Destination - Southwestern Colorado
Canyon de Chelly
Story and photos by Mike Krajnak
A few thousand years ago, early Pueblo people settled in many of the beautiful red rock canyons of the Colorado Plateau. The best known of these sites is Mesa Verde National Park in Southwestern Colorado. There are, however, many more such sites in the four corners region. Canyon de Chelly (da-shay) is one of these gems. Located near the middle of the Navajo Reservation, Canyon de Chelly encompasses 130 square miles of Navajo land and contains one of the highest concentrations of cliff dwellings in the Southwest. Summer rain and spring snowmelt from the Chuska Mountains send water down the canyon, which reaches a depth of 1,200’ in its upper section.
Mesa Verde National Park - photo by Mike Krajnak
There are two distinct “arms” to the canyon. Canyon del Muerto lies to the north and Canyon de Chelly to the south. The overlooks on each rim offer outstanding views into this red rock canyon and provide countless opportunities to view cliff dwellings from above. The only trail available to those without a Navajo guide is the 1.25-mile walk to White House Ruin.
This 500’ drop into Canyon de Chelly reveals two worlds; the current farming and grazing culture of the Navajo and the long abandoned dwellings of the Anasazi. Once below, the backdrop of De Chelly sandstone provides the beautiful red rock for which the canyon is known. The canyon walls, 230 million-year-old dunes now hardened into sandstone, provide an intimacy which only a Southwestern canyon can offer. It’s not surprising that people have been attracted to this place for the last 3,500 years.
Michael Krajnak
928-284-1816
walkingman@sedona.net
www.southwestoutside.com