Navajo: Discover Nature, Culture and History

Navajo combines nature experiences with a multifaceted regional history. Trip ideas range from viewpoints, trails and lakes to museums, public art and historic buildings. When looking for a holiday rental, you can first decide whether nature, culture or both should shape your days away.

Nature and Trails Between Lake and Monument

The Betatakin and Keet Seel units of Navajo National Monument are located in Navajo County. U.S. Highway 160 provides access to all units. Betatakin can be visited on scheduled, guided hikes led by the National Park Service. A paved, one-mile round-trip trail leads to a viewpoint overlooking the Betatakin site.

Show Low Lake offers a distinct landscape of its own: The lake covers 100 acres and sits at an elevation of 6,500 feet. In the wider Navajo County region, the area around Pinetop-Lakeside provides access to more than 180 miles of developed multi-use trails in the White Mountains Trail System. Woodland Lake Park has hiking, cycling and horseback-riding trails. The White Mountain Nature Center is located on 10 acres of land next to the Big Springs Environmental Study Area.

Art and Regional History

In Winslow, Standin’ On The Corner Park combines public art with a Route 66 theme: It features a two-story mural and a life-size bronze statue. The Show Low Historical Society Museum offers a different perspective on history. It has 6,000 square feet of exhibit space in 17 themed rooms. This includes the Silvercreek Railroad Club exhibit, titled “The Last Train to Maverick.”

The Stinson Museum is housed in a Spanish Colonial adobe house. It displays artifacts from Snowflake’s prehistoric, Hispanic and Mormon pioneer past, including a loom belonging to Lucy Hannah Flake. The historic tour of Snowflake’s landmark homes includes 26 houses listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Nohwike’ Bágowa Museum (House of Our Footprints) features permanent exhibits, historical information, cultural interpretation and a museum shop. Check in there before visiting the ruins to obtain permits and information. The Fort Apache Landmark site is open daily from 7:00 a.m. until sunset.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Trip

To choose a location, compare the kind of days you want to spend there: Would you like to focus on a scheduled hike with a view of Betatakin, or spend more time at museums, historic buildings and art? You can also weigh your interest in nature by comparing the different options—from the lake and trails for various activities to the regional multi-use trail system. If you want your trip to combine several interests, first decide which experiences should most influence your search for a holiday rental in Navajo.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Holbrook, Show Low, Winslow, Heber-Overgaard, Pinetop-Lakeside, Kayenta, Snowflake, Pinal County.

For the main travel overview: Arizona.