trip hike with 1,500 ft of vertical gain. It is more difficult and remote than any hikes at Yei Bi Cheii.  The second hike will be a half day exploration along the rim with fantastic views.

What Visitors Have Said-

My class came to Sheep Camp and it was so incredible. This wasn't a vacation but I feel like it was the best trip ever because I learned so much about the Dine' and myself.

My son and I spent a few days with Lupita and it was life changing. Going to the canyon felt like a another country because the culture is so incredible and different. My son Valentino and I still talk about the experience.

My time with Lupita was so special.  She shared her land and culture with us in a personal way while walking through a gorgeous canyon.  I learned so much through our casual conversations and observing her quiet interactions with nature.

Preserving Navajo History In Canyon De Chelly

June 28, 2010  ·  12:00 AM ET

Heard on Morning Edition

Crossing Between Worlds, The Navajo of Canyon de Chelly

By Jeanne Simonelli

with Lupita McClanahan

Canyon de Chelly Tours

• See all photos

3 hour Private Tour in Chinle

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Canyon de Chelly Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

Beauty Way Jeep Tours

Welcome – yá’át’ééh.

Thank you for visiting us. Canyon De Chelly (pronounced d’shay) is in the Center of the Navajo Nation in the community of Chinle, Arizona. The Canyon is home to over 50 Navajo families, that still utilize the land for farming, ranching and a weekend home. Throughout the Canyon you will come across hundreds of historical sites, ranging from pictograph, petroglyph, cliff dwellings created by the Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi), and granaries. Beauty Way Jeep Tours prides itself and stating that all of our guides are local Navajo in habitants of the Canyon many of us still occupy our homestead and farmland within the base of the canyon floor. Our Guides are all authorized by the National Park Service and Navajo Park and Recreation to lead visitors into the Canyon by Jeep, hiking, and camping.

Read the Full Story about Canyon De Chelly HERE

Establishing our business in 1989 as De Chelly Tours, my father wanted to highlight the south Canyon where our family homestead is located. In 2005 we decided to rebrand the company to Beauty Way Jeep Tours. Beauty Way is a Navajo way of life. With our tours we wanted to highlight more of our traditions and give thanks to our ancestors so we named our company Beauty Way Jeep Tours.

Our company has lead hundreds of visitors from all over the world for over 35 years. We have accommodate Sierra Club, REI, Jeep Jamboree, countless universities and scholars. Our company also has lead several large film and photograph groups into the canyon Disney Lone Ranger, PBS, Firstline Films, Arizona Highway, foreign documentaries. Trips we’ve accommodated for special interested guest include photographers, painters, geologist, architects, authors, musicians, weavers, religious groups and large tour bus we’ve accommodated more than 75 people on a trip into Canyon De Chelly.

Popular Stops in Canyon DeChelly

Watch this video about our tours – many thanks to @jerryarizona for creating this.

Pickup Locations

Best Western Canyon De Chelly

Holiday Inn Canyon De Chelly

Cottonwood Campground entrance

Canyon De Chelly Welcome Center

Please note: Thunderbird Lodge does not allow pickups on their property. For our clients who are staying there, Cottonwood Campground Entrance is a short walking distance from the lodge and we can pick you up there.

Daily: 6 AM - 8 PM Mountain Standard Time

You can reach us by phone on our landline at: ( 928) 674-3772

Or call or TEXT us on our Cellphone at: (928) 241-3767

Email: [email protected]

CDC Visiting Information

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Exiting nps.gov

Alerts in effect, ya'at'teeh welcome to the homeland of the dine'.

For nearly 5,000 years, people have lived in these canyons - longer than anyone has lived uninterrupted anywhere on the Colorado Plateau.  In the place called Tsegi, their homes and images tell us their stories. Today, Dine' families make their homes, raise livestock, and farm the lands in the canyons. A place like no other, the park and Navajo Nation work together to manage the land's resources.

