Another relatively lazy day (we almost) - starting off at 9.30 am with a tour of the North Rim of Canyon de
Chelly and Canyon Del Meurto, every part of the Canyon de Chelly scenery has a wonderfully different
aspect. It is incredible that this canyon is between 5000 - 6000 feet above sea level - has snow cover in the winter and is seriously hot in summer.
The north rim has just 2 stops with 3 main point of interest. The first we stopped at was Antelope House which also has a outlook over a cliff called "two fell from here". It is said that a Spanish soldier chasing an Indian maiden, they struggled and both ended up falling from the cliff. Then we stopped at Massacre Cave where the US army lead by Kit Carson caught fleeing women and children in a cave and started firing their guns into the cave. Ricocheting bullets killed a substantial number of the Indians hiding in the cave. And the last lookout was Mummy Cave.
Low on fuel for the trip to Monument valley we returned to Chinle then followed Highway 191 north through a number of Navajo towns including one called “Many Farms” (name of the town although there did appear to be a lot of farms there!), Round Rock and Rock Point then joined Highway 160.
The scenery is stunning - scattered across the plateau are great towering rock spires that rise vertically jutting into the air with some that must be 1000 feet or more tall.
Turned west along Highway 160 to Kayenta and then North East on Highway 163. After a brief visit to Utah (about ½ mile) the road took us back into Arizona, arrived at Monument Valley and we are staying 3 nights in the View Hotel which has been built in the Park. We are expecting some exceptional scenery here as well. It was hotter today and we found the walking a little more difficult. We both have a little sunburn to boot.
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| Antelope House - Canyon de Chelly |
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| View near Massacre Cave |
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| View near Mummy Cave |
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| Panorama - Monument Valley |
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