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The historic stone-and-wood Hubbell Trading Post building in Ganado on the Navajo Nation, high-desert light, cottonwood trees and red earth, sheep grazing nearby

National Park Service · Arizona

Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site

The oldest continuously operating trading post on the Navajo Nation, still selling rugs, jewelry, and groceries the way it has since 1878.

Interior of the dim Hubