Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-01. Check linked official notices before travel.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Chinle, Arizona, is a living Diné homeland managed through cooperation between the National Park Service and Navajo Nation. Visitors can explore the rim overlooks and White House Trail independently. Other canyon-backcountry visits require an authorized guide and a backcountry permit. Choose between those two kinds of visit before planning your day.

Start with the rim views or a guided canyon visit

The paved North and South Rim Drives provide ten overlooks in total. They offer a way to see the canyon without arranging a backcountry tour. For a different perspective, authorized Navajo operators offer hiking, horseback and vehicle tours along the canyon floor.

Separate public access from tour and camping charges

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Take flooding and remote travel seriously

Check the current conditions before entering the canyon. Rain can bring rockfalls and flash floods. A storm miles away can cause flooding under clear local skies. Canyon access can close because of hazardous conditions or resource protection. Never cross a flooded wash. During lightning, return to a vehicle or indoors.

Prepare for high-desert weather with layers, food and drinking water. NPS advises at least a gallon of water per person per day and avoiding strenuous activity during the hottest hours. Phone, internet, GPS, towing and repair services can be limited. Share your travel plans and watch for livestock and deer on roads at night.

Respect a homeland where families still live

Diné families continue to farm, raise livestock and live in the canyon. Public access to the overlooks and White House Trail does not authorize independent exploration elsewhere in the canyon. Pets are not allowed on canyon tours. Drones are prohibited.

Hire a registered operator for the backcountry

Contact a company registered with Navajo Parks and Recreation for prices, reservations and availability. Reservations are recommended March–October. A tour needs both the authorized guide and the monument backcountry permit. The tribal visitor page lists operators and Cottonwood group-camping arrangements.

Approach Chinle on paved roads

From US 191 in Chinle, turn east on Indian Route 7 toward the entrance and Welcome Center. NPS also identifies Indian Route 64 as an eastern approach. Avoid Indian Route 7 between Sawmill and the Spider Rock turnoff: NPS does not recommend this unpaved, unmaintained road. Stay on paved roads rather than following GPS shortcuts.

Nearby parks on a regional road trip

Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site is a regional stop near Ganado on AZ 264 at milepost 446.3. Navajo National Monument is farther away, reached from US 160 by AZ 564. For Navajo National Monument, avoid the unpaved western Indian Route 221 approach. These are separate drives, not neighboring canyon trailheads.

Choose the White House hike or a rim drive

White House Trail is a 2.5-mile round trip with a 600-foot descent into the canyon. Take water, a hat and suitable shoes, and consider the climb back before descending. Early morning and late afternoon are the recommended hiking times. NPS currently lists ranger-led hikes as unavailable, so do not build an itinerary around one.

For a canyon-floor tour, ask the operator about the route and current water conditions. Vehicle, horseback and hiking tours offer different ways to visit, but all remain subject to hazardous-condition or resource-protection restrictions. Consult the NPS canyon-tour information before choosing an operator.

Use the Welcome Center and tribal campground

Pick up a park map at the Welcome Center, which includes a park store. Cottonwood Campground is managed by Navajo Parks and Recreation. It has restrooms, picnic tables and grills, with no showers or RV hookups. A separate USD 5 daily charge applies to day use, water or dump-station use.

Understand the canyon as a cultural landscape

Ancient villages and continuing Diné life

Ancient Puebloans built villages such as White House for trade, ceremony and social gatherings. The canyon also remains home to contemporary Diné families. The monument’s interpretation connects the ancient places with the people who live here today.

Contact the appropriate managing office

Call NPS at 928-674-5500 for monument information. Call Navajo Parks and Recreation at 928-674-2106 for Cottonwood camping and authorized tour information. The NPS planning page explains the independent public routes and tribal services.