Embed Video

Please watch the video to plan your visit to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. This provides a brief overview of how to make the best of your visit and what you should know before you go. We hope to see you soon. Thank you.

Enjoy the scenic views from the overlooks

Enjoy a free canyon hike with a Park Ranger

Enjoy a canyon tour with a Navajo guide

Last updated: February 13, 2023

Explore, Learn and Enjoy!

Park footer, contact info, mailing address:.

P.O. Box 588 Chinle, AZ 86503

928 674-5500

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Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Plan ahead to explore one of the longest continually inhabited areas on the Colorado Plateau.

It takes some effort to access the remote canyons on the Navajo Nation . Visitors content with a scenic drive have plenty to see once they reach the spectacular area in the northwest corner of Arizona. To explore these canyons and get up close to the stunning rock formations, visitors must schedule a tour with an authorized Navajo guide. On guided tours, visitors get the inside story on this sacred place where canyon walls cradle hundreds of ancient pueblo ruins and a contemporary Navajo community herds sheep and grows crops on the canyon floor. Hotels in Chinle , the gateway to the canyon, make a great overnight option in this remote area of Arizona.

NOTE: White House Overlook and Trail, one of seven overlooks and the only public trail on South Rim Drive, remains closed due to safety concerns.

Scenic Drives

Two self-guided drives follow the rims of the canyon, with three overlooks on the North Rim Drive and six overlooks on the South Rim Drive. The 130-mile loop road leads to stunning views of crimson cliffs towering over agriculture fields that thrive at the bottom of the canyon. At the end of South Rim Drive, take in the sights from the popular Spider Rock overlook, featuring the park’s signature geologic formation. There are no entry fees to drive the rim roads, but authorized Navajo guides are required to explore the canyons.

The best way to experience the canyon up close is to join a Navajo-led tour. On excursions into Canyon de Chelly, visitors hike, ride in Jeeps or travel on horseback into areas with lush valley floors surrounded by sheer sandstone cliffs. Along the trails, guides point out ancient pueblo ruins built by their ancestors and share areas that have been cherished for generations. White House Ruins can be seen from one of the overlooks on South Rim Drive, but the public hiking trail has been closed for safety concerns.

Navajo Nation Attractions

In the northeast corner Arizona, natural wonders abound in the expansive Navajo Nation. See vibrantly colored tree fossils at Petrified Forest National Park and explore the Painted Desert’s eerie badlands, both viewable from I-40 on the way to Canyon de Chelly. North of the canyon, Monument Valley’s red sandstone mesas and Navajo National Monument’s ancestral pueblo ruins capture the natural beauty and cultural significance of this special place. South of the canyon’s entrance in Chinle, stop at Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado to shop for authentic Navajo arts and crafts.

For More Information

Canyon de Chelly National Monument PO Box 588 Chinle, AZ 86503 (928) 674-5500

Visit Destination Website

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Enjoy the Canyon Scenic Tour

The tours that we offer, 4x4 vehicle tours.

Come join us for an unforgettable experience!  You’ll be driven on a half day 4X4 Vehicle Tour that will amaze you.

Hiking Tours

Come hike with us! You’ll be joined with our experienced Diné guides to learn about the history, culture, and geography of Canyon De Chelly.

Tseyi Jeep Tours

The Ultimate Canyon de Chelly Experience

Canyon de Chelly Tours Customized for You

Experience breathtaking Canyon de Chelly.  A Canyon de Chelly Tour will introduce you to one of the most beautiful places in the world.   Authorized tour guide Bobby Vanwinkle has been sharing the experience of this majestic landscape with visitors for generations. When selecting your tour, you can choose from the three hour tour, the five hour tour, horseback tours, and even camping options with hogan rental available in the Winter season.  With a wide range of options, you are sure to find one that meets the sightseeing needs of your family or group.

