Navajo National Monument

We remembered liking Kayenta and Navajo National Monument when we explored this area for the first time about 20 years ago and so, added it to the itinerary for this trip.  We were so glad we did! This monument is run jointly by the Navajo tribe and the National Park Service.  There are three really impressive cliff dwellings here:  two of which are open to the public.  One is a 17 mile hike.  Needless to say, we didn't do that one.  We camped at Canyon View Campground which was free and had the most wonderful views.

We set up our chairs at the edge of the rim of a confluence
of canyons:  Tsegi, Deguissbeto, Betatakin, Keet Seel and
Long.

This was our first sunset here.  What an amazing view!

The colors were almost unreal.

The Visitor's Center is run by the Navajo.  This is
a sweat lodge that Boo was dying to get into.

A hogan

There were wonderful trails to overlooks of cliff dwellings.

Betatakin

Close up of Betatakin

A display of rock art that is found at Betatakin  Apparently,
these figures represent the different peoples who resided
here:  the Flute Clan, the Water Clan, the Deer Clan and
the Fire Clan.

 These are pictures of what the ruins looked like when first discovered.

Our day time view

There are wonderful trails on the rim and
if we went early enough, it wasn't too hot.

I think the heat got to us here.

One day, I did the laundry and Boo napped in his bed.

Sunset in the canyons

Happy Hour
Reading "In Search of the Old Ones" which is the story of
the Anasazi (now called Ancestral Puebloans because
they were ancesters of today's pueblo people).

Our campsite -very private and shady, thank heavens

Boo loves sitting with us while we eat.
I really don't think he wanted that granola
and apples, though he kept hoping for some
kind of nibble!

From here, we went to Page and Lake Powell, Lee's Ferry, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and up to Kanab and the Grand Staircase.  On our way back through Arizona, we decided to stay here again because we enjoyed it so much.  It has such a peaceful, spiritual vibe.

I built a cairn on the rocks

And not a sound could be heard.

Very easy to picture being here in the 11th century

A great place to meditate and relax

The rocks just sparkle with color!

Sorry our time here is coming to an end.

Love how the sage pops in the setting sun