Event: United States

Canyon De Chelly National Monument

When:	Daily
Where:	Chinle
Costs:	Various; US$15 per hour for guided hikes and canyon drives
Opening Hours:	Visitor Centre 8am-5pm

The Canyon De Chelly area is home to some amazing 1000-foot deep canyons and ancient Anasazi cliff dwelling ruins, with modern Navajo homes and gardens scattered along the canyon floor. Visitors can either look out from the cliffs or go down to the canyon floor for a four-wheel drive tour.

The name De Chelly is a Spanish corruption of the Navajo word Tsegi, which means roughly "rock canyon." The Anasazi and Pueblo Indians lived in the area for nearly 1000 years from around 350 AD. After a major drought around 1300, the Pueblos dispersed. The following centuries saw several different tribes briefly making the area home, but from the 18th century the region has been sparsely inhabited by the Navajo Indians, who still make their home on the canyon floor today.

The best way to see the park - aside from the costly four-wheel drive or horseback tour - is to take a rim drive. The extensive South Rim Drive is 36 miles around and encompasses eight overlooks. The North Rim Drive is slightly shorter and contains four overlooks. Camping and lodging facilties are available. RVs are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis and rooms at the Thunderbird Lodge are available for those poor souls who don't have a big mobile bed as their transportation.