Tseyi Jeep Tours by Bobby Vanwinkle

The term tseyi   (pronouned sayYEE)  in Navajo refers to an opening in the rock or a canyon.  The Hispanic explorers pronounced it as shay  with a Spanish spelling of chelly.   When they arrived, people had already been living in the Canyon for hundreds of years.  As the latest occupants of the Canyon, the Navajo or Diné are working to carry on the tradition of caring for the land and the legacy that has been passed down to them.  As part of the legacy, Bobby Vanwinkle is glad to share with you the Canyon where he was born.

Arranging Your Canyon de Chelly Tour

Canyon de Chelly tours are available by reservation.  You can use the  Contact Us page or the links on this page to arrange a tour.  Payment can be made with cash or major credit card with prior notice.  We will arrange a meeting place with you prior to your tour, but most of our guests meet us at the parking lot just north of Thunderbird Lodge.  

Tseyi Jeep Tours are available for large and small parties, and we offer non-traditional tour options.  See the Tours page for more information.  Give us a call to plan a more specialized tour than those available on the website or just to get acquainted before you book the tour of your choice.  We use open-top and enclosed Jeep and Suburban vehicles that are carefully maintained for dependability in the sandy and sometimes wet environment of the Canyon.

Are you already at the Canyon and don’t have a tour reservation? Call Bobby at 928-313-4052 anyway. He can usually work with your schedule and give you a view of the Canyon that can’t be seen otherwise.

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Canyon de Chelly National Monument: The Complete Guide

 JLR / Getty Images

Things to Do

• Best Hikes & Trails

Scenic Drives

Canyon tours, where to camp, where to stay, how to get there, accessibility, tips for your visit, canyon de chelly national monument.

Jointly managed by the National Park Service and the Navajo Nation, Canyon de Chelly National Monument sits on approximately 84,000 acres of tribal land in northeast Arizona and actually consists of two canyons: Canyon de Chelly (pronounced “shay”) and Canyon del Muerto. From the visitor center, Canyon de Chelly runs slightly southeast while Canyon del Muerto runs northeast, forming a “V.”

You can view Ancestral Puebloan pit houses dating back nearly 5,000 years, cliff dwellings built into the canyon walls, and Hogans lived in by Navajo today for free from overlooks on the rim. However, to explore the canyons’ interior, you’ll need to hire a Navajo guide.

Most people experience the park by driving its two scenic drives, one with views of Canyon de Chelly and the other with views of Canyon del Muerto. Stop by the visitor center to pick up a map, watch the 23-minute introductory video, and learn about ranger-led programs before hitting the road. You can also hire a Navajo guide at the visitor center to take you into the canyon on a 4x4, horseback, or hiking tour.

Best Hikes & Trails

There is only one trail in Canyon de Chelly National Monument that you can hike without a guide, the White House Trail. If you want to explore any further, you’ll either need to take a ranger-led hike or hire a Navajo guide. Trails you can hike with a guide include Beehive, Bat, Tunnel, Bear, Baby, Crow, and White Sands.

• White House Trail: This 2.5-mile, out-and-back trail starts at the White House Overlook on South Rim Drive and switchbacks 600 feet down to the canyon floor, ending at the White House Ruin. Allow two hours, plus time to view the ruins and shop for Navajo arts and crafts. The trail has little shade, so wear a hat, liberally apply sunscreen, and bring plenty of water.

Of the park’s two scenic drives, the South Rim Drive is the most popular. Following the edge of Canyon de Chelly, it boasts one of the park’s most notable formations, Spider Rock, an 800-foot sandstone monolith said to be the home of Spider Woman. But the North Rim Drive is equally impressive with views of Canyon del Muerto, so named for the 115 Navajo people killed here by Spanish soldiers in 1805. Both roads are paved and are open year-round.

• South Rim Drive: This 36-mile, round-trip drive starts at the visitor center and ends at the Spider Rock Overlook, where the view of the canyon’s colorful 1,000-foot walls is reminiscent of the Grand Canyon. In total, the South Rim Drive features seven overlooks, including the White House Overlook, where you will find the trailhead to the White House Ruin.
• North Rim Drive: Starting from the visitor center, the North Rim Drive covers roughly 34 miles round trip and includes stops at Antelope House, Mummy Cave, and Massacre Cave overlooks. You’ll encounter fewer people on this drive, but you’ll also need to watch more carefully on this stretch for livestock, which are allowed to range freely throughout the area.

