Navajo National Monument in northern Arizona was created in 1909 to protect the sites of three ancient Puebloan ruins. Its name is derived from its location within the Navajo Nation rather than the people who lived there and abandoned these settlements several centuries ago.
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Stunningly Beautiful!
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Our Visit. We visited Navajo National Monument in April as part of a trip to northern Arizona and southern Utah.
A look east from the Sandal Trail at the beautiful Tsegi canyon system
Our Weather. 50s and sunny
Overall Impression. First, this area is absolutely stunning. The monument is set atop the plateau above the Tsegi canyon system which consists of brilliant red and white rock carved into beautiful formations with huge arch-like depressions in the canyon walls. It’s surrounded by thin pine forests adding dabs of rich green to the scene. This alone is reason enough for the site to be preserved, but its real treasure is the ancient ruins which can be viewed by all but visited by only a few.
Visiting. A quick visit to Navajo National Monument takes about 1 1/2-2 hours from the time you pull off of Arizona highway 564 until you’re back on it. In this time you can park at the Visitors Center and hike one of the main trails. The Visitors Center is small but has some great models and displays of artifacts that help you see ancient Puebloan life and what the ruins look like up close. From there, take the 1.3 mile (round trip) hike on Sandal Trail to see the Betatakin Ruins. The trail has a decent elevation change, but its paved and easy to walk. It takes you to an overlook of the ruins which you can clearly see across the canyon. Noon or afternoon light is probably best for viewing.
The Sandal Trail ends at this overlook at the Betatakin Ruins across the canyon
If you have more time, you can hike the other short trails in the park, but none lead to the ruins. When we visited in early April, only the Sandal Trail was open as the others were still covered in snow. To see the ruins requires a trip with Park Rangers, and offerings seem to be seasonal. Even without a Mesa Verde-style tour through the ruins, this park is still worth a visit, and in my opinion, is the most beautiful of the National Park sites where you can clearly see the ruins (Canyon de Chelly is stunning too, but it’s tougher to see the ruins).
Suggestions. If you’re there to get a glimpse of the ruins, the Sandal Trail is the only way to ensure a peek short of a ranger-led tour. The Visitors Center sits at over 7,000 feet, so if you’re not used to the altitude, take plenty of breaks to catch your breath, especially on the trek back up the trails. If you can’t hike very far, Tsegi Point Overlook near the entrance offers a good glimpse of the surrounding red rock canyons. It’s not as beautiful as the view from Sandal Trail, but it’s still worth a stop if it’s all you can see.
Nearby Towns Tsegi, Kayenta, Tuba City (AZ)
Other Nearby Attractions Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Glen Canyon NRA
Official NPS Website Navajo National Monument
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- The view from Tsegi Point Overlook isn’t as spectacular as that from the trails, but it’s a good stop if you’re unable to hike
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- This model of the monument’s Keet Seel ruins is in the Visitors Center
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- These structures, resembling those once used by local peoples, are set up right behind the Visitors Center
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- The Sandal Trail has elevation gain but is paved for the entire length
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- The Sandal Trail ends at this overlook at the Betatakin Ruins across the canyon
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- A look east from the Sandal Trail at the beautiful Tsegi canyon system
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