7 Great Places to Visit in the Navajo Nation

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The Navajo Nation boasts jaw-dropping scenery, historic sites, and fun spots for tourists. If you’re planning a trip to the area, add these to your list!

Canyon de Chelly

Canyon de Chelly National Monument features colorful, sheer cliff walls, a Welcome Center, and two rim drives with nine overlooks. You can head out for self-guided hikes, or private companies and park rangers offer hikes and other activities. Campsites are also available.

Navajo Nation Zoo & Botanical Park

Located in Window Rock, the Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park is the country’s only tribally owned zoological park. The park showcases more than 50 animal species native to the Navajo Nation and the Southwest, with exhibits labeled in the Navajo language. The site also hosts a Golden Eagle Sanctuary and Education Center to view these majestic birds of prey.

Credit to Navajo Nation Zoo Facebook Page

Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park

Governed by Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation, Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park houses slot canyons and trails. Renowned sites within this Park include Antelope Canyon and Rainbow Bridge Trail, known as the world’s highest natural bridge and a sacred space for Navajo people. Parts of the Park are open only to tour groups, and other areas require Backcountry Hiking Permits.

Monument Valley Tribal Park

Movie buffs must visit Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park to see this location featured in several popular flicks. Miles and miles of mesas and buttes, shrubs and trees, and windblown sand surround fragile rock pinnacles, adding inspiring colors.

Four Corners Monument

The Four Corners Monument marks the spot where Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado all join together. It’s the only place in the country where you can be in four states at the same time.

Moenave Dinosaur Tracks

Discover first-hand evidence of dinosaurs at the Moenave Dinosaur Tracks site in Tuba City. Paleontologists from Northern Arizona University verified these tracks and because the specific type of dinosaur is undetermined, the tracks are referred to as trace fossils.

Window Rock Navajo Tribal Park & Veterans Memorial

The Window Rock Navajo Tribal Park and Veterans Memorial showcase sites with scenic and cultural significance, in addition to recognizing Navajos who served in the U.S. Military. Historians credit the Navajo Code Talkers for helping to win World War II by communicating in their native Diné language, which was not translatable by opposing forces.

Make sure to add these spots to your next trip through the Navajo Nation for unforgettable memories!

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.