Except for the White House Trail, you can only access the canyon with a ranger or a Navajo guide. You can find a guide online at Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation or the park’s visitor center. If you can, hire a guide before you visit, especially if you plan to go during the peak months, March through October.

Most tour companies offer 4x4 tours, guided hikes, and overnight camping. Packages are also available, combining a guided hike with an overnight stay in a Hogan, for example. Don’t see exactly what you were looking for? Guides will often create custom experiences. Just ask.

• 4x4 tours: Usually conducted in Jeeps, these tours range from three to eight hours. The three-hour tour is the most common one. It stops first at Kokopelli Cave, then continues to Petroglyph Rock, First Ruin, Junction Ruin, and White House Ruin. Tours depart from hotels in Chinle, about a mile and a half west of the visitor center or from the visitor center itself. Expect to pay $150 to $175 per person for a 3-hour 4x4 tour.
• Guided hikes: Most companies require hikers to be 12 years old and physically fit enough for a three-hour hike. Depending on how much of a challenge you want, your guide can stick to relatively flat trails or lead you up steep canyon trails. Guided hikes start at $40 per hour for groups up to 15.
• Horseback riding: Justin’s Horse Rental takes visitors on guided horseback rides into the canyons. You’ll find the stables just past the visitor center on South Rim Drive. Spend an hour in the saddle or the whole day for $20 per person, per hour, plus $20 per hour for the guide and a 6 percent tax.
• Overnight camping: Some companies charge a flat fee, such as $160 per night. Others charge by the hour (usually $40 per hour) or per person ($70 to $90 per person, per night). You’ll typically sleep under the stars, but some companies have Hogans available.

There are two campgrounds in the area. The first is located near the visitor center and managed by Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation while the other is privately operated by a Navajo guide on his property near the Spider Rock Overlook.

• Cottonwood Campground: The tribe manages this campground with 90 individual campsites and two group tent sites. No hookups are available, but there is a dump station. The campground also has three restrooms but no showers. Bring cash to pay the $14 per night fee. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the park campground.
• Spider Rock Campground: Howard Smith operates this campground near the Spider Rock Overlook with 30 RV and tent camping sites and a dump station. No hookups are available. Sites are $15 per night and come with the perk of solar-heated showers for $4 per person. Don’t have an RV or tent? You can rent a tent or sleep in one of the campground’s three Hogans. Reservations are required.

If you want to stay inside the park, your only option is the 69-room Thunderbird Lodge operated by Navajo Nation Hospitality Enterprise. Nearby Chinle has several chain hotels with restaurants serving Navajo dishes like fry bread.

• Thunderbird Lodge : With a cafeteria-style restaurant originally a trading post built in 1896, this lodge has pet-friendly rooms and is entirely smoke-free. It also operates one of the area’s premier guide companies.
• Best Western Canyon de Chelly Inn : Just off US 191 on Indian Route 7, this Best Western has 104 smoke-free rooms, an on-site restaurant, and a recently renovated indoor swimming pool.
• Holiday Inn Canyon de Chelly : The closest hotel to the visitor center, this hotel includes the historic Garcia’s Trading Post. It has 108 rooms and an onsite restaurant, one of the best restaurants in Chinle.

From I-40, take US 191 north to Ganado. If you have the time, stop at Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site here. Otherwise, take Highway 264 west to Burnside, where you can pick up US 191 again heading north. At Chinle, turn east onto IR 7. The park entrance is about 3 miles from US 191.

Or, you can exit I-40 at Window Rock and drive approximately 50 miles north on IR 12 to Tsaile. Turn west at IR 64 and follow it to Mummy Cave Overlook, which becomes the North Rim Drive. Do not use IR 7, which is unpaved and unmaintained between Sawmill and the Spider Rock turnoff.

