Horseback Riding in Arizona/Utah
NAVAJOLAND |
Deep in the heart of the desert Southwest ancient Anasazi people inhabited precarious stone dwellings high in the sandstone cliffs, and later the Navajo Indians carved a civilization in the beautiful but isolated landscape. This ride crosses three distinct portions of the Navajo Indian Reservation. It begins in Canyon de Chelly, whose impossibly high walls are dotted with Anasazi ruins. You then ride two days among the famed mesas, buttes and natural arches of Monument Valley before moving on to spend the final days in the rarely visited foothills of Navajo Mountain. From this camp one can see hundreds of miles across a labyrinth of sandstone canyons draining into the Colorado River. The week culminates with a boat cruise on Lake Powell, stopping enroute to see Rainbow Bridge. This is a trip for people who do not mind helping out with camp chores, and who are willing to forego creature comforts to become immersed in the unique culture and dramatic landscape of Navajoland.
I feel very fortunate and privileged to have shared this experience. The Navajo culture was fascinating and the history of the people both interesting and sad. I really felt I was in a different world in the Canyon de Chelly and the Canyon del Muerto.
- Iris Kusneraitis
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Meet in the lobby of the hotel in Page, Arizona at 10:30am. Riders, horses, and gear will be transferred to Canyon de Chelly. The drive is about 4 hours, and there will be a stop for lunch in Kayenta. Spend the first night camped at Navajo Camp on the south rim of the canyon.
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| Day 2: | After breakfast, saddle up and ride down the Bat Trail into Canyon de Chelly. The trail down is rough and the going is slow, but once in the canyon the trail is smooth and offers wonderful opportunities for trots and canters. Riders will see Spider Rock, many Anasazi ruins and petroglyphs, and Navajo hogans. Camp near the junction of Canyon de Chelly and Canyon del Muerto.
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| Day 3: | Continue up Canyon del Muerto, viewing Anasazi ruins and Navajo farms along the route. The "Canyon of the Dead" was named after a massacre of Navajos at the hands of Spanish horsemen in 1804. Follow a switchback trail up and out of Canyon del Muerto. The horses and riders will be transferred across a stretch of the Navajo Reservation to a campsite on the rim of Monument Valley.
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| Day 4: | Ride through the buttes and mesas of Monument Valley, along the north and east sides. Camp overnight at the base of Raingod Mesa. The sunsets and sunrises in this colorful country are spectacular. There will be an opportunity tonight and tomorrow night to visit the visitor's center and the rows of stalls selling Navajo Indian jewelry.
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| Day 5: | No need to move camp today. Ride through the back country of Monument Valley's dramatic landscape, including the chance to ride right up to some famous natural arches such as Ear of the Wind, Big Hogan and Sun's Eye. The terrain is characterized by impressive dunes, canyons, sagebrush flats and of course the buttes that give the valley its name. Return to the Raingod Mesa camp for dinner and overnight.
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| Day 6: | Ride from Raingod Mesa, past John Ford Point to where the trucks and trailers are waiting for the drive to Navajo Mountain.. This graceful hogan-shaped mountain which lies just north of the Arizona/Utah state line is sacred to the Navajo. This is very rough terrain, which is why the Navajo people living here were able to escape capture during the Kit Carson era. There are hogans still standing which were built during this period. The red, pink and white sandstone is a labyrinth of drainages, domes and hidden arches. Camp on the northeast side of Navajo Mountain.
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| Day 7: | Ride from camp into the maze of canyons draining toward the Colorado River. From several vantage points one can see north for hundreds of miles across the vast Colorado River Plateau into Utah and Colorado. Return to the Navajo Mountain Camp for a farewell dinner and final night in this peaceful landscape. |
| Day 8: | From the campsite, ride the final miles down Piute Canyon to Lake Powell, arriving early in the afternoon where power boats are arranged to meet the riders. The wranglers will lead the horses back to the trucks and trailers, but the riders will take the boats to Rainbow Bridge. In a land where spectacular rock formations are common, this one stands out as a phenomenon. The graceful arch is 278 feet wide, and 309 feet high. Elevation at the base is 1130 meters. It is only accessible by boat, a strenuous hike, or by horseback down a precipitous trail. Climb back in the boats for a two hour trip down Lake Powell to Antelope Point Marina near Page. Plan to arrive in Page by 4:00pm.
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| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Page, Arizona |
| Length of Ride | 8 days, 7 nights and 4 full and 3 half days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Strong Intermediate Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-5 Maximum-14 |
| Riding Per Day | 6 hours |
| Pace | moderate |
| Tack | Western |
| Horses | local ranch bred |
| Weight Limit | 210 lbs |
| 2008 Dates | May 3-10, Oct 11-18 |
| 2008 Price | 5-10 riders: $2,055
11-14 riders: $1,840
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| Single Supplement | $135 |
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