We are planning a two week trip to AZ and NM. Should we try to see Shiprock as part of it? Can you get close to it, and if not, is it worth going to see?

You have to go off the highway. We did because we had time. You'll be able to see it, however, from the main highway.

We did but you have to go off the highway. We had time. However, you can see it from the main highway. It's like Four Corners. You have to be able to say you were there.

I have seen Shiprock from the road. It is the eroded remains of a volcano. The rock itself consists of heavy lava that is highly resistent to erosion. It remains while the rest of the mountain has washed away. If I recall correctly, the rock itself is on Indian land and regarded as a religous site. No one is allowed to climb the rock because of the special place it holds in the society. Perhaps another poster can verify my recall.

As for seeing it, I think it is a toss up. I saw it as a by-product of going elsewhere. We had been at Mesa Verde and had stopped off to see the Aztec National Monument on our way to Canyon de Chelly.( The word Aztec in the title of the national monument is a misnomer because the dwellings were neither built by nor occupied by any Aztec group at any time.)

Th AZ/NM area if just terrific for many attractions. As I think has been implied by the previous posts, I wouldn't really go out of your way to see Shiprock. There are many, many landformations in the area. (my favorite are the mittens) But if you're in the area, then by all means have a look. But you shouldn't need to do much more than view it from the road. My recollection of years past was that the stop on the highway was a real tourist trap and not really anything you couldn't do just by looking at the view on the highway.

PS By all means you've got to see Mesa Verde. Never got to Canyon De Chelly but lot of people told us how much they enjoyed it on before we got there. By all means stray into southern Utah if you can. Bryce/Zion are magnificent and Arches tops them both. We also enjoyed a smaller place called Cedar Breaks.

The Aztec mentioned is great, so is Montezuma's Castle.

I agree with the ideas advanced by Geoff. If you want to see something that is really worthwhile, take his suggestions very seriously. Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, Cedar Breaks, Natural Bridges N. M, and several other places in the 4 Corners region are terrific. There is more to do than you will have time to do it in, unless you have about 4 to 5 weeks! One of my retirement objectives is to visit those places when I don't have to keep an eye on the calendar. It is easy to forget to go back to your job. And I am now in the position that I can forget!