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 MONUMENT VALLEY, CANYON DE CHELLY, 

AND THE LANDS OF THE NAVAJO

October 24-30, 2010    

Location: Northeast Arizona

Monument Valley is a vast open basin on the northern edge of the Navajo Nation. Bordered on the north by the twisting canyons of the San Juan River, on the east by the undulating folds of Comb Ridge, on the west by the rounded dome of the sacred Navajo Mountain,  and on the south by the  1,200 ft. volcanic spire of Agathla, the “Center of the Universe” to the Navajo, (El Capitan to most Anglos) this is a region of desolate and austere beauty.  Here, the towering mesas, buttes, and spires of reddish rust colored De Chelly sandstone meet the unobstructed radiance of the morning sun and it’s last fading rays as it sinks into the western canyons, creating a surreal radiant glow that those unfamiliar with the western light find hard to believe. It is truly a land of monuments in a monumental land.

We’ll be out each morning at sunrise as the western light moves across the land. We’ll be back again as the late afternoon light creates even more intense color. And in between we’ll visit places like the Navajo trading post of Oljeto (The Place of Moonlight Water), which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the historic Monument Valley Trading Post and museum, we’ll experience the breathtaking views from Muley Point, and wander among the spires and buttes in the Garden of the Gods. There are usually opportunities to visit with and photograph the Navajo people in their traditional dress, and the prices can’t be beat for those interested in purchasing native art and jewelry.  

Unlike the monuments rising high above the land in the great valley to the north, the thousand foot cliffs of Canyon de Chelly and Canyon del Muerto draining the Chuska Mountains to the east, carve deep gashes into this high desert land. Here the low angle of the late October sun casts constantly changing shadows over the cliffs and through the winding channel cut by Chinle Wash.   And unlike the treelessness of Monument Valley , the depths of these canyons are filled with ancient cottonwoods whose golden autumn leaves blend easily into the warm colors of the sandstone canyons.

 It was in these canyons that the Navajo sought refuge from the Spanish and marauding Comanche from beyond the eastern mountains, and the rock art and ancient ruins from these times as well as from the earlier occupation by the Anasazi, the “Ancient Ones”, are abundant.

A week isn’t enough, but it’s a beginning, and we’ll immerse ourselves in as much of the beauty, history, and magic of this incredible land that time allows.

  CONTACT/QUESTIONS/COMMENTS 

 Cost: $1,385/Single Supplement: $75                                                        

To register, please  fill out the  tour application and  payment options forms. You may reserve a space (50% deposit or full payment) with your credit card or Pay Pal account or send a check to: Branson Reynolds, POB 3471, Durango,Co 81301

 Arrival Point is Mexican Hat, Utah, on north edge of the Navajo Reservation and Monument Valley

Departure Point is Chinle, Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation at the entrance to Canyon de Chelly

Nearest Large Airport: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Some 4XD driving is required on this trip ---- see FAQ's below

Frequently asked Questions: Details on lodging, transportation, and other questions relating to this trip.