Navajo National Monument: travel tips

As a parent and educator, I believe the combination of natural beauty and the history of many of the many indigenous groups who lived on the lands today known as the United States makes the Navajo National Monument a journey essential with your children. I wrote about the area in my story on 7 Iconic US Attractions Kids Should See Before They Grow Up, but I wanted to expand on the Navajo National Monument and Navajo and Hopi lands here because there are so many things to share.

The Hopi, San Juan Southern Paiute, Zuni, and Navajo are tribes that have inhabited the canyons of Arizona and New Mexico for centuries – a fact most dramatically evidenced in the cliff dwellings of Betatakin, Keet Seel and Inscription House at Navajo National Monument.

Hiking at Navajo National Monument

After a long interruption due to Covid-19, the guided tours of Betatakin and Keet Seel are offered again. Guided Betatakin and Keet Seel hikes are offered from Memorial Day to Labor Day, usually early weekend mornings. The three- to five-hour Betatakin hike is strenuous and the 17-mile Keet Seel hike is a major undertaking, so you need to be in good shape to participate. Unsupervised hikes to the sites are not permitted.

On the less physically strenuous side, there are several doable, informative and beautiful self-guided hikes that start behind the visitor center and are perfect for families. Note that none of these paths lead to the famous troglodyte dwellings.

• The Sandal Trail (2.1 km) is the only self-guided hike from which visitors can view the cave dwellings and to get the best view of Betatakin, binoculars will come in handy. Sandal is paved and has a slight change in elevation.
• The 0.8 mile Aspen Trail may be short, but has a steep elevation change and is strenuous. However, those willing to try will have stunning views of a relict forest deep in the canyon.
• The flat but unpaved Canyon View Trail (0.8 mile) leads to the park’s historic ranger station and delivers exactly what its name promises.

As you walk these trails through the monument, you can imagine the earth’s earliest hunter-gatherer origins. Residents eventually began growing corn and other crops. These early farmers built their homes on the surface in the large natural alcoves that formed in the imposing Navajo sandstone formation and which we now know as Betatakin, Keet Seel, and Inscription House. The porous Navajo sandstone served as a safe and efficient home, as the alcoves provided shelter from the elements and provided natural spring water.

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Today, the lands surrounding the Navajo National Monument are part of the Navajo Nation. The Navajo, or Diné, have lived in this region for several hundred years.

Explore the Interactive Navajo Museum

After (or before) enjoying the natural wonders of the national park, a trip to Tuba City will give you insight at the interactive Explore Navajo Museum. Created with the help of leading Navajo scholars, this learning center makes understanding the history and artistry of indigenous peoples accessible to all.

Your route through the museum is described as follows: “Four monumental directional symbols divide the museum into four quadrants. Traveling clockwise you will enter the east and move south, west and north where in each quadrant you will discover the land, language, history, culture and ceremonial life of the Navajo. Additionally, on-site demonstrations are available and visitors can see a traditional Navajo up close. hogan (at home) and learn Navajo creation stories as well as other elements of Navajo culture and traditions.

More interesting stops on Navajo and Hopi lands

If your family is interested in learning more about the Native American experience, both throughout history and today, there is no better way to learn more than by spending time on their native land . In Tuba City, World War II enthusiasts will love the Navajo Code Talker Museum, which details the vital role of Code Talkers in transmitting information about tactics, troop movements, orders and other vital information on the battlefield via telegraphs and radios in their native dialect… a much faster method than traditional Morse code. The Code Talker Museum is connected to the Tuba City Trading Post, which, while serving as a gift shop, also offers authentic and fairly priced local crafts and art and is a great way to support the local community while learning more about indigenous art.

The Navajo Village Heritage Center in Page (about an hour’s drive from Tuba City) offers a unique opportunity to engage with Navajo culture. Here, visitors can experience authentic Navajo cuisine and enjoy performances of Plains Indian dance and traditional storytelling. Check the Red Heritage website for upcoming shows and meals.

Drive through Navajo lands to Window Rock, Arizona, to see the Window Rock Navajo Tribal Park and Veterans Memorial. Not only will you be treated to the magnificent natural beauty of Tségháhoodzání (Window Rock), but you will also find yourself in the administrative capital of the Navajo Nation. Near Gallup, New Mexico, it’s the gateway to a deeper dive into indigenous people, their history, culture, and artistry.

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