White House Ruin Trail - Canyon de Chelly, AZ

Few places offer the beauty found within Canyon de Chelly. It's taken me over a year to calm down and share the experience. After years of reading books and seeing the pictures in Arizona Highways I knew someday I would go.


You can go to Sedona and be wowed by all the vibrant colors. But only here does the subtle beauty blend so perfectly with the surrounding culture. The feeling was incomparable. Was it the natives plowing their fields. Possibly the baby lamb not over eighteen inches tall playing with the children. Or walking under the canopy of trees along the most touching canyon imaginable.

Standing on the edge, the hike down first appears daunting. Fear not as most should negotiate the short descent handily. Once on the canyon floor, the trail takes you on a stroll to the ruins. Anticipation builds with each step. The payoff being a full package of wow. The massive canyon wall cuts in near the base creating a large alcove to protect the ruins.

Check out the Official Route and Triplogs.

Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.

2000-01-28 joebartels