The visitor center and several overlooks—Massacre Cave Overlook on North Rim Drive, Tsegi, Junction, White House, and Spider Rock overlooks on South Rim Drive—are accessible. Backcountry trails and areas are not.

• The Navajo Nation observes Daylight Savings Time; the rest of Arizona (except for some other tribal lands) does not. Double-check times to make sure you don’t miss your tour.
• Admission to Canyon de Chelly National Monument is free, although you will need a guide to explore inside the canyons.
• Many guides and even Cottonwood Campground do not accept debit or credit cards. Bring cash or personal checks for payment.
• Pets are not permitted in the visitor center, on the White House Trail, or canyon tours. However, your leashed pet can accompany you at the overlooks and in the campground.

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Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Top ways to experience Canyon de Chelly National Monument and nearby attractions

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Canyon de Chelly National Monument - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (3.98 mi) Thunderbird Lodge
• (6.36 mi) Best Western Canyon De Chelly Inn
• (4.54 mi) Holiday Inn Canyon De Chelly
• (5.03 mi) Spider Rock Campground
• (3.85 mi) Canyon de Chelly Cottonwood Campground
• (6.37 mi) Junction Restaurant
• (5.50 mi) Denny's
• (3.97 mi) Thunderbird Lodge Cafeteria
• (6.31 mi) Subway
• (8.24 mi) GARCIA 'S
• (0.08 mi) Canyon de Chelly Tours
• (0.07 mi) White House Ruin
• (0.46 mi) White House Overlook
• (6.69 mi) Spider Rock
• (7.93 mi) Beauty Way Jeep Tours

• Most Popular

Private Vehicle Tour

A beautiful drive through Canyon de Chelly in Chinle, Arizona

Quick Details

Hour Glass Duration: 3 hours

User Ages:  All Ages

The Best Way to Experience the Canyon

This tour is a total distance of 24 miles on the canyon floor in a 4×4 vehicle with a guide. The tour includes Antelope House Ruin in Canyon del Muerto and the White House Ruin in Canyon de Chelly along with many other archaeological sites. You may also see Kokopelli Cave, Petroglyph Rock, First Ruin, Junction Ruin, Ceremonial Cave, and Ledge Ruin.

We know the canyon inside and out, so we are able to show you the rich archaeology, geology, culture, and history that Canyon de Chelly has to offer. We want to get to know your interests and make your experience an unforgettable one! We can recommend great sites or take your requests. If you would like to keep exploring, we can extend your tour for an additional fee. There are restroom facilities in the canyon.

All of our vehicles are 4-wheel drive. We have both enclosed and open-top 4-door Jeep Wranglers, which seat 3 in the rear and 2 in the front and are great for parties of 4. We also have SUVs that seats up to 7 guests and 6 guests plus your guide, which is typically reserved for guests with parties of 5 or more, or for those who need roomier accommodations, or who may have health conditions that do not allow them to comfortably see the canyon in one of our Jeeps. We do our best to accommodate vehicle requests, however, we reserve the right to change vehicle assignments, as needed.

We can accommodate larger group sizes either by caravanning or assigning a vehicle that we reserve for large groups that seats 14 guests and your guide. Please call or email to inquire for availability and pricing.

Pets are not allowed on the tour (per the Navajo Parks and Recreation policy). However, we do observe ADA guidelines and service dogs are allowed on our vehicle tours only. Please call or email us so that we can plan accordingly. Your service dog will have to be declared when obtaining your Backcountry Permit with the Navajo Parks and Recreation prior to entering the canyon.

