Can you die without walking? Travel to American National Parks (5) Recommended hiking at Canyon Di Shea National Monument
Written by Sayaka Kato
Following Sedona and Grand Canyon, the third recommended hiking spot for Grand Circle the Canyon de Chelly National Monument .
Located near Chinle, a town on the northeastern edge of Arizona, this is a spectacular spot that is surprisingly unknown, perhaps because it has not been featured in the media in Japan. Although it is a small scale, it is a secret valley that suddenly appears in the wilderness. This is also a recommended place for those looking for a quiet place with few tourists.
When you actually step on, you will find the unique atmosphere of the land there, and the mysterious sight of the ruins of indigenous people secretly hidden under a steep 300m cliff, which is very mysterious and charming. The contrast between the endlessly stretching behind the Colorado Plateau and the valley secretly surrounds this place is impressive.
Apart from busy seasons such as summer vacation and the holiday season, visitors are relatively few, so you can enjoy the land of Canyon Di Shea at your own quiet and relaxed pace. You should be able to fully enjoy the space between yourself and nature.
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Highlights of Canyon Di Shay National Monument
Despite being managed by the National Park Service under the U.S. Department of Interior, the Canyon Di Shay National Monument still lives in the park, with indigenous Navajo people still living in the park, sharing the land with the Navajo Tribal Trust Land (Navajo Ethnic Reserve Area), and the park is a very unusual shape, with the park being jointly operated.
The park is divided into the south (South Rim) and the north (North Rim), so you can easily get around just the major viewpoint in one day. You can freely tour the observation decks on the south side (South Rim) and the north side (North Rim). To enter the valley (inside) of the valley, you must take a locally organized tour. There is a jeep tour with a Navajo driver guide, and you can book and get information at the visitor centre just outside the entrance. (The Visitor Center is located at the fork that divides into South Rim and North Rim.)
The attractions are particularly numerous in the South Rim, with the park's most famous White House Ruin and Spider Rock on the south side. White House Ruin is the only place where you can descend into the valley yourself without permission, so this time we will introduce you to this trail.
How to get to Canyon Di Shea (Car Rental)
Time required
It is located 5.5 hours from Phoenix, 4 hours from Sedona, 3 hours from Flagstaff, 3.5 hours from Grand Canyon and 2 hours from Monument Valley.
Notes
After passing the town of Chinle, just before the park, there is no gas station. Before entering the park, be sure to replenish your gas here if necessary.
Recommended seasons for Canyon Di Shay hiking
It opens year-round from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year). Depending on the situation at the time, you can enjoy viewing points and hiking throughout the year. The altitude is about 1670m high, so it can get cold in winter and sometimes snow. It gets very cold from winter to spring, so take measures to keep you warm. Summers are very dry and the temperatures are very high. Don't forget to stay hydrated.
The recommended hiking season for Canyon Di Shay is "from March to the beginning of June, fall, from September to the end of November," except for the busy seasons during the summer holidays in the United States.
Do you need to proceed in advance to enter the park?
There is no particular procedure required. Admission is free for this park.
What outfit is the best for hiking Canyon Di Shea?
Summer
The temperature rises during the day, and the more you go into the valley, the more desert the climate becomes. It's not a problem with a T-shirt and shorts. However, there are windy days, so it can be useful to have something to put on, such as windbreakers or winter clothing such as fleece.
Winter
The altitude itself is approximately 1670m, making it very cold in winter. A solid cold protection is required. Shawls, scarves, and hot-headed garments are also very useful.
sunlight
The sun is strong during the day, so make sure to have sunglasses, hats, sunscreen and more. As UV rays can also be transmitted through your eyes, sunglasses will help relieve fatigue when hiking. There are many rocky areas under your feet, so choose sturdy, easy to walk in, such as trekking shoes. The weather is high and changes easily during hiking, so it's safe to have plenty of drinking water, rain gear and snacks. Due to differences in temperature and temperature in the mornings and evenings, always keep in mind when hiking, such as to keep warm, and don't forget to prepare carefully.
What information centers are there in the national park? Can I replenish my food and equipment?
Canyon Di Shei is smaller than the Grand Canyon, so there are no shops or markets in the park, but there are towns of Chinle right next to the park, and gas stations and supermarkets are located there, so be sure to buy some drinking water and snacks needed for hiking and sightseeing before you go to the park.
[Note] After passing the town of Chinle, just before the park, there are no gas stations. Be sure to replenish your gas here before entering the park.
Good things to carry on hiking
- Cold weather wear that can adjust the temperature
- Trekking shoes
- hat
- sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Drinks (more in summer)
- Snacks and more for eating while hiking
- If you have a regular medicine, first aid such as medicine or band-aid
- rain gear
Canyon di Shea highlights: South Rim
The canyon is approximately 20km long and the canyon is approximately 300m deep. There are several viewpoints followed by paved roads along the valley. Among them, here are some recommended highlights.
