Canyon De Chelly National Monument

Canyon De Chelly (pronounced De Shay) is about 125 miles NE of Flagstaff near the Arizona/New Mexico border. Even though it is run by the National Park Service, the entire monument is on a Navajo Reservation and therefore the land belongs to the Navajo.  As you will see in some of the photos, the Navajo still live and farm on the canyon floors.
The pueblos were built by the Ancient Pueblo Peoples, also called the Anasazi, from about 750 to 1250. There are 9 ruins that are highlighted on the driving tour, but there are many more if you stop and study the canyons walls with binoculars. 

Canyon Del Muerto (Canyon of the Dead)Named because of the 115 Navajo that were killed by the Spanish in 1804.

Part of a farm along the Chinle Wash. If you look in the crevice just above the cluster of trees in the middle, you can just make out a pueblo. Note the cars parked just to the left of the same trees.

A close up of the pueblo ruins.

More pueblo ruins.

The close up.

Lunch at Canyon De Chelly.

This is in Canyon De Chelly. The Chinle Wash runs through both canyons. Just above and to the right of center there is a 'cave' in the canyon wall - another pueblo ruin.

A close up.

Spider Rock - 800' tall.

A panorama in Canyon De Chelly.

Where Canyon De Chelly and Canyon Del Muerto meet.

Cliffrose Smells as sweet as honey suckle.

Ground Sel About 18" across.

Claret Cactus The main part of the cactus is only about 6" tall.

Narrow Leaf Yucca.

Desert Globemallow This is Caroline's favorite. It is everywhere in the Southwest. The biggest one we saw was about 2' wide.