What to Bring

• Plenty of water: during the summer, please plan accordingly.
• Snacks and food: You may bring a small cooler of water and snacks on tour, including a plastic bag to place your trash in.
• Sun-block: we recommend high SPF and reapplying often.
• Hat, umbrella and sunglasses: for additional sun protection.
• Binoculars: general purpose binoculars will bring more of the canyon details to light.
• Toilet Paper/Napkins and Hand Sanitizing Wipes: While there are restrooms in the canyon, we recommend bringing in TP or napkins in case supplies are low. There are no hand washing stations so please bring your hand sanitizing wipes.
• Car seats: If traveling with small children, please bring a car seat that can be secured with a seat belt, including a bag for diaper disposal.
• Cash: You may have the opportunity to purchase jewelry, rugs, arts and crafts from Navajo artisans.

For a Longer Tour

If you would like to request a longer tour for an extra fee, please contact us at: 928-349-1600. We are happy to accommodate your requests.

Related Tours

• User All Ages
• Hour Glass 3 Hours

Public Group Tour

See the sites in Canyon De Chelly in a group tour and a professional Diné guide.

• Hour Glass 4 Hours

Canyon Hiking

Hike Canyon de Chelly and Canyon del Muerto with an experienced Diné guide to teach you about the geology, culture, and history.

Welcome (Yá'át'ééh) to AZ Canyon Jeep Tours Website!

My name is Deswood Yazzie and I am the owner of AZ Canyon Jeep Tour. I am a full blooded Navajo (Diné) born and raised in the canyon. I have been a guide for 30 years plus. I grew up learning the Diné (Holy People) way. We have struggled hard since coming and as of today we continue to struggle.

The canyon we call Tseyi (Canyon de Chelly) is referred to by our Navajo Elders as “a place within the rock.” Canyon de Chelly embraces the history of the human spirit, a place of refuge, a source of strength, protection and peace.

Our tours will take your back to Anasazi times. The Anasazi's were the first early people of the canyon. They inhabited the canyon from 2500 B.C.E. to 1300 A.D. Around the 1200’s they migrated from the canyon; throughout the southwest they left behind dwellings, handmade tools and wares.

After the Anasazi migrated from Canyon de Chelly the Hopi's arrived and utilized the canyon for ceremonial purposes, cultivating and other uses. It was the Hopi’s that planted the thousands of peach trees that were destroyed by the U.S. Calvary along with Colonel Kit Carson and William T. Sherman during a “Scorched Earth” Campaign.

During your tour we will learn about the people and the events that went on in Canyon de Chelly. We will view the ruins of the early people, and admire their beautiful artwork in the forms of pictographs and petroglyphs, all created by the early people, which included the Hopi and the Navajo people.

Available Tours:

➤ 3 hour tour (most popular).

This tour will take you into Canyon de Chelly , where the first stop is Kokopelli Cave. We will then continue on to:

• Petroglyph Rock
• First Ruins
• Junction Ruins
• From there we will go to the South Canyon and visit White House Ruins (Restrooms available and vendors are selling jewelry, arts and crafts)

… then back to the Junction and up the North Canyon to continue on to:

• Bare Trails Ruins
• Round Corner Ruins
• Ledge Ruins (Restrooms Available)
• Our final stop will be Antelope House Ruins (Concession stands, along with Native Arts and Crafts, and restrooms are available)

➤ 4 Hour Tour

This tour is the same as the 3 Hour Tour, but we will continue past Antelope House to:

• Standing Cow Ruins. There you will see the Spanish Mural Panel.
• Along the way you will see Navaho Fortress Rock This is where the Navajo (Diné) took refuge from the Spanish soldiers and the U.S. Calvary. This is where you will also see the entrance to Black Rock Canyon.

➤ 6 Hour Tour

This tour is the same as the 4 Hour Tour, but we will journey all the way to:

• Mummy Cave Ruins then back South Canyon to continue on to…
• White House Ruins (or vise verse with Spider Rock)
• Spider Rock
• Then to North Canyon’s Antelope House Ruins

For Deluxe Tours Please Call for Pricing.

Please bring the following:.