White House Overlook *White House Ruin
- Distance: 4km round trip
- Time required: approx. 2 hours round trip
The most famous of the ruins in Canyon di Shea. The buildings built at the bottom of the valley and the buildings built on the rock wall just above them make the surrounding rock wall even more mysterious, creating a very beautiful landscape. This is the only place you can go down to the canyon without permission, so be sure to walk along the trail to the ruins.
A 2.5-mile round trip trail is a cave residence left behind by the Pueblo tribe. It's a very mysterious and mysterious place to imagine people actually lived there in the past.
The residence was built about 1,000 years ago by Anasazi, the ancestors of the present-day Pueblo and Hopi tribes, and the name of the White House is apparently given the name because the interior walls of this stone house are painted with white plaster. However, the various mysterious stories about the Anasagi tribes that Navajo friends taught me were very interesting, and I can't take my eyes off the ruins, as I can't take my eyes off them.
Sliding House Overlook
Spider Rocks Overlook
The above two spots are also recommended to stop by after or before your hike. A picturesque view unfolds.
The legend of the spider woman
As the name suggests, Spider Rocks Overlook features long, narrow, spider-footed rocks stretching from the ground towards the sky. It seems that there is an old story about Spider Rock in Navajo mythology, and it is said that the spiders who taught Navajo people how to weave fabrics inhabit them.
A sacred rock stretches 244m high from the valley floor (2094m high), and this rock is home to a Spider Woman, also known as the Spider Woman, and is still believed to be the Navajo god who lives here. It appears that Navajo children were raised with parents threatened, saying, "If you do something bad, a Spider Woman will come down and you will be kidnapped and eaten on the rocks."
The Spider Woman is an omniscient and omnipotent God who created many gods about the life of the Navajo tribes. It is said that Navajo people learned, cherished, and respected from the Earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, the rain, people and animals from this Spider Woman. Spider Woman is believed by the omniscient and omnipotent Goddess who created the world and the Navajo tribe.
Hiking trail details
Hiking begins
White House Ruin Distance: 4km round trip, 600 feet (approximately 180 meters) Follow the trail starting from a car park above the valley, reaching the bottom of the valley.
Park in the viewpoint parking lot at White House Overlook and a trailhead is located just outside the parking lot. (Looks down the rim about 100m from the parking lot to the trailhead.)
For the first few minutes, you will walk on the rocks and then switch back down. The distance is relatively short at 2.5 miles (4km), so if you are a healthy person, it is a course that will go smoothly and without any effort. There are solid trails and you'll be fine as long as you follow the trail.
Follow the zigzag road and a tunnel will appear along the way. After passing through the tunnel and returning, you will arrive at the valley bottom, and (40 to 50 minutes from the trailhead) there are abundant trees growing at the valley floor, making the scenery different from the view seen from the trailhead, and the world expands. At some times, beautiful flowers will also welcome you.
Since it is a private property, there is a sign that says "No photography" downstairs. There are people from Navajo who actually live in the park, so filming of indigenous people is only possible with permission and is generally prohibited. (The surrounding scenery is fine.)
If you go further, you will see a bridge, but when I went in November, it was broken so it was not available. The stream that must have flowed under the bridge was also not water, and of course there was no water. It is said that this stream is only available when it rains a lot. It becomes a river only during the short rainy season, and its water falls 80 miles and joins the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. When you think about going from here on a long journey and going to the Grand Canyon someday, you can feel that everything is connected and alive.
As you approach the ruins, Navajo people open a stall. There were many handmade products lined up, including Navajo jewelry, rugs, ornaments and acupoints. It has a handmade feel and is very nice. It's the cheapest place to buy, and there are some good ones. This is the chance to buy local items from local people.
Handmade and very cute jewelry is available for purchase at a very reasonable price. Please take a look while greetings. You may find something special for yourself.
If you walk along the stream in the direction of travel, you will see the White House ruins.
It is still in good condition, and it is just strange to think about how they made something like this so skillfully long ago. Please enjoy a temporary break by sitting in the shade of a tree in front of the ruins. Feel the wind and light passing under the valley and the atmosphere surrounding it, along with the ruins, try sharing the space with the Anasazi tribe who lived in the past.
On the way back, I just went back the way I just came.
The park here is a really mysterious and wonderful place, even though there are few people. While it's a major tourist destination with many people visiting, it's a particularly recommended place for those who want to quietly face nature and enjoy history, so be sure to visit it.
Kato Sayaka
Leave your Canyon Di Shea hikes to us. Due to my father's influence, I have always loved outdoor activities, and since I was in Japan, I was captivated by the great nature of America and Canada, and as a result, I arrived at the United States, which I had longed for. We currently run ANAMI TOURS, which offers local optional tours that can be created with customers, including completely private hiking tours with Japanese guides. We will introduce you to some special options that you can find out because you are a local resident. If you are interested, please visit the website below.
