When to go
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Spring
Mild days, cool nights, and wind common across the high desert.
Pack Wind layer, sun protection, and comfortable shoes for the grounds.
Summer
300F
Warm to hot days at 6,300 feet with afternoon monsoon storms.
Pack Sun shirt, water, and a rain shell for monsoon afternoons.
Fall
Clear, pleasant days and cool nights, an excellent time to visit.
Pack Warm layer for cool mornings and sun protection for the open grounds.
Winter
Cold and quiet, with snow possible and shorter daylight.
Pack Insulation, traction, and a check of seasonal hours before you go.
Top things to do
The trading post bullpen
Step into the dim, creaky-floored mercantile that has sold goods and traded Native American art since 1878. It is a working store, not a recreation, and remains the heart of the visit.
Navajo rug and jewelry room
A back room stacked with handwoven Navajo rugs and silver-and-turquoise jewelry, much of it from artists who still trade here. The site holds semiannual art auctions.
Ranger tour of the Hubbell home
A free ranger-led peek inside the trader's historic home, filled with Native American art, baskets, and paintings collected over generations.
Make The trading post bullpen the timed anchor
Put the timed or highest-demand stop first, then keep the rest of the day close and low-friction. For one day in Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, time The trading post bullpen first, then keep Navajo rug and jewelry room and Ranger tour of the Hubbell home close enough that the visit still feels relaxed.
- 1Start with The trading post bullpen: Step into the dim, creaky-floored mercantile that has sold goods and traded Native American art since 1878. It is a working store, not a recreation, and remains the.
- 2Add Navajo rug and jewelry room: A back room stacked with handwoven Navajo rugs and silver-and-turquoise jewelry, much of it from artists who still trade here. The site holds semiannual art auctions.
- 3Use Ranger tour of the Hubbell home as the slower finish before leaving the area.
Plan your trip
Turn Hubbell Trading Post's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
What to pack
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site packing list
0 of 12 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Decide what Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
- First constraintHydration and exposureWater, Electrolyte mix, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, 4 more
- Season checkLayers for conditionsMoisture-wicking base layers, Rain jacket, Insulated jacket, 1 more
Checklist mode
12 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
- Dates and season are set.
- Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
- Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.
One researched pick
The first gear decision for Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
An 8x42 binocular is the useful middle ground between reach, field of view, and all-day carry weight.
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THE WILDLIFE PICK
Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 Binoculars
- Magnification
- 8x
- Objective lens
- 42 mm
- Weight
- 21.8 oz (618 g)
- Field of view
- 393 ft at 1,000 yds (7.5 deg)
- Eye relief
- 17 mm
- Waterproof / fogproof
- Yes, argon-purged, O-ring sealed
The Diamondback HD delivers HD glass, dielectric and phase-corrected coatings, and a wide 393-foot field of view at a street price well below its MSRP. Reviewers and birders routinely note it performs like binoculars costing twice as much, and Vortex backs it with an unlimited, unconditional transferable warranty.
- Exceptional brightness and contrast for the price: measured light transmission outperforms comparably priced models
- Wide field of view aids bird-finding and tracking fast-moving wildlife
- Some chromatic aberration visible at the edges of the field in high-contrast scenes
Best for
Hikers and birders who want genuine HD optics and a class-leading warranty without paying mid-range prices.
Gear for Hubbell Trading Post
The buying guides that match what Hubbell Trading Post asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Where to stay
There is no camping or lodging at the site. Ganado is a small community with limited services. The nearest towns with hotels and food are Window Rock, the Navajo Nation capital about 35 minutes east, and Chinle near Canyon de Chelly about 40 minutes northeast. Many visitors base in Chinle or Window Rock and visit Hubbell on the way between Navajo Nation sites.
Camping reservations
Camping reservations
No camping at the site. Base in Chinle or Window Rock on the Navajo Nation.
Hubbell is a free, day-use historic site with no campground and no lodging. There is no reservation to chase; the planning move is to base in a nearby Navajo Nation town and respect that this is a working trading post and community.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
No in-park camping or reservations. The nearest campgrounds are at Canyon de Chelly near Chinle, about 40 minutes northeast.
- The trading post is a working store; honor that it is part of the Navajo Nation community.
- Ganado has limited services, so fuel up and plan meals in Window Rock or Chinle.
- Cottonwood Campground at Canyon de Chelly is the nearest developed camping.
Where to book or verify
Official NPS page with hours, the home tour, and the trading post grounds.
Nearest developed camping, at Cottonwood Campground near Chinle.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Cottonwood Campground, Canyon de Chelly (nearby)
Details- Season
- Open year-round; conditions vary by season.
- Sites
- Developed tent and RV sites near Chinle, about 40 minutes northeast.
- The nearest developed camping, paired with a Canyon de Chelly visit.
Getting there and practical info
Plan the last mile as carefully as the destination.
Airports, roads, entrances, and local movement belong in the same plan.
Getting there
Get to Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, then move through the park without wasting the day.
- Nearest airport
- Flagstaff (FLG) about 3 hours; Albuquerque (ABQ) about 3.5 hours
- Access rhythm
- Plan the last mile
- Region
- Arizona
Arrival note
Hubbell Trading Post sits in Ganado, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation, just off AZ 264 about an hour west of Window Rock.
Car strategy
The drive from Flagstaff is roughly three hours across the high desert.
Local movement
There is no public transportation, and services are sparse, so fuel up and plan meals before you arrive.
Pair this with lodging: the simplest base is the one that removes a real morning problem, not just the one nearest the map pin.
Can you photograph here? Permit and drone rules
No single Arizona state permit: register with the state film office, pull free ADOT permits for highways, and apply separately for state parks.
- Permit
- Usually fine for personal shoots; commercial or large productions can need a permit
- Drones
- Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107
- Land
- Yes: you can photograph what is visible from public space in the US
From our photography sister site, Aperture Authority. Verified 2026-07-01.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hubbell Trading Post still a working store?
Yes. It is the oldest continuously operating trading post on the Navajo Nation, in business since 1878. You can walk into the bullpen, buy groceries and goods, and browse handwoven Navajo rugs and jewelry, much of it from artists who still trade here.
How much does Hubbell Trading Post cost?
Entry is free. There is no entrance fee and the ranger-led tour of the Hubbell home is also free. You only pay if you buy something in the trading post.
Can you camp at Hubbell Trading Post?
No. There is no camping or lodging at the site. The nearest developed camping is at Canyon de Chelly near Chinle, about 40 minutes northeast, and most visitors base in Chinle or Window Rock.
What can you do at Hubbell besides shop?
Beyond the trading post itself, you can take a free ranger-led tour of the historic Hubbell home and its art collection, and walk the grounds to the hogan, barn, and farm, where sheep are often grazing.