Canyon de Chelly, AZ vs Bisti Wilderness Area, NM
 

I posted earlier last month about our trip to New Mexico.

(See here for a reference: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-questions.cfm)

But now we have been hearing a lot of good things about Canyon de Chelly National Monument. If we decided to head into Arizona after Gallup, NM we could stay the night there and spend some time at Canyon de Chelly. However that would take us off the course of going to Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness in New Mexico. And I don't think we will have time to do both.

What is everyones thoughts? Is one better than the other? Which one, if either, is a must see, or is it worth it to try to see both sights?

thanks!

Canyon de Chelly is one of our favorite places--we've been there twice. We like to stay at the Holiday Inn and book a Navajo jeep tour at the gift shop there.

Nearby Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site is worth a visit, especially if you are there when you can take the guided house tour: http://www.nps.gov/hutr/index.htm

HTtY

Thanks for cluing me into the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. We will check it out the next time we're in the area.

I really enjoyed CdeC. Can't speak to the other.
We took a private tour that was set up by the front desk folks at the Best Western.

Totally agree with the Hubbell Trading Post recommendation.

If you are coming from the Grand Canyon, stop at the Cameron Trading Post. The fry bread in their restaurant is fabulous!

I don't know what your overall itinerary is but you could easily go from Gallup (why Gallup - there isn't much to see there) to Canyon de Chelley, and then spend the night in Farmington and head to the Bisti (and Chaco canyon if you wanted) the next day. Farmington also has the Aztec ruins

I've read in your other thread that you are pregnant which makes this a whole different ball game.

Bisti is a wilderness area. If you go make sure you have very good maps and take a gps. There's nothing out here!!!! It's going to be a lot of hiking with no shade. It's beautiful but places to see are far apart! We spent the majority of the day there and couldn't find things on our map but then we didn't have a gps back then.

Canyon de Chelly is a very scenic location. Easy to get to the few overlooks and even the hike down to White House Ruins might not be so bad. I would NOT recommend the tour in the valley because they call it the shake and bake tour for a good reason. While you might not bake in Sept. you will be shaken & bounced around a lot!

Chaco Canyon has recently been mentioned and while it's a dirt road drive out there you could take your time and might not have an issue with the road. There is a visitor center and bathrooms at the park. I think this place is amazing.

Monument Valley is also in the area. It's BEAUTIFUL and you can see a lot from the paved roads, but once again to see this area you will be driving on a bumpy dirt road. If you attempt it, I would suggest doing it on your own so you can control the speed and bumps.

I don't know how far you are planning to go into Utah. If you want scenic and easy to do areas consider Zion & Bryce National Parks or Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Utahtea

I've read in your other thread that you are pregnant which makes this a whole different ball game.

Bisti is a wilderness area. If you go make sure you have very good maps and take a gps. There's nothing out here!!!! It's going to be a lot of hiking with no shade. It's beautiful but places to see are far apart! We spent the majority of the day there and couldn't find things on our map but then we didn't have a gps back then.

Canyon de Chelly is a very scenic location. Easy to get to the few overlooks and even the hike down to White House Ruins might not be so bad. I would NOT recommend the tour in the valley because they call it the shake and bake tour for a good reason. While you might not bake in Sept. you will be shaken & bounced around a lot!

Chaco Canyon has recently been mentioned and while it's a dirt road drive out there you could take your time and might not have an issue with the road. There is a visitor center and bathrooms at the park. I think this place is amazing.

Monument Valley is also in the area. It's BEAUTIFUL and you can see a lot from the paved roads, but once again to see this area you will be driving on a bumpy dirt road. If you attempt it, I would suggest doing it on your own so you can control the speed and bumps.

I don't know how far you are planning to go into Utah. If you want scenic and easy to do areas consider Zion & Bryce National Parks or Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Utahtea

oops...not sure why that double posted. :)

Utahtea

We also had a wonderful,experience at Canyon de Chelly. We avoided " the shake and bake" truck rides by hiring a private guide with an SUV. Google Adam Teller. He is one of the leading guides there and fhe ride wasn't difficult at all. We booked him ahead as he's very sought after. We stayed at the Holiday Inn which is in a better location than the Best Western.

Such decisions. Canyon de Chelly is magical with its ties to Navajo culture and mythology. Never been to Bisti, but Chaco Canyon is another trip that adds fascinating history to scenic wonder. For an authentic contemporary Native American experience, Zuni Pueblo is about 70 miles (an hour give or take) south of Gallup. And Hopiland mesas are an easy trip from Window Rock, when heading north out of Gallup. No matter what you choose, you will have a fabulous time.

thanks everyone for your great suggestions! Sorry for the late reply. So here is the plan: We we leave Albq we will head along route 66/I-40. Stops at Acoma Pueblo, El Malpais, driving through Grants and Gallup (unless its late, we will find a motel and crash there). Then headed to Window Rock Monument, then Hubbell Trading Post, and finally to Canyon de Chelly!

For there on...hmm decisions. Maybe you all can help. Yes we are headed to the four corners monument because we are dorks. But do we take an hour detour on Route 64 to see the Shiprock monument in Shiprock, NM? I hear its a cool sight to see. But it would be out of the way vs doing US 191 to head to the Four Corners.

We have also been debating adding a day to do Mesa Verde National Park. It is definitely in the opposite direction as we would like to head to Utah after the four corners but we are willing to go out of the way if its worth it. What is everyone's thoughts on Mesa Verde? Do you really need an entire day there?

thanks!!

Instead of el Malpias, stop at el Morro/Inscription rock, check out the inscriptions and continue to the ruin on the top. One hour or less stop and you can continue west then north and hit 40 again.

Mesa Verde is absolutely worth it! Spectacular cliff dwellings and such a spiritual place; you can feel it.

Skip Shiprock; it isn't worth the drive. You may be able to see if as you drive from Four Corners to Mesa Verde.

Mesa Verde is definitely worth a day, and if you drive up 191 to Cortez from Gallup you will go right by shiprock. You can't climb it anyway so just driving by is really the experience. Then just head back through the four corners monument, Monument valley and on into Utah which is also gorgeous. lunch in Kayenta, there's a great little Mexican place on the way to Monument Valley

Thanks again everyone for the great advice on what to do and where to go. Our trip this past summer was a blast. We definitely agreed that Canyon de Chelly was one of our favorite places.

Here is a slide show photo album of some of our photos. Thank you all again for your advice and recommendations!

https://willandpriscillabrown.shutte...m/pictures/760

Did you do Mesa Verde?

I'll add another vote for Adam Teller's tour of the Canyon - it was wonderful, and he is a fantastic guide! Some of the other tour companies will imply that only they have permission to take tours into the canyon, and that's not true.