travel to Canyon de Chelly

[Bucket2]

Looking for a little help about travels to an unknown for me in north east AZ.
Leaving the cold northwest the last week in February as we have been doing for the last five years, but would like to see Canyon de Chelly but am wondering if it is a waste of time that time of year, from there I would like to go into new mexico (Taos, Santa Fe) area then south and probably enter back into AZ. south. Looks like pretty high elevation for that time of year...Any help?

[ifallsguy]

Used to live in Flagstaff. It's worth the trip but a few things to be aware of.

First, that area does get winter conditions (high winds, below freezing temps, possible snow), so make sure you keep an eye on the weather and have cold weather gear with you.

The highway is decent but is two lane. Second, check out the monument web site (https://www.nps.gov/cach/index.htm) and see what's available. I don't remember what's available for campgrounds in the area, but the monument staff should be able to make suggestions (give them a call or email).

Also, be aware the monument is on Navajo land and you will be traveling through the reservation.

A few other spots you might consider stopping at would be:

Page, AZ (Slot Canyons, Glen Canyon Dam)
The Big Ditch (Grand Canyon)
Flagstaff (Lowell Observatory, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Crater NM (there is a US Forest Service campground across from the visitor center) , Waputki NM and more).
About 50 miles east at Winslow on I-40 is Homolovi State Park (https://azstateparks.com/homolovi) - full hookups, ancient Hopi ruins. North of the park is Hopi. You can get excellent blue taco at the Hopi Cultural Center in Second Mesa (Hopi Cultural Center).

About 2 hours east of Flagstaff - Petrified Forest

Another site you might consider is the Hubble Trading Post, run by the National Park Service (https://www.nps.gov/hutr/index.htm). You can purchase Navajo blankets and other native art works.

I can give you some other spots to visit if you're interested.

[Bucket2]

Wow! What a wealth of information....I appreciate the info.
I took off one time from Apache Junction and followed down to Tortilla Flat on the Apache Trail and then on to Roosevelt Reservoir, I probably would not advise most folks but being from Oregon (Eastern) & raised in Idaho dirt roads don't bother me at all, as a matter of fact we love secondary roads, but 26 feet was about all the road can handle.
One more question if you don't mind, is there a small lake somewhere north,northwest of Sedona that has some camping facilities?
Thanks in advance again for your expertise.

Mel

[ifallsguy]

I'm not aware of any campgrounds with facilities that way, but if you head south out of Sedona towards Cottonwood, Dead Horse State Park has a small lake and from what I remember a very nice campground. (https://azstateparks.com/dead-horse). If memory serves correctly full hookups, bathhouse, plus riding stable. Excellent spot to use as a base in the area.

South of Flagstaff is a Forest Service campground at Lake Mary. (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coco...55024&actid=29). Been up there a few times without the trailer, just for the drive. I really cannot tell you much about it. The website should provide information.

Here is a listing of some private campgrounds around Sedona. (Sedona Area RV Parks and RV Campgrounds | Sedona, Cottonwood, Cornville, Camp Verde)

Somewhere else you might want to visit (and not well known) is V-Bar-V Heritage Site. This site does require a 1/4 miles walk but is worth it. Over a thousand petroglyphs carved into a short section of canyon wall. (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coco...a/?recid=55424). Run by the US Forest Service, it has very limited hours, so make sure you check before you go. Make sure you follow the directions, though it is easy to find. I don't recommend hauling a trailer to this site as there is a narrow bridge on the road in and if I remember right, the parking lot is fairly small.

Cottonwood (Dead Horse SP) is an easy drive from Sedona and Prescott, where there is a Costco. Also, if you do go to Prescott, make sure you check out the historic downtown.

I'll send you more to check out later.

Norris

[barryg]

Canyon De Chelly is definitely worth seeing. Only issue could be weather. The park has a campground there are no hookups. I have not stayed in it myself it is called Cottonwood campground. There is another campground along the southwestern side of the park. It is called Spider Rock owned by a Navajo named Howard. It is remote, it has no hookups, it is not fancy, it does have a website, we liked it when we stayed there a couple times but do not expect anything but pretty much a camping spot and beauty.
Do be aware as the previous poster mentioned it is on tribal land and they run the park and have some rules that are different than most National Parks. For example you cant just go willy nilly wherever you want. There is only one trail that you can go on un-escorted, the trail to the White House ruins other than that it is a rim road with view points. You can ride in the canyon in what they have nicknamed shake and bakes which is a tour truck and they will drive you into the canyons, you can also use your own vehicle but you have to hire a guide which travels in your vehicle with you or at least they had that option last time we were there and the visitor center can hook you up with one(your vehicle needs to be up to the task of deep sand travel it is not deep sand all the time but it is there in abundance our pickup did fine when we went. And last but not least you can horseback ride in the canyon with one of the two or so horse places there along with a guide. One of the best things we have ever done is that tour. We did the all day one going down Bat Canyon into Canyon De Chelly and out the mouth of the canyon. It was simply awesome just my wife, myself and our Navajo guide and three horses of course. It was mid October both times we have done it. Weather was cool but sunny. Bring your own lunch and water and 7 or so hours in the saddle, ended up with a sore rear end but worth it. Getting down Bat Canyon was exciting as it is steep but once in Canyon De Chelly it is very easy riding and you can real enjoy the beauty and the history of the canyon.

Also I second many of the previous posters recs. I found the Hubbel Trading post great. The upper and lower Antelope Slot canyons near Page are fantastic as well that was mentioned. If staying in the area a trip over the Lucachukai mountains to Ship Rock (the formation not the town) is beautiful as well.

[John from Central Florida]

Originally Posted by barryg

I have not stayed in it myself it is called Cottonwood campground. There is another campground along the southwestern side of the park. It is called Spider Rock owned by a Navajo named Howard. It is remote, it has no hookups, it is not fancy, it does have a website, we liked it when we stayed there a couple times but do not expect anything but pretty much a camping spot and beauty

Ditto about the canyon area being a beautiful place. The last time we were there we stayed at Spider Rock Campground because we had heard there had been a few thefts from Cottonwood.

X2 on the remoteness and beauty of SRC.

[troutslayer]

I stayed at the Cottonwood campground a few years back and had no problems. However, there were locals who came in to take showers at the bath houses and to load containers of water. We were also told that some locals will come around to sell craft items but we didn't see any of that. There was one young native who was selling items at one of the rim view points (I guess he wasn't supposed to be doing that). The views were spectacular though and I got some pictures that are so stunning that they don't look real. It was well worth spending a day there.

[Kim Gass]

We stayed in Cottonwood Campground May 2017. There was no theft and no peddling. No hookups. It was a beautiful shaded spot but in Feb you don't have that as a factor.
Spider Rock could be cold.. All campgrounds on the Navajo Nation are dry.