Spider Rock is the iconic image of Canyon de Chelly — a slender sandstone spire rising 240 metres from the canyon floor where the two canyons meet. It is visible from the Spider Rock Overlook at the end of the 20-kilometre South Rim Drive, and the view down into the canyon junction is one of the finest in the Southwest. In the right light — late afternoon is ideal — the walls glow an almost unnatural orange-red.
The drive from Chinle to Spider Rock takes about 45 minutes each way on a paved road with multiple overlooks along the way. Junction Overlook, White House Overlook, and Sliding House Overlook are all worth stopping at. The White House Trail, about halfway along, is the only trail into the canyon interior that does not require a guide — a 3-kilometre round trip down to a well-preserved cliff dwelling.