Two canyons converge in this place Navajo people call Tsaile (SAY-ih), meaning home. It took Nature 30 million years to sculpt the landscape, compressing sand dunes into a dark red rock layer and cutting the walls up to 1,000 high. Today, visitors enjoy the red cliffs with ancient dwellings along their faces, and the verdant valleys below. Canyon de Chelly (de-SHAY) are on land belonging to the Navajo, who share their peaceful home with park visitors.

Reflecting one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes of North America, the cultural resources of Canyon de Chelly include distinctive architecture, artifacts, and rock imagery while exhibiting remarkable preservation integrity that provides outstanding opportunities for study and contemplation. Canyon de Chelly also sustains a living community of Navajo people, who are connected to a landscape of great historical and spiritual significance. Canyon de Chelly is unique among National Park service units, as it is comprised entirely of Navajo Tribal Trust Land that remains home to the canyon community.