Indian Country
Indian Country is a vast and colorful land, a part of the Colorado Plateau bordered on the north by Lake Powell and the San Juan River, on the west by the Grand Canyon, New Mexico on the east, and I-40 on the south. It is the home of the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the United States, covering one-sixth of Arizona and extending into three neighboring states. Many Navajo still live as herders of sheep, goats, cattle, and horses. Although most Navajo families live in modern houses, some still live in traditional mud-and-wood hogans.
The plateau is also the home of the Hopi Tribe, which occupies villages on spectacular mesas. One of the Hopi towns, Old Oraibi, is the oldest continuously occupied settlement in North America. The Hopi people still practice traditional religious ceremonies. The kachina dances take place January through July, and some of them are open to the public.
Lake Powell, one of the most popular attractions in the National Park Service system, draws 3.5 million visitors annually. Often described as “a Grand Canyon with water,” Lake Powell is 186 miles long, with 1,960 miles of shoreline. It features orange sandstone cliffs interspersed with sandy beaches and, at 3,700 feet, the area gets sunshine 78 percent of the time. Its prime geological attraction is the world-famous Rainbow Bridge National Monument.
Ruins and artifacts from the Anasazi culture, which thrived in northeast Arizona until about 1,000 years ago, are preserved at Navajo National Monument. Petrified Forest National Park preserves one of the largest exposures of petrified wood in the world. The park’s soft, rolling hills of pastel-colored shale positively glow with color just after sunrise or before sunset and are appropriately called the “Painted Desert.”
Near Winslow, a giant meteorite smashed into the earth 50,000 years ago, blasting out a crater nearly a mile across. Meteor Crater is one of the best preserved craters on earth and was used by NASA to train lunar astronauts. You can view Meteor Crater from the modern visitor center on its north rim.
For more information:
Joseph City Chamber of Commerce
(928) 289-2434
Mule deer are found from the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the highest mountains in Arizona.
Page/Lake Powell Chamber of Commerce
71 Seventh Ave.
Page, AZ 86040
(928) 645-2741
www.pagechamber.com
26 Betatakin
Location: About 40 miles southwest of Kayenta, at Navajo National Monument
Sites: 33 tent and RV to 27 feet; no hookups
Road conditions: Paved
Management: Navajo Parks and Recreation, (928) 674-2106, http://navajonationparks.org
Finding the campground: From Kayenta, drive 29 miles southwest on US 160, and turn right onto AZ 564. (This junction is 54 miles northeast of Tuba City.) Continue 10 miles to the visitor center and campground.
About the campground: The campground is located in a piñon/juniper forest near the rim of Tsegi Canyon. Navajo National Monument, located within the Navajo Indian Reservation, protects a number of ruins that were occupied by the Anasazi people 1,000 years ago. The visitor center is a good place to learn about this tenacious Southwestern culture. This unit of the monument encompasses two of the most famous ruins. Betatakin is visible from a nearby overlook and can be hiked via a 5-mile round-trip. Keet Seel is accessible via a longer trail, which is best done as an overnight hike; access is limited by permit in order to protect the fragile ruins. The nearest services are in Kayenta; full services are available in Page and Flagstaff. Open-flame campfires are not allowed; campers must use stoves.
27 Cottonwood
Location: Near Chinle, at Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Sites: 90 tent and RV up to 34 feet; no hookups
Road conditions: Paved
Management: Canyon de Chelly National Monument, (928) 674-5510, www.nps.gov/cach
Finding the campground: From the junction of US 191 and Tribal Road 64, go 3 miles east on TR 64, through Chinle and past the monument visitor center. Turn right and go 0.5 mile to the campground.
About the campground: Cottonwood campground is a fine base for exploring Canyon del Muerto and Canyon de Chelly, the two beautiful canyons that make up the national monument. Paved roads follow the rims of each canyon. A spectacular foot trail leads to famous White House Ruin. Other canyon-bottom exploration is available on trips with Navajo guides. Group camping is available by reservation. The campground is within walking distance of the cafeteria at Thunderbird Lodge. Contact the park for further information. Limited services are available in Chinle; the nearest full services are in Gallup, New Mexico.
White House Ruin, Canyon de Chelly
28 Homolovi Ruins
Location: About 6 miles east of Winslow, at Homolovi Ruins State Park
Sites: 53 tent and RV up to 83 feet, with some electric and water hookups
Road conditions: Paved
Management: Homolovi Ruins State Park, (928) 289-4106, azstateparks.com/Parks/HORU; reservations (928) 586-2283, azstateparks.itinio.com/homolovi
Finding the campground: From Winslow, go 4 miles east on I-40; exit at AZ 87. Turn left and continue 1 mile north; turn left and go another mile to the park and campground.
About the campground: This campground is located in the Painted Desert near the ruins of an ancient Native American community. The state park has a visitor center and interpretive trails. World famous for its ethereal beauty, the Painted Desert is gently rolling plateau country. The multiple pastel colors of the exposed shale and sandstone rocks catch the early-morning or late-evening light and provide an ever-changing display of subtle color. Nearby attractions include Meteor Crater, the best preserved impact crater on earth, and Petrified Forest National Park, which protects vast outcrops of fossilized wood. Full services are available in nearby Winslow.
29 Cholla Lake
Location: About 10 miles west of Holbrook
Sites: 15 tent and RV; some partial hookups
Road conditions: Paved
Management: Navajo County Recreation Department, (928) 524-4000, www.navajocountyaz.gov
Finding the campground: From Winslow, go 23 miles east on I-40 (from Holbrook, go 8 miles west on I-40); exit at Joseph City (exit 277). Go south, and then almost immediately turn left (east) onto the park access road; continue 2 miles to the campground.
About the campground: The campground’s main attraction is its convenient location near the interstate. Fishing and boating are available on the lake. Nearby attractions include the historic downtown section of Holbrook and Petrified Forest National Park. Full services are available in Holbrook.
