Staring down into the awe-inspiring abyss of the Grand Canyon’s chiselled red rock, it isn’t difficult to see why this national park is on the bucket list for so many travellers. In 2024 alone, the Grand Canyon recorded over 4.9 million visitors, making it the third most visited national park in the USA. With this many visitors, however, it can be impossible to find a quiet moment of reflection and enjoy America’s largest canyon.

If you’re concerned about having to battle your way through the Grand Canyon’s crowds, then a trip to Arizona’s northeastern edge may just hold all the answers.  

Welcoming just 333,350 visitors in 2023, Canyon de Chelly National Monument is an oasis of solitude with all the spectral majesty of the Grand Canyon. Located less than five minutes from the Navajo reservation town of Chinle, Canyon de Chelly is the US’s second-largest canyon, brimming with tribal legends, ancient ancestral pueblos, and spectacular canyon views.  

What to see and do in the canyon

A 60-mile round trip, the easiest way to experience the sights and sounds of the canyon is through a leisurely drive around the park’s north and south rim trails. Starting with the north rim, its winding road through the semi-arid grassland leads to overlooks that focus on the Navajo’s tragic past. The deafening silence reverberates through the empty canyon as you look from up above, echoing the pain and suffering the Navajo experienced at the hands of successive Western settlers. Nowhere, however, is this more poignant than at the Massacre Cave Overlook, where the Spanish killed upwards of 115 Navajo seeking refuge under the heat of battle.

On the park’s south rim trail, the road leads to more positive climbs as the tragedies that gripped the ancient dwellings clear a path for worlds of expansive mythologies and impressive geological structures. This is where you’ll find the jewel in the canyon’s crown and its “can’t miss” spot – Spider Rock. Just a short walk along the main path, this 750ft sandstone spire rising from deep within the valley is a central feature within the folklore of the Diné people. At its heart, the tale recounts the legends of a Spider Woman, who wove the world into existence and gave the Diné their knowledge of weaving.  

Once you’ve finished discovering all the tales that the canyon has to tell, continue the experience by taking a 40-minute drive south to the town of Ganado. Located on its outskirts is the historic Hubbell Trading Post. The post was an important symbol of peace during an era when wars raged constantly between regional natives and the pioneers. At its peak, people of all creeds would come to the post to trade and buy goods. Today, Hubbell still operates as a trading post, offering a myriad of high-quality tribal arts and an authentic ‘Old West’ experience.

When to visit

While the park is open year-round (excluding national holidays), summers at the national monument can easily reach above 92°F (33 °C). To avoid these scorching temperatures, aim to head to the canyon during the Spring and Autumn months when the weather is cool yet comfortable. For a perfect moment of quiet reflection, however, it is best to visit the canyon on the cusp of winter (late Oct-early Nov). Within this small window, a fine dusting of snow contrasts the canyon reds, and the only soul you’re likely to encounter is a passing Cottontail.  

Where to stay and eat

Despite being small, Chinle has several options for places to stay while you explore the canyon. Within the town itself, the Best Western Canyon de Chelly Inn offers a range of affordable yet comfortable rooms. Located alongside the Best Western is the Junction restaurant—Chinle’s beating heart. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you’ll be greeted with a warm welcome, great hospitality, and a mixture of regional and American staples.  

Inside the park is the historic Thunderbird Lodge. Built in 1896, it features affordable rooms, a cafeteria-style restaurant, and its own trading post filled with gifts and souvenirs. More importantly, the Thunderbird Lodge offers several on-site tours that take visitors on journeys into the canyon that are inaccessible without a guide. As of July 2025, however, only the shorter tours are available.