Canyon de Chelly National Monument

{{redirect-distinguish|Spider Rock|Rock spider (disambiguation){{!}}rock spider}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Canyon de Chelly National Monument

| alt_name =

| photo = Canyon de Chelly, Navajo.jpg

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption = Canyon de Chelly, 1904, by Edward S. Curtis

| photo_width =

| map = Arizona#USA

| relief = 1

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Location in the United States##Location in Arizona

| map_width =

| location = Apache County, Arizona

| nearest_city = Chinle

| coordinates = {{coord|36.155281|-109.508995|region:US-AZ|notes={{cite gnis |id=44981 |name=Canyon de Chelly National Monument |access-date=2011-06-29}}|display=inline, title}}

| area_acre = 83840

| area_ref = {{NPS area|year=2013|accessdate=2014-03-28}}

| created = {{Start date|1931|04|1}}

| visitation_num = 439,306

| visitation_year = 2018

| visitation_ref ={{NPS visitation|accessdate=2019-04-01}}

| governing_body = Bureau of Indian Affairs

| website = [https://www.nps.gov/cach/index.htm Canyon de Chelly National Monument]

| embedded1 = {{Infobox NRHP

| name =

| embed = yes

| added = August 25, 1970{{NRISref|2009a}}

| refnum = 70000066

}}

| embedded2 = {{designation list | embed = yes

| designation1 = NMON

| designation1_date =

}}

Canyon de Chelly National Monument ({{IPAc-en|d|ə|ˈ|ʃ|eɪ}} {{respell|də|SHAY|'}}) was established on April 1, 1931, as a unit of the National Park Service. Located in northeastern Arizona, it is within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and lies in the Four Corners region. Reflecting one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes of North America, it preserves ruins of the indigenous tribes that lived in the area, from the Ancestral Puebloans (also known as the Anasazi) to the Navajo. The monument covers {{convert|83840|acre|mi2 km2|0}} and encompasses the floors and rims of the three major canyons: de Chelly, del Muerto, and Monument. These canyons were cut by streams with headwaters in the Chuska Mountains just to the east of the monument. None of the land is federally owned.{{cite web|title=The National Parks: Index 2009–2011 |publisher=National Park Service |url=http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/nps/nps/part2.htm#cach |access-date=2011-06-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629022806/http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/nps/nps/part2.htm |archive-date=2011-06-29 }} Canyon de Chelly is one of the most visited national monuments in the United States.{{cite news| url=http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-nationalmonuments-most-pg,0,4144182.photogallery | work=Los Angeles Times | title=America's 20 most-visited National Monuments}}

Etymology

The name Chelly is a Spanish borrowing of the Navajo word {{spell-nv|Tséyiʼ}} (or Tsegi), which means "rock canyon"{{Cite web |last1=Chinle |first1=Mailing Address: P. O. Box 588 |last2=Us |first2=AZ 86503 Phone: 928 674-5500 Contact |title=History & Culture - Canyon de Chelly National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/cach/learn/historyculture/index.htm |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Canyon de Chelly National Monument Brochure |url=http://npshistory.com/brochures/cach/1961.pdf |access-date=27 July 2023 |website=npshistory.com}} (literally "inside the rock" < tsé "rock" + -yiʼ "inside of, within"). The Navajo pronunciation is {{IPA|ath|tséɣiʔ|}}. The Spanish pronunciation of de Chelly {{IPA|es|deˈtʃeʎi|}} was adapted into English, apparently modeled on {{clarify|date=August 2017}} a French-like spelling pronunciation, and is now {{IPAc-en|d|ə|ˈ|ʃ|eɪ}} {{respell|də|SHAY|'}}.

History

Canyon de Chelly is thought to have been sporadically occupied by Hopi Indians from circa 1300 to the early 1700s, when the Navajo then moved into the canyon from places in northern New Mexico.Ghost Town Wonders, {{YouTube|thgHeuoufWs|Canyon de Chelly - Navajo Nation, AZ}}, July 2022, minutes 4:00–5:02 From that time forward it has served as a home for Navajo people before it was invaded by forces led by future New Mexico governor Lt. Antonio Narbona in 1805, during which time 115 Navajos were slain and 33 taken captive.Ghost Town Wonders, {{YouTube|thgHeuoufWs|Canyon de Chelly - Navajo Nation, AZ}}, July 2022, minutes 14:35–15:20 In 1863, Col. Kit Carson sent troops through the canyon, killing 23 Navajo, seizing 200 sheep, and destroying hogans, as well as peach orchards and other crops. The resulting demoralization led to the surrender of the Navajos and their removal to Bosque Redondo, New Mexico.{{cite book|last1=Utley|first1=Robert Marshall|author-link1=Robert M. Utley|title=Frontiersmen in Blue: The United States Army and the Indian, 1848–1865|date=1981|publisher=Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press|isbn=978-0803295506|page=243|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hsjLEs8afQIC&q=chelly+Navajo+carson&pg=PA243|access-date=5 August 2017|oclc=1070353570}}

