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After leaving the White Pocket we spent the afternoon driving further east, to the Navajo National Monument. We arrived with just enough light in the sky to set up camp, but not much else, which was fine, because the next day was a layover day, and also Thanksgiving.

It was relatively quiet at Navajo National Monument, just the way we like it. While the Canyon View Campground is closed in the winter there was plenty of space at the Sunset View campground, which offers nice amenities (bathroom, garbage, water in non freezing seasons, tables) all for zero cost. Yes, camping here is free!

The first half of the next day we spent looking around the Monument. We took a walk out the Sandal trail to an overlook of one of the main features of the park. The park protects three ancient cliff dwellings. The Betatakin, Keet Seel, and Inscription House cliff dwellings are thought to have last been occupied around 1300 AD and are still well preserved, sheltered in their sandstone alcoves. The overlook provides a great view (if a bit distant, as the canyon is huge) to the Betatakin dwelling.

Although there are trails in the canyon, they are only open for guided tours that are led by rangers of the Monument. Although the park was open, all visitor services such as the visitor center and guided tours were closed for the holiday. We were satisfied to stay on the canyon rim today. In fact we headed to the Canyon Rim trail next. It is aptly named and offered a great view of the canyon.

We had a big Thanksgiving feast to work on so back to camp we went. After a couple hours on the grill the “Cuban Pork Cigar” came out beautifully. Essentially we took the ingredients of a Cuban sandwich (sans bread, but we had stuffing for a side), and rolled it up into a big porky cigar. Yum. Just thinking about it makes me want to make another.

If you are interested in the details of this particular cigar here you are:

We feasted as the sun went down, then came out for a bit of stargazing to close out the day. In the morning we’d be headed out again to our next destination. Snow was coming to northern Arizona and New Mexico so it was time to head further south.