• Snacks or lunch for longer tours
• Insect repellant
• Jacket (winter season)
• Light sweater or jacket, rain coats, hats
• … And of course your humor

Things To Know:

• Daylight Saving Time is Observed from March to October.
• We are Open Year Round. Our Office is Open Daily.
• Tours are Subject to Change Due to Weather / Trail Conditions.
• Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation issue the back country permits. The fee is $2 per person.
• Not recommended for persons pregnant or with serious back problems.
• Our Guides are full-blood Navajo (Diné), Knowledgeable, professional guides from Canyon de Chelly.

We depart from 3 Motels:

• The Sacred Canyon Lodge
• Holiday Inn
• Best Western Motel
• We pickups from the Cottonwood Campground

We are located at the entrance of the canyon (The inner part of the canyon) . Follow the AZ Canyon Jeep Tour signs; we are located next to Justin's Horse Stables.

We look forward to Your Visit!

Download Your Guide!

(05/10/24) – Navajo Nation Police Officer Day

(05/12/24) – Mother’s Day

(05/27/24) – HOLIDAY – Memorial Day

(05/31/24) – HOLIDAY – Navajo Nation Memorial Day (Observed)

(06/01/24) – HOLIDAY – Navajo Nation Memorial Day / Treaty Day ‘Treaty of 1868’

(928) 810-8501

Window Rock, AZ

Mon.-Fri. 8am.-5pm.

Horseback Tours

Let us be your guide.

There are a handful of tour guides that offer horseback tours within the Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley parks.

*Notice: it is the responsibility of the tour company and its operators to ensure minimum safety standards and practices are followed, regarding horseback riding tours.

• MV Twin Warriors Tours
• Roy Black's Guided Tours
• MV Dineh Trail Rides
• Sacred Mountain Tours

Monument Valley Twin Warriors Tours

Owned and operated by a Diné/Navajo family that has been living in Monument Valley for over 100 years. While visiting, you will learn about the history and culture of the Navajo, all while taking in the breathtaking sites the area has to offer. Their vast knowledge of the land will ensure you have a unique and unforgettable experience.

To fit your time and budget, Monument Valley Twin Warriors offers a variety of tour and camping options. Each option will feature the popular and gorgeous sights of Monument Valley.

Call us (928) 429-8628

Roy Black’s Guided Tours (Monument Valley)

Come and experience the magnificent and scenic Monument Valley with Roy Black’s guided informative tours. Tours are available by 4×4 open-air Jeep, horseback or by taking a hiking excursion. We have a wide variety of tours available for those who prefer to just sit back and relax to others who can’t wait to break-in their hiking boots and hit the trails OR for the more adventurous, there is horseback tours available!

For more information contact:

928-429-0637 or  Lavar Black  @ 505-701-9609

Dineh Trail Rides (Monument Valley)

Come and experience the 7th natural wonder of the world, Monument Valley Tribal Park. The park is a 17 mile loop drive, where you will see many monuments.

Call us (928) 209-2692

​Sacred Monument Tours (Monument Valley)

We welcome families, couples, artists, photographers, filmmakers, and adventurers to experience and explore Tse’bii’nidzisgai, “the valley within the rocks.” Navajo storytelling is available upon special request of our tour services. Our horseback guides are available sunrise to sunset and will match you with a horse based on your riding experience. We provide horses for the beginner, intermediate and advanced rider. We’ll take you to popular and historic locations. Routes that other tours don’t and can’t provide without horses or hiking. Your horse and guide are waiting for you, book a tour today!

• Justin's Horse Rentals

Justin’s Horseback Tours (Canyon de Chelly)

Experience the canyon on horseback!

Day rides & overnight camping available. Rides everyday, year round. 8am-5pm.

Kids under 5 ride free!

10 Best Attractions To Explore While Visiting The Navajo Nation

The Navajo Nation is the largest Native American reservation in the United States. It is home to some of the most iconic landscapes of the American Southwest (such as Monument Valley). The Navajo Nation is one of the reservations that are visitor-friendly, and tourists are welcome. Some parts of the reservation are open to the public, while other places require a guided tour to explore.

