Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Thunderbird Lodge
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As one of the world’s
leading regions for tourism, the American West offers a tremendous
selection of destinations, including one of the finest examples of
spectacular geological formations meeting the mysteries of past cultures –
Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument contains 83,840 acres and was authorized as part of the National Park System in 1931 to preserve ruins of Native American villages built in steep-walled canyons between A.D. 350 and 1300. The monument is actually comprised of two large canyons – Canyon de Chelly (pronounced "shay" from the Navajo word tsegi, meaning “rock canyon”), and Canyon del Muerto (Spanish for “Canyon of the Dead”) – and several smaller canyons.
Lodging within in the monument is available only at the historic Thunderbird Lodge, a 73-room motel-style facility reminiscent of older adobe structures. The Dining facility located in the original trading post built in 1896 offers both continental and Navajo-style meals seven days a week. Thunderbird Lodge's Gift Shop and rug room offer some of the region’s finest Native American jewelry, crafts and Navajo rugs as well as mementos, clothing and other items
With the exception of hiking the White House Ruin trail, travel in the canyons is permitted only with a park ranger or other authorized guide, including Canyon Tours operated by Thunderbird Lodge.
The National Park Service operates a visitor center three miles east of Chinle on Tribal Route 7. The Visitor Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., October to April; and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., May to September.
No entrance fee is charged to enter the monument. With the exception of the White House Ruin trail and the North and South Rim Drives, hiking and automobile travel in the canyons is permitted only with a park ranger or other authorized guide. Horseback-riding tours also are available.
Contact Information
Click on thumbnail for a map to Thunderbird Lodge.
- Telephone
1-800-679-2473
- FAX
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1-928-674-5844
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- Postal address
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PO Box 548 Chinle, AZ 86503
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- Electronic mail
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General information and reservations:
