Hike Down the Canyon de Chelly–Day 2

Tuesday, March 17, 2015 – St. Patrick’s Day

This morning after breakfast, I left poor Yuma in the motorhome and headed up the south rim to the Whitehouse Overlook.  The trail to the bottom of the canyon starts here.

The sign says it is a 1 1/2 mile hike to the bottom where the Whitehouse ruins are located.  As I hike down, I take photos of what I see.

I can tell soon into the hike that it is not for those who are squeamish around high places with no guard rails.  This trail goes down along the canyon wall and there is nothing to stop you from just going over the edge if you do not pay attention to where you walk.

The trail turns to the right at the small rocks you see, but where I am walking looks the same except a little flatter and a little wider.  The photo on the right shows you my trail.

As I reach the bottom of the canyon, it goes through a tunnel and you come out on the canyon floor.  There is a small cabin just beyond the tunnel entrance.

That is the canyon wall I came down.

As I walked along the bottom of the canyon, I crossed over the Rio de Chelly and the ruins were just ahead.

Made it to the Whitehouse ruins.  This is as close as you get.  There is a fence protecting the ruins.

While sitting at the bottom of the canyon listening to the wind quietly whistle through the cottonwood trees, I looked high up the side of the canyon above the ruins and watched an eagle soar along the rim.

See you later.