Canyon de Chelly Jeep Tours

A trip into the canyons is practically a necessity. With the exception of hiking the White House Ruin trail, travel in the canyons is permitted only with a park ranger or other authorized Navajo guide. Visitors have the option of Thunderbird Lodge tours, hiking, riding horses or traveling by permit with an authorized guide in their own four-wheel drive vehicles.

Experienced Navajo guides explain the significance of man-made structures and symbols while pointing out natural points of interest. Heavy-duty six-wheel drive touring vehicles are equipped with padded seats to provide a comfortable and memorable experience. Guests typically enjoy an open-air ride, but during inclement weather the vehicles can be covered with clear caps engineered by the lodge’s maintenance staff. The tours stop frequently for photographs and to visit ruins, Navajo farms and rock art.

Half-day tours departing at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., depending on the season, take visitors into the lower halves of both Canyon de Chelly and Canyon del Muerto and last 3½ hours. Full day tours begin in the spring and last until late fall. They depart at 9 a.m. and return at 5 p.m. The full-day tours take visitors on a 60-mile round trip through Canyon del Muerto to Mummy Cave and Canyon de Chelly to Spider Rock.