White House Ruins trail open? 4 hour tour alternative?

Question

We are visiting Canyon de Chelly in mid-April, driving up from Roswell and staying at the Thunderbird Lodge for 2 nights, meaning one full day in Canyon de Chelly. We’re wondering if the trail to the White House Ruins has reopened? We are considering a 4 hour tour, but I understand that we would spend most of the time in the vehicle with very little walking. We are wary that the tour may not suit us in that regard - and we are especially worried about needing multiple bathroom breaks during that time frame - so we want to know if there are any hiking alternatives in the park, and whether any are easy to moderate in difficulty.

Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated.

Answer

It’s great that you’ll be spending two nights at Canyon de Chelly National Monument (Arizona) and have a full day to explore — there are some solid options depending on how much walking you’d like to do.

Is the trail to the White House Ruins open? Unfortunately the answer is: not quite as you might hope. According to the official National Park Service (NPS) site, the “White House Overlook and Trail” is listed as “closed until further notice.” One press release indicated it would reopen seasonally (April-September) in 2025 with fees to apply. However a guide article states that as of late 2024 it was still closed indefinitely for safety concerns. The most recent update on the official hours page (May 17 2025) still says “closed until further notice”. So given your mid-April timing, I would *not* count on being able to hike down the White House Ruins Trail this year — unless you check with the Welcome Center or local Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation and find that it has reopened earlier than posted.

As you anticipated, the standard 4-hour tour inside the canyon often involves a lot of vehicle time. For example the 4-hour combo tour from includes stops at ruins including the White House Ruins and/or others, but most of the time is riding in the canyon vehicle rather than a long moderate hike. If you are cautious about multiple bathroom breaks and prefer more walking / independence, you may want to lean toward rim drives + short walks instead.

Here are your alternative options, incorporating your preferences (one full day, staying at Thunderbird Lodge, mid-April):

Rim drives only (easy, minimal walking): You can drive the South Rim Drive and North Rim Drive of the canyon — both are accessible by private vehicle and offer excellent overlooks, short walks from your car, and flexible stops for bathroom breaks. According to NPS: “The North and South Rim Drives … remain open all year to visit on your own.”
A shorter guided canyon floor tour that focusses on stops rather than long hikes: Book one of the 4-hour canyon tours that include occasional stops, brief hikes or viewpoints but allow you to exit when needed and stretch your legs rather than being seated for most of the time. For example Thunderbird Lodge lists a private 4-hour tour departing about 2:00 pm in April that visits several ruins including the White House Ruins.
A moderate independent or guided hike to what’s available: If you are able to confirm prior that the White House Trail is open (or partially open) then doing that trail would offer more walking and independence — the trail is ~2.5 miles round-trip (600 ft descent/ascent) and rated easy to moderate. But again: check status ahead of time.

Here are a few tips specific to your situation (mid-April, staying 2 nights, one full day):

Check in at the park Welcome Center as soon as you arrive on your first afternoon or morning for the latest trail status. The NPS phone for the park is 928-674-5500.
Mid-April is early spring and canyon floor conditions (sand, wash crossings) may still be somewhat muddy or subject to seasonal water flows; if you attempt a canyon-floor hike ask about wash conditions and plan accordingly.
If you’re concerned about multiple bathroom breaks, the rim drives (with your own car) give you the most flexibility. In-canyon tours often have fewer stops and may be more rigid in bathroom break timing.
Bring plenty of water, a hat, good walking shoes (even for rim walks), sunscreen — the trail information notes the White House Trail requires going down 600 ft into the canyon and then back out, so moderate fitness is needed.
Consider the time of day: morning or late afternoon light is best for canyon views (and walking when cooler). The rim drives will give you good flexibility around this. If you choose a canyon tour, factor in pick-up times and your comfort with the vehicle ride length.

In summary: Given your mid-April timeframe and concern about lots of vehicle time + bathroom access, I’d personally recommend spending your full day focusing on the rim drives (North + South), stopping often, doing short walks at overlooks, and then perhaps booking a *shorter* guided canyon-floor tour (3-4 hours) with a company that allows more stops and walking rather than a long drive-only session.

White House Ruins trail open? 4 hour tour alternative?

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