Move Under Real Horsepower
No matter what your experience or skill level, riding a horse through the canyons under the able supervision of a Navajo guide is possibly the best way to see Canyon de Chelly. These rides move at a slower pace than four-wheel-drive tours, which are also available. Overnight trips allow for camping under the stars near such amazing sites as Spider Rock and Mummy Cave. The trails are sandy and level for the most part, though there are shallow creeks to ford and embankments to climb. The best time of year to go is either late spring or early fall, though the Perseid meteor showers of August help make the heat bearable. Guided horseback tours are provided by two National Park Service-authorized stables. Trips are by the hour, with extended and overnight tours available. Advance reservations are required.

Scenic Driving Around The Canyons
Because travel in Canyon de Chelly is limited to respect the privacy of the Navajo still living in the canyons and to protect the many fragile ruins, driving is a great way to gain an overall appreciation of the park in the smallest amount of time. Two paved routes totaling 43 miles stop at numerous spectacular viewpoints above the canyon floor. South Rim Drive offers seven overlooks into Canyon de Chelly itself: Tsegi, Junction, White House, Sliding House, Wild Cherry, Face Rock, and Spider. North Rim Drive provides four overlooks into Canyon del Muerto: Ledge Ruin, Antelope House, Mummy Cave, and Massacre Cave. Both rim drives begin at the monument visitors center, just east of Chinle.

Take A Guided Tour
Because Canyon de Chelly is essentially private land, visitors must have a guide to enter the canyon. This is far from a detriment. Having a Navajo guide lead you through his or her ancestral land will add unfathomable depth to your journey. When you learn about the history, ecology, and geology of this spiritual place from a native rather than a park ranger or tour guide, you learn from someone who knows it best, and you gain a window into the culture. You feel like less of a visitor and more of a guest. Stop by the visitors center at the canyon's entrance to make arrangements for your tour.