On the Road Again to Canyon de Chelley

Utah Ranch Land

Approaching Glen Canyon

We had a long drive from Springdale, Utah to Chinle, Arizona on Thursday.  On the way we went through Glen Canyon and stopped to visit the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell.  We opted not to go into the dam and kept driving.  

Lake Powell Glimpse

Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River

Pictograph on Canyon Wall 

Petroglyphs

At the Bottom of the Canyon

Antelope Dwellings

White House Dwellings

A View from the Top

Our destination Chinle, Arizona is in the middle of Navaho Land and is the site of Canyon de Chelley (pronounced Shay).  The contrast between this area and the Zion area we had come from is enormous.  The Navaho are still living on bleak land in an area that does not seem to be able to support anything other than poverty. 

Since the canyon is in the Navaho territory a tribal member escorts all visitors on jeep tours or hikes.  We chose the red jeep route with our guide Kalvin and bounced our way down the canyon and back through land that had recently received a flash flood.  Kalvin told us he had lived in the Canyon with his grandmother until he was 12 years old and had not attended school.  Naturally we took many photos.  We have tried to share a few that show some of the area’s beauty.

Guess who?

Swirls from Water Action