Unique Native Nations, Spectacular Scenery and Archaeological Wonders!
Travelling around in a circle might not initially sound like a good idea until you realise it is a Grand Circle, which encompasses an enchanting region of numerous and varied Native American Nations, ancient, internationally-esteemed archaeological sites and some of the world’s most-spectacular scenery.
Spanning parts of the south-western states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah, the region includes such unique Native American sites as Acoma, the oldest continuously-inhabited place in North America; Supai, the capital of the Havasupai sited deep in the heart of the Grand Canyon; the Hualapai’s SkyWalk, jutting out over another part of the Canyon; and the massive Navajo Nation’s homeland, which encompasses parts of three states and the largest Native American reservation in the USA.
For many decades, the residents of these ancestral tribal homelands have understandably remained suspicious of outsiders. Ever since the early 16th-century arrival in the region of Spanish conquistadors, they have struggled to retain their identity, culture and lands against the incursions of land-hungry settlers, mining interests and, indeed, the American government itself.
However, aware of the appeal of their culture, scenic wonders and beautiful crafts, many tribes are now welcoming visitors as long as they remember that they should respect the rules of these unique tribes and nations which have their own governments, laws, cultures, religious practices and languages.
One of the great attractions of the Grand Circle region is its amazing array of beautiful, varied and unique Native American crafts. The Hopis not only produce handsome pottery, but also unique kachina carvings inspired by the spirits that they believe guide and inspire them – you can meet many of the artists and visit their galleries by following the Hopi Arts Trail (www.hopiartstrail.com).
New Mexico’s Acoma Indians are also known for their beautiful pottery, which is displayed and sold in the Sky City Cultural Center & Haak’u Museum at the base of their cliff-top ‘Sky City’; the nearby Zuni are best-known for their intricate jewellery, which features inlaid, multi-coloured gem stones; the Arizona-based Navajos excel in handsome, often-quite-flamboyant silver and turquoise jewellery and magnificent woven rugs; and collectors of magnificent pottery often head for the pueblos around New Mexico’s Espanola. And even as you travel to these and other places, you can visit the remains of the impressive, often-awe-inspiring architecture of the ancient indigenous cultures.
So, how can you take in the numerous such sites of an enormous region?
ARIZONA THE GRAND CANYON AND MORE
Fly into Las Vegas, Nevada, pick up a car and, following the route through Boulder City, Nevada, and Dolan Springs, Arizona, drive some 125 miles (200 kilometres) to the Grand Canyon’s West Rim. Here you will find the Hualapis’ amazing horseshoe-shaped Skywalk jutting out over the Canyon. Alternatively, take the longer route via Interstate 93 to Kingman, Arizona, where you connect with legendary Route 66 to Peach Springs, capital of the Hualapi Nation. Consider overnightingand taking a scenic Colorado River boat trip into the Canyon, In either case, end up on the Canyon’s South Rim for even more spectacular views of the up-to-7,400ft-deep, 277-mile-long Canyon.
If extremely fit – but only if you’ve reserved the trip far in advance – walk eight miles into the Canyon, accompanied by a baggage-carrying mule, to Supai, the capital of the Havasupai Nation. Surrounded by stunning blue-green waterfalls, it provides accommodation at camp sites and an inn, which must be booked well in advance.
Head east for the mesa-top Hopi villages and then make a choice. You can continue north to visit Tuba City’s Explore Navajo Interactive Museum and then head across the Utah border to take a native-led tour of spectacular Monument Valley, perhaps overnighting at Goulding’s Lodge, part of the area’s first trading post, or at the newer The View.
Or you can head east to Chinle to overnight at the Navajo-owned Thunderbird Lodge and take an excellent native-led tour of the Canyon de Chelly’s amazing archaeological sites. Continue south for the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, founded in 1878 and known for its displays of handsome Navajo rugs and weaving demonstrations.
Your next stop will be Window Rock, the Navajo capital and home to its Council Chamber, museum, zoo and botanical park. Next, decide whether to head over the New Mexico border for a link-up with our next tour or head south-west toward Phoenix, visiting the Heard Museum’s outstanding Native American collection, returning your car and picking up your flight home.
NEW MEXICO – HISTORIC CITIES AND NATIVE PUEBLOS
Take a British Airways or American Airlines flight to Dallas-Fort Worth to connect with a flight to Albuquerque, visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and then head 58 miles north to Santa Fe, America’s second-oldest city and oldest state capital.
Seated along the open-air arcades of the Palace of the Governors, the country’s oldest continually-occupied public building, are numerous native jewellery vendors; there are other arts and crafts to be savoured, and perhaps purchased, in the nearby shops and in the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture.
Visit the Indian pueblos around scenic Espanola – all are famous for their pottery, particularly the black-on-black ware produced in San Ildefonsa Pueblo by Maria Martinez. Then head west to two Native American-related UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The ancient buildings in Chaco Culture National Historical Park’s long narrow canyon were the religious, trade and administrative hubs for a huge, Puebloan civilisation, and the Aztec Ruins National Monument includes the only reconstructed Great Kiva (religious building) in North America. Then head south-west to Gallup, site of the colourful, annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, and return to Albuquerque via Acoma Sky City.
COLORADO AND UTAH A TWO-STATE DELIGHT
Make a flight connection over Denver to the lively Western frontier town of Durango, a great touring base for a number of area tourist attractions, most notably Mesa Verde National Park. Admire from ground level – or climb up wooden ladders to visit – its fantastic cliff-side apartments, home to the Ancestral Puebloans for more than 700 years. Then, join a native-led guided tour of the archaeological sites of the adjacent Ute Mountain Indian Reservation.
After crossing the border into Utah – named after the Utes – head for the Hovenweep National Monument, which features ancient towers clustered at the heads of spring-fed canyons. It’s now part of the newish Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, which encompasses more than 6,300 ancestral sites, including sacred buildings known as kivas, rock art and multi-room dwellings. And, when returning to Denver, make sure to visit the Denver Art Museum’s outstanding collection of Native American arts and crafts.
For further information about the region visit: www.grandcircle.org
