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| Keet Seel - Betatakin Loop, AZ | |
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| | Keet Seel - Betatakin Loop, AZ | | | |
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Keet Seel - Betatakin Loop, AZ
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| Backpack | 19.00 Miles |
2,100 AEG |
| | Backpack | 19.00 Miles | 2 Days | | |
| 2,100 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | I’ve been intrigued by Keet Seel and wanted to go for over a decade but never made it a priority. It then closed during Covid and that moved it up my to-do list. I casually kept an eye on permits and noticed they were hosting trips again in the spring & fall. I was prepared and signed up Chumley and myself as soon as they were released. I received confirmation and we were on our way.
We left Phoenix on a Wednesday after work and made the 4.5 hour drive to Navajo National Monument and car camped. This worked well as we had a relaxed Thursday morning as we packed up our gear and then headed to the visitor center for orientation. We met our guides (Justin and Santiago) and went over final prep and the timeline. Our group of 13 hikers and 2 guides then drove to the trailhead where we had a quick intro and then started the hike. The first mile follows the road and is relatively easy going. We eventually left the road and started hiking on a single track that drops through a break and has fantastic trail work. We continued dropping and eventually arrived at the creek bottom of Long Canyon. Some of the hikers cached water and we prepared to get our feet wet in ankle deep water.
Once in the creek our pace slowed but we made steady progress. We would connect to a confluence and then turned left and headed up Keet Seel Canyon. It was relatively easy going as we crossed back and forth over the creek. We would take a break at a Russian Olive Tree that provided some modest shade. The next few miles blurred by as we passed the waterfall and then continued to camp. Once there we were able to spread out and set up camp & relax. After a bit, our guide wrangled us and led us to the dwelling where he gave us a thorough presentation on the cliff dwelling and the people that lived here. After a bit, our guide led us to the bottom for a closeup. We were not allowed to enter the dwelling but seeing it from the bottom was fantastic. The masonry work is fantastic, and the ground is covered in colorful pottery. My favorite piece was decorated with a spiral. After a few we returned to camp and settled in for the evening. We had our dinner and then turned on the LED lights which were a hit with the group. We eventually turned in to a relatively cold & windy night.
Our second day started early as we packed up camp on a very cold morning with the temp around 29 degrees. We geared up and hit the trail around 8am. I initially tried to keep my feet dry but the effort was futile. I would commit to the water that was uncomfortable but not awful. The group set a solid pace, I think to keep warm. Eventually the sun came out and it warmed just enough to make for an enjoyable hike. With much effort we hit the sand dunes and no longer had to get our feet wet. We retrieved our water cache and then continued to the junction with the Betatakin Dwelling. At this point, our guides decided to spilt the group into two. Nine of us headed for Betatakin while the other four took the main trail back to the trailhead and the cars.
The hike to Betatakin went well. It was easy going and very scenic. At some point we hit a microclimate and enjoyed aspen trees and a relatively cool & lush canyon. We dropped our packs at a trail junction and then detoured to the Betatakin Dwelling. This one was exquisite with amazing masonry work and best part was the tree ladder leading to an upper portion. I assume this was used as a granary and was not accessed every day. Our guide did an excellent job explaining the dwelling and took us slightly higher for a better view and to show us several glyphs. After a bit we returned to our packs and started the final climb out of the canyon.
The last part of our journey included a steep climb out of canyon on the some of the best trail construction I have ever seen. They literally blasted the trail out of rock and lined it with rock steps that were the perfect height. Along the climb we came to a locked gate that has no safe way around. Justin unlocked it and from here it was every person for themselves as we made the final climb to the rim and ended back at the visitor center. We all met there and then most of the group walked back to the trailhead to fetch their vehicles. My ankle was a bit sore so I stayed back while Chumley got the truck. He eventually returned and we loaded up and headed for Kayenta and the next phase of our adventure.
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Final Notes
Our two NPS Guides were fantastic and shared a wealth of information. They did a great job moving us along and I felt we were in good hands. This was the first time I have ever done a guided backpacking trip and I enjoyed it.
The other 11 hikers did fantastic and were well prepared. I can’t think of ever waiting for anyone or anyone that wasn’t prepared for the hike and backpack
I carried 7+ liters but only drank 5. It was a bit chilly, so I didn’t need much. Expect to drink a lot if it’s hot & sunny.
Ever though we couldn’t enter the dwelling it was still well worth the trip. The canyon is amazing and the dwelling is a sight to behold. I highly recommend going!
The permit is free and can be attained by filling out a form on the official NPS website for the Navajo National Monument |
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