Canyon de Chelly is unique among National Park service units, as it consists entirely of Navajo Tribal Trust Land which remains in the ownership of the Navajo Nation and is home to the canyon community, while park matters are administered by the National Park Service. Access to the canyon floor is restricted, and visitors are allowed to travel in the canyons only when accompanied by a park ranger or an authorized Navajo guide.  This particular visit required required a guide as we dropped 600 feet down a seldom used trail to the floor of the canyon. Because it was still Spring and the river was running strong we had to ford waistdeep with packs through the river both ways in and out of our destination.