While researching the area finding what to do I had seen Chimney Rock National Monument and had added it to our list of places to go while at Navajo State Park.
https://www.chimneyrockco.org/
We had planned to take a few hours on the weekend to do a hike at the monument. Then I realized it was the Summer Solstice and wondered if there were any special events. There was a dawn hike! This was so much fun and similarly to the Spaceport America, felt very exclusive.
We had to arrive at the park before 4.30am and it was a twenty minute drive to the monument so we were up at 3.30am. We needed headlamps and good walking shoes.
We met our guide at the park gates and waited in the truck for the rest of the people joining the tour then we all drove in a big snake up the mountain side in the dark to the parking lot. There the guide told us a bit about the history of the area before taking us up to the Rock, stopping at intervals to give us more information. We thought we would be walking up in the dark but by the time everyone had arrived, we made the drive and initial talk the sky was beginning to lighten so we did not need our torches.
We arrived at the edge of Chimney Rock five minutes before the Summer Solstice sun rose and it felt so special and quite emotional. Everyone was quiet, taking in the moment.
Here are a lot of photographs!
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