Description

Canyon de Chelly is entirely owned by the Navajo Tribal Trust of the Navajo Nation. It is the only National Park Service unit that is owned and cooperatively managed in this manner.{{cite book |title=Administrative History: Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona |last=Brugge |first=David M. |author2=Wilson, Raymond |year=1976 |publisher=National Park Service|oclc=2820029}}{{cite web|title=Planning Your Visit (brochure) |url=http://www.nps.gov/cach/planyourvisit/upload/Planning-Your-Visit.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412071428/https://www.nps.gov/cach/planyourvisit/upload/Planning-Your-Visit.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 12, 2017 |work=Canyon de Chelly National Monument |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=7 June 2018 }} About 40 Navajo families live in the park.{{cite web|title=History & Culture|url=https://home.nps.gov/cach/learn/historyculture/index.htm|work=Canyon de Chelly National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=24 January 2013}} Access to the canyon floor is restricted, and visitors are allowed to travel in the canyons only when accompanied by a park ranger or an authorized Navajo guide.{{cite news |url=http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/the-best-unknown-park-in-america/ |date=June 16, 2011 |title=The Best Unknown Park in America |first=Timothy |last=Egan |newspaper=New York Times}} The only exception to this rule is the White House Ruin Trail. This trail has reopened from 2 August 2024 to 29 September 2024 without a fee; it will again reopen seasonally in April 2025, with exact times & fees to be determined.{{cite web |title=Alerts & Conditions - Canyon de Chelly National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/cach/planyourvisit/conditions.htm |website=www.nps.gov |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=6 September 2024 |language=en}}

File:A095, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, USA, Spider Rock, 2004.jpg

The park's distinctive geologic feature, Spider Rock, is a sandstone spire that rises {{convert|750|ft|m|-1}} from the canyon floor at the junction of Canyon de Chelly and Monument Canyon. Spider Rock can be seen from South Rim Drive. It has served as the scene of a number of television commercials. According to traditional Navajo beliefs, the taller of the two spires is the home of Spider Grandmother.{{cite book |title=Native American Myths and Legends |last=Tobert |first=Natalie |author2=Pitt, Fiona |year=1994 |publisher=Salamander Books Ltd |isbn=978-0929050577|oclc=35878585 |editor= Taylor, Colin F. |page=35 }}

Most park visitors arrive by automobile and view Canyon de Chelly from the rim, following both North Rim Drive and South Rim Drive. Ancient ruins and geologic structures are visible, but in the distance, from turnoffs on each of these routes. Deep within the park is Mummy Cave. It features structures that have been built at various times in history. Private Navajo-owned companies offer tours of the canyon floor by horseback, hiking or four-wheel drive vehicle. The companies can be contacted directly for prices and arrangements. No entrance fee is charged to enter the park, apart from any charges imposed by tour companies. Commercial air tours are to be banned starting June 2025, barring legal challenges to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Park Service Dec. 2024 Air Tour Management Plan decision.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-24 |title=Canyon de Chelly will become latest national park to ban commercial air tours |url=https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-news/2024-12-24/canyon-de-chelly-will-become-latest-national-park-unit-to-ban-commercial-air-tours |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=KNAU Arizona Public Radio |language=en}}

Accommodations for visitors are located in the vicinity of the canyon, on the road leading to Chinle, which is the nearest town.

The National Monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 25, 1970.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Canyon de Chelly has a cold semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Canyon de Chelly was {{convert|105|F|C|1}} on July 2, 2002, July 14, 2003, and June 21, 2016, while the coldest temperature recorded was {{convert|-32|F|C|1}} on January 2, 1919.

