Canyon de Chelly

Travel glampers wrote:
Does anyone have a suggestion for a campground near Canyon de Chelly? We have a 34-foot fifth wheel. Thanks for any help. Hoping to visit tomorrow.

That's a tough one. I was just talking to a friend at work about this yesterday. I haven't tried to camp near there for many years, but like I told her, we've been going there since the early 70s and I remember giving up our search for camping every single time and staying in the same nearby motel.

I would think that they've added camping since we were last there 15 years or so ago.

I just now searched and found two places near Chinle: Cottonwood and Spider Rock. I don't know anything about either of those places, but I'd stay in the local landfill if I had to, because Canyon de Chelly is that good of a destination.

Have a great trip!

from brochure..Cottonwood Campground
Primitive campsites located ¼ mile of the Visitor Center.
? Call NPRD at (928)674-2106 for current camping rates.
? Open all year. Limited facilities in the winter.
? Sites with table and grill; 3 restroom facilities.
? No shower or hookups.
Camping Spider Rock Campground
Privately operated 12 miles on the South Rim Drive.
? Nightly fee. Dry camping. No hookups. Hogans available.
? Dumpstation and water available for guests.
? Contact (928)781-2016 or P.O. Box 2509, Chinle, AZ 86503.
.

Stayed a week at Cottonwood several year back. Very primitive. Would stay again if in the area..JM2¢ ~~ YMMV

From the National Parks website: https://www.nps.gov/cach/planyourvisit/outdooractivities.htm

The Navajo Parks and Recreation Department (NPRD) manages the Cottonwood Campground and collects fees for camping.

There are about 90 individual campsites available and 2 group tent sites. Each site includes a parking space, picnic table and grill. There are 3 restroom facilities that include sinks and flushable toilets, but no showers. No hookups are available, but a dumpstation is located in Loop 1. Limited services are available during winter months.

GROUP SITES: Reservations for group campsites are required. Sites are for tent camping only. No reservations are accepted for RVs.

RVs: Sites cannot accommodate vehicles more than 40 feet, including vehicles-in-tow. Full hookups are available in the surrounding areas of Gallup, NM; Monument Valley, UT; and Holbrook, AZ.

From the National Parks website: https://www.nps.gov/cach/planyourvisit/outdooractivities.htm

The Navajo Parks and Recreation Department (NPRD) manages the Cottonwood Campground and collects fees for camping.

There are about 90 individual campsites available and 2 group tent sites. Each site includes a parking space, picnic table and grill. There are 3 restroom facilities that include sinks and flushable toilets, but no showers. No hookups are available, but a dumpstation is located in Loop 1. Limited services are available during winter months.

GROUP SITES: Reservations for group campsites are required. Sites are for tent camping only. No reservations are accepted for RVs.

RVs: Sites cannot accommodate vehicles more than 40 feet, including vehicles-in-tow. Full hookups are available in the surrounding areas of Gallup, NM; Monument Valley, UT; and Holbrook, AZ.

This sits right smack in the middle of the Navajo Nation, hence the lack of RV parks (or boondocking), or almost anything else for that matter. If you carry alcoholic beverages with you, please respect the local laws, and keep them in your camper, as it is illegal on Navajo lands.

Charles

maddog348 wrote:
from brochure..Cottonwood Campground
Primitive campsites located ¼ mile of the Visitor Center.
? Call NPRD at (928)674-2106 for current camping rates.
? Open all year. Limited facilities in the winter.
? Sites with table and grill; 3 restroom facilities.
? No shower or hookups.
Camping Spider Rock Campground
Privately operated 12 miles on the South Rim Drive.
? Nightly fee. Dry camping. No hookups. Hogans available.
? Dumpstation and water available for guests.
? Contact (928)781-2016 or P.O. Box 2509, Chinle, AZ 86503.
.

Stayed a week at Cottonwood several year back. Very primitive. Would stay again if in the area..JM2¢ ~~ YMMV

We enjoy it often but has always been winter or at least pretty Cool.

Great stop,

Travel glampers wrote:
Does anyone have a suggestion for a campground near Canyon de Chelly? We have a 34-foot fifth wheel. Thanks for any help. Hoping to visit tomorrow.

I hope you found a place to stay.

Two other thoughts:

1 - Hopefully you're taking the full day jeep trip. The half day is nice, but this isn't an experience to take shortcuts on. The full day trip isn't just twice as good.

2 - Be careful about what time it is. Arizona doesn't recognize Daylight Saving Time, but I believe the Navajo Nation does. Make sure to synchronize your watch with the locals when you book the trip.

Oh and a third "bonus" thought: Don't wear a ball cap on the jeep trip. It will blow off. Mine blew off as a child, as did my son's. :B

Sounds like we should just skip it and go elsewhere.

The Navajo Nation (Hopi & Zuni too) does not have a huge budget to spend on attracting folks in big smog producing vehicles clogging up small reservation roads. Thus, the campgrounds are located either along more built up areas, or remote enough to deliberately keep the large RVs away. But that doesn't mean there are no campsites, you just have to know where they are. Additionally, they are regulated in that they may be closed for conservation or environmental reasons. So, contacting the Navajo Nation Tourism Dept to inquire what is open, camping restrictions, and if designed or RV's or just backpacking is the first step. You can also follow the Campground and RVs link under the "Relax" tab on DiscoverNavajo.com

jolooote wrote:
Sounds like we should just skip it and go elsewhere.

IMHO that would be a BAD Decision - It is Beautiful and One of the Highlights of the Southwest. .:)

We have been often and have always enjoyed the area ad the People.

Best of Luck,

The Canyon is on our bucket list and we don't mind dry camping at all. I understand the tours to see the incredible rock formations are outstanding and informative. From there we want to go Navajo National Monument to see more cliff dwellings and I understand the Visitors Center sells some mighty fine Navajo silver