Fancy Navajo Rez Tour Part 2: Hubbell Trading Post & Canyon De Chelly

Welcome back to part 2 of the Fancy Navajo Rez Tour. If you read my post from last week. I recently went on a road trip with my IG bestie Jen throughout the Navajo Nation. Today I am picking up from where left off from Window Rock, AZ and where we ventured on our way to Canyon De Chelly in Chinle, AZ. If you missed the first post then head on over to this post here to catch up.

Day one of our Rez Tour was so much fun and I was excited for a full day of exploring and hiking. See I am not much of an outdoors person nor do I spend a lot time outside. So, I was excited to venture outside of my comfort zones and hike Canyon De Chelly. It was my most favorite part of the trip, but I’ll get to that a little bit later.

Fancy Bologna Sandwiches

Before we left Window Rock we gassed up and picked up some road trip food essentials: bologna, cheese, bread, and water. I don’t think you can have a Fancy Navajo Road trip and not have a bologna sandwich along the way. That’s one of my favorite memories of going on road trips as a kid. I remember we would stop at a grocery store along the way and shimá (my mom) would make the best tasting bologna sandwiches in the world.

Hubbell Trading Post – Ganado, AZ

https://www.nps.gov/hutr/index.htm

One of our first stops for the day was Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado, AZ. There is no admission fee and it is about a 35-minute drive west of Window Rock, AZ. My first time coming here was a couple of years ago and I was intrigued by the old Trading Post which held so much history in the area. As soon as you walk into the Trading Post you are taken back to another time. Its dimly lit and as you walk around the wood floors creak.

Food and other daily essentials are still sold in the trading post. Colorful enamelware line the walls of the store. I wondered if people in the surrounding areas still visit this place for groceries or if was merely just for tourists.  My favorite find was the New Mexico Piñon coffee. You know I love this coffee and it made me happy that it was being sold here. If you want my recipe fora delicious Biscochitto Latte then head to this post here.

They also sell jewelry, rugs, and other Native American arts and crafts. You can even take a tour of the trading post if one of the park rangers is available. However, if you want to get a quick history lesson, then head on over to the Visitors Center. Jen and I enjoyed our time at the Visitors Center. We learned more about Navajo Rug Weaving and the Hubbell Trading history. There was a cute little play area for kids. Obviously, we had to play too! Ha!

Remember to always stop and smell the rez flowers….

We got back on the road and made our way to Chinle, AZ. Along the way we noticed fields of purple flowers. It was so beautiful and we decided to pull off the road. I don’t think I have ever seen so many flowers in the dessert before. I am not sure what type of flower this is, but if you do, let me know below.

Canyon De Chelly – Chinle, AZ

https://www.nps.gov/cach/index.htm

As soon as we got into Chinle, AZ we made our way to the Canyon De Chelly Visitor Center. We picked up a map and headed on over to the White House overlook. If you have never been to Canyon De Chelly there are 10 lookout points, but the White House overlook is the only one with a public hiking trail. We decided we would make a trek down into the canyon and it was the most favorite part of the Fancy Navajo Rez Tour.

The White House Run Trail is a 1 to 2-hour hiking trail that begins at the top of the canyon and you make your way down to the Chinle wash. There is a designated walking path and we saw people of all ages walking the trail. However, there are points in the trail that are very narrow and high up. So please keep that in mind and make sure to pack water with you.

We had fun walking along the narrow paths and couldn’t wait to make it down to the wash. There are two tunnels you walk through and it’s as if they are tunnels to different worlds. The first is at the beginning of the trail and the second is at the base of the canyon. They were unexpected and offered cool areas of shade.

As soon as we got to the base of the canyon it was a short walk to the wash. We were lucky to see water running. My brother had hiked this trail in August of last year and there was no water. So, I felt blessed to see the water in the wash. We weren’t quite sure how to get across the wash other than to walk through it. As someone who is extremely nervous about putting their feet into the unknown I was nervous to take off my shoes to cross. But there were families and kids enjoying the water and with no choice really, I walked across barefoot.  

I don’t remember the last time I put my feet in a wash and immediately I was filled with memories of playing in little creeks and washes a kid. It was pure bliss! The ruins were also right behind us and it was completely breathtaking. Such a beautiful place with so much history. We dried our feet and made our journey back up.

Again, we were faced with the question of how to get across the wash. We had seen a tiny bridge earlier on in our hike so we made our way to it. Only to find out it was not useable. Jen being a dare devil decided to walk across it anyway as we had saw others do the same. I wasn’t as adventurous, so I opted to walk through the wash again. But this time I couldn’t walk across barefoot and crossed in my shoes!!! I was so thankful I had packed my moccasins and changed into them and finished the hike.  

What would have done? Would you have walked across the bridge?

With all hikes, going down is easy but going back up is the hardest. We took multiple breaks on our way back up. It wasn’t until we saw an older Navajo man walk up with ease and as he passed he asked, “Are you gals tired?” He gave a little laugh and after that I told Jen, “Come on Cheii (grandpa) is beating us. We have to keep up, let’s go!!” So we kicked it into high gear and before you knew it, we were back at the top!! We did it!! As someone who doesn’t hike I felt accomplished!!

We stopped at the Thunderbird Lodge to freshen up and peruse the trading post. They have cafeteria which I have tried before and is worth trying!  Then we hit the road again.

Totsoh Trading Post – Lukachukai, AZ

Our final destination for the day was Red Valley, AZ which is where Jen is from. Along the way we made a stop at Totsoh Trading Post in Lukachukai, AZ to stop for slush puppies but it was closed! Darn! But don’t worry we came back the next day to get our beloved slush puppies.

Butt Rock

A few miles down the road toward Buffalo Pass, Jen pulled over and announced she was going to show me the most famous rock in the world. I was like huh? What? She then said this is Butt Rock!! I couldn’t stop laughing. It really does look like a butt.

Buffalo Pass

Our journey continued through Buffalo Pass which is a very WINDY road. But at the very top you get the most beautiful view at the lookout point. You can see 4 states (New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado) in one view. I grew up in the Four Corners area and my most favorite views going back home is seeing Shiprock and then seeing the Colorado Mountains in the distance. So magical!!

Red Valley was just a short drive away and I had so much fun seeing where Jen grew up. We learned that by clan I am her Masani (grandma). We had fun with that and honestly that completely sums up our relationship. I am such a grandma at heart. After hiking, we were exhausted and I had to remember to dry my shoes before we continued on our adventure the next day to Monument Valley.

So stay tuned for Part 3 and our travels to Monument Valley.  

My hopes are that these blog posts serve as a guide to anyone traveling to the Navajo Nation and the surrounding areas. Some areas I am more familiar with than the others. I grew up in Fruitland, NM, so the surrounding areas are most familiar to me. So, I will also share a few other places that I love in places that I have visited frequently. I know there are so many places to see and visit that we didn’t get to visit. So, feel free to add in the comments section of this post, some of you favorite must see, eat, and do in these areas.

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Want to read about my Fancy Navajo Rez Tour Part 1: Exploring Gallup, NM & Window Rock, AZ? Then head on over to this post. https://thefancynavajo.com/2019/06/21/fancy-navajo-rez-tour-part-1-exploring-gallup-nm-window-rock-az/