{{Weather box

|location = Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1908–present

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 70

|Feb record high F = 72

|Mar record high F = 85

|Apr record high F = 90

|May record high F = 101

|Jun record high F = 105

|Jul record high F = 105

|Aug record high F = 102

|Sep record high F = 99

|Oct record high F = 90

|Nov record high F = 79

|Dec record high F = 69

|Jan avg record high F = 57.3

|Feb avg record high F = 64.1

|Mar avg record high F = 74.6

|Apr avg record high F = 82.6

|May avg record high F = 91.3

|Jun avg record high F = 99.4

|Jul avg record high F = 100.9

|Aug avg record high F = 96.9

|Sep avg record high F = 92.4

|Oct avg record high F = 83.4

|Nov avg record high F = 69.8

|Dec avg record high F = 58.8

|year avg record high F = 101.5

|Jan high F = 43.8

|Feb high F = 50.6

|Mar high F = 60.7

|Apr high F = 68.9

|May high F = 79.0

|Jun high F = 90.0

|Jul high F = 92.9

|Aug high F = 89.7

|Sep high F = 82.7

|Oct high F = 69.9

|Nov high F = 55.5

|Dec high F = 43.3

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 31.4

|Feb mean F = 37.1

|Mar mean F = 45.0

|Apr mean F = 52.4

|May mean F = 61.4

|Jun mean F = 71.3

|Jul mean F = 76.5

|Aug mean F = 74.2

|Sep mean F = 66.2

|Oct mean F = 53.7

|Nov mean F = 41.0

|Dec mean F = 31.4

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 19.0

|Feb low F = 23.6

|Mar low F = 29.2

|Apr low F = 35.8

|May low F = 43.7

|Jun low F = 52.5

|Jul low F = 60.2

|Aug low F = 58.8

|Sep low F = 49.8

|Oct low F = 37.5

|Nov low F = 26.5

|Dec low F = 19.6

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 5.2

|Feb avg record low F = 10.3

|Mar avg record low F = 17.1

|Apr avg record low F = 22.9

|May avg record low F = 31.3

|Jun avg record low F = 40.1

|Jul avg record low F = 51.9

|Aug avg record low F = 51.4

|Sep avg record low F = 36.1

|Oct avg record low F = 24.2

|Nov avg record low F = 12.1

|Dec avg record low F = 5.0

|year avg record low F = 1.2

|Jan record low F = -32

|Feb record low F = -22

|Mar record low F = 1

|Apr record low F = 9

|May record low F = 10

|Jun record low F = 20

|Jul record low F = 38

|Aug record low F = 38

|Sep record low F = 23

|Oct record low F = 10

|Nov record low F = -3

|Dec record low F = -27

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.76

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.73

|Mar precipitation inch = 0.65

|Apr precipitation inch = 0.48

|May precipitation inch = 0.51

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.27

|Jul precipitation inch = 1.07

|Aug precipitation inch = 1.30

|Sep precipitation inch = 0.85

|Oct precipitation inch = 0.83

|Nov precipitation inch = 0.58

|Dec precipitation inch = 0.72

|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 4.4

|Feb precipitation days = 4.7

|Mar precipitation days = 4.1

|Apr precipitation days = 3.1

|May precipitation days = 2.8

|Jun precipitation days = 1.7

|Jul precipitation days = 6.3

|Aug precipitation days = 6.9

|Sep precipitation days = 5.2

|Oct precipitation days = 4.1

|Nov precipitation days = 3.5

|Dec precipitation days = 4.8

|Jan snow inch = 1.1

|Feb snow inch = 0.9

|Mar snow inch = 0.6

|Apr snow inch = 0.1

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.1

|Nov snow inch = 0.6

|Dec snow inch = 1.5

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 0.8

|Feb snow days = 0.7

|Mar snow days = 0.7

|Apr snow days = 0.1

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.1

|Nov snow days = 0.4

|Dec snow days = 1.0

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00021248&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Canyon de Chelly, AZ

|access-date = March 24, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=fgz

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Flagstaff

|access-date = March 24, 2023

}}

Gallery

File:Canyon de Chelly1.jpg|White House Ruin

File:CACH-Antelope House 633e9c5e611443dcacce1ce649285c35.jpg|Antelope House Ruin

File:Massacre Cave Overlook 3 (cropped).jpg|Massacre Cave

File:Mummy Cave with snow.jpg|Snow at the canyon, with Mummy Cave in the background

File:A094, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, USA, cliff dwelling, 2004.jpg|First Ruin

File:Ancient ruins in the Cañon de Chelle 10055u.jpg|White House Ruin, Timothy H. O'Sullivan, 1873

File:CACHmap1 relief.png|Park map

References

{{cite book |last=Grant |first=Campbell |title=Canyon de Chelly: Its People and Rock Art |url=https://archive.org/details/canyondechellyit0000gran |url-access=registration |publisher=Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press |year=1984 |isbn=978-0816505234|oclc=1145748744}}

External links

{{official website|https://www.nps.gov/cach/index.htm}}
{{cite web|url=http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/parks/cach/index.cfm |publisher=National Park Service |work=Geology Fieldnotes |title=Canyon de Chelly National Monument |access-date=2011-06-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613200207/http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/parks/cach/index.cfm |archive-date=2011-06-13 }}
{{HABS |survey=AZ-157 |id=az0273 |title=Antelope House Ruin, Canyon del Muerto, Chinle vicinity, Apache County, AZ}}
{{HABS |survey=AZ-213 |id=az0428 |title=Bad Trail Ruin, Chinle vicinity, Apache County, AZ |link=no}}
{{HABS |survey=AZ-211 |id=az0425 |title=Ledge Ruin, Canyon del Muerto, Chinle vicinity, Apache County, AZ |link=no}}
{{HABS |survey=AZ-72 |id=az0001 |title=Mummy Cave, Navajo Indian Reservation, Chinle vicinity, Apache County, AZ |link=no}}
{{HABS |survey=AZ-156 |id=az0272 |title=White House Ruin, Navajo Indian Reservation, Chinle vicinity, Apache County, AZ |link=no}}
{{HABS |survey=AZ-212 |id=az0426 |title=Yucca House Ruin, Canyon del Muerto, Chinle vicinity, Apache County, AZ |link=no}}
[http://www.hanksville.org/voyage/poems/cdc/cdc1.html Canyon de Chelly] (poem by Simon Ortiz, 1977) Accessed 2013 January 15