Navajo Mountain Hiking and History
Explore and learn about natural and cultural history around Navajo Mountain
Join Canyonlands Field Institute, the Atene family, and a guest anthropologist to explore a beautiful and remote region of the desert southwest. This trip combines a lodge stay with three nights truck supported tent camping to give us access to rugged desert terrain that few people get to see.
Led by Brandi Atene, a CFI guide that grew up at Navajo Mountain, this seminar “Walking in Beauty” is a one of a kind experience into Navajo Culture, human history, and the unique landscape of Navajo Mountain. Brandi’s grandmother, Rose Atene, is a well-known basket maker and has hosted CFI groups since the late 1980’s. Brandi’s extended family carry on this gracious tradition. This all inclusive experience features hearty meals and comfortable base camping, all provided by CFI guides.
Expert Interpretation and off-trail hiking
Your guides will navigate the group through the sandstone domes and canyons that make this area so unique. We will hike to historic sites, picturesque abandoned hogans, and caves used by Archaic Desert Culture up to the present. Seasonal wildflower blooms and geology features are an extra treat. Day hikes will be 2-5 miles round trip each, with some routes in dry washes, on sandy jeep tracks, or up talus slopes to mesa tops. There are few formal established trails. There will be some elevation gain and loss on the hikes. Hiking is moderate to challenging; you may opt out of a particular hike and spend time at basecamp reading and taking in the incredible scenery. Is this trip right for you? Learn more about the trip narrative, guide staff, and frequently asked questions below.
"I had long wanted to explore the Navajo Mountain area. This trip turned out to be the perfect way to do it. I was again in touch with the Colorado Plateau but experienced a new part of it. Highlights of the program? Being with members of a local Navajo family made the land come alive in a way that would be impossible without their personal knowledge and perspective. The place and the people are woven together."
- Tom W. Denver, CO
Bluff, Utah and Navajo Mountain
April 23, 2023 through April 27, 2023
September 19, 2023 through September 23, 2023
4 nights, 4 days
Minimum: 5, Maximum: 8
$1770; or CFI Members $1682 Plus $60 Navajo Nation Fee
First night in Lodge, then 3 nights camping
- Fee includes $100 donation to youth programs
- Fee includes lodging and orientation at Recapture Lodge on the first evening.
- Due to Navajo Nation regulations, this is an alcohol free trip
- Participants provide their own sleeping gear or may rent tents, sleeping bags, ground pads or cots from CFI.
All participants on our adult seminars and on our private trips are required to be fully vaccinated.