These are ten of the best attractions in the Navajo Nation in the Southwest US, which visitors should add to their trip itineraries when exploring this stunning and historic region of the country.

Monument Valley

Monument Valley is one of the most recognizable valleys in the world and among the best places in the Navajo Nation to visit today. The Monument Valley is home to mesas and buttes that have eroded over the eons as the lands have been uplifted, forming striking landscapes.

The three most famous buttes in Monument Valley are the West Mitten Butte, East Mitten Butte, and the Merrick Butte (the West and East buttes are collectively called the buttes).

• Access: Free via U.S. Route 163

Visitors are not allowed to climb the Buttes in Monument Valley.

Related: The Story Behind Monument Valley's West & East Mitten Buttes: The Most Iconic Buttes In The World

Antelope Canyon

The Antelope Canyon is one of the most famous attractions of the Navajo Nation and one of the most stunning national attractions in the Southwest region of the United States.

Antelope Canyon is particularly known for its curves, twists, and colors. Visitors must note that it is only accessible by taking a guided tour approved by the Najavo Nation.

• Access: By Guided Tour Only

Canyon De Chelly National Monument

The Canyon de Chelly National Monument is one of the leading attractions in the Navajo Nation. Not only are the canyon's landscapes stunning, but they are also full of historic ruins that people can see.

It is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited canyons in the USA, and visitors can see a number of ancient Ancestral Pueblo sites here dated from between 350 and 1350 AD.

• Access: Free (Jeep Tours Are Available)

Hopi Reservation

The Hopi Reservation is another Native American reservation completely found within the Navajo Nation. It is a nation within a nation within a nation, so to speak.

To get to the Hopi Reservation, visitors must first go through the Navajo Nation. The Hopi Reservation is generally closed to tourists, but it is possible to visit with an approved guided tour, so this trip requires a little more prior planning.

Navajo Bridge

The historic Navajo Bridge over the Marble Canyon at the beginning of the Grand Canyon is one of the very few bridges over the Grand Canyon.

It is one of the great places to go in the region away from all the masses of tourists and to get awesome photos. It is located partly in the Navajo Nation, and, fortunately for tourists, it is free to visit.

• Access: Free to Visit

Navajo National Monument

The Navajo National Monument is a great archeological attraction in the Navajo Nation. It protects three well-preserved cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Pueblo who inhabited these lands hundreds of years ago (researchers are still debating why they were abandoned).

The three cliff dwelling sites are Keet Seel, Betatakin, and the Inscription House. There are ranger-led tours; however, the Navajo National Monument and its ancient preserved cliff dwellings are free to visit .

• Access: Free to the Public

Related: Visit Marble Canyon: Where The Grand Canyon Officially Begins

U.S. Route 163

Monument Valley is such a famous attraction in the Navajo Nation that it has sometimes come to symbolize the American Southwest.

The famous road through Monument Valley is U.S. Route 163 - this is the road that Forrest Grump gave up running on in the iconic movie of the same name. Go and see the eye-watering mesas and geological features of the valley.

The Totem Pole is one of the most remarkable attractions in the Monument Valley. Totem Pole is an exceptionally well-eroded feature and is very much worth visiting while in the valley. It is accessed by the scenic 17-mile loop.

Visitors should keep in mind that the Totem Pole (along with the mesas of the Navajo Nation) is off-limits to the public - no one is permitted to hike on them.

• Access: Free Via The Loop Road

Related: Totem Pole: What To Know About One Of Monument Valley's Most Eroded Buttes

Four Corners Monument

The Four Corners Monument marks the quadripoint where the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona come together. It is the only point in the country where four states meet.

The point is also the boundary of two reservations - the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Reservation.

Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site

The Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site is one of the historic attractions in the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation is also a place where visitors can learn about the expansion of the United States and the interaction between the settlers and the Navajo.

The trading post is a historic place where these two very different cultures came to trade. It was established in 1878 and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1960.

• Access: Free (Opening Hours 8.00 am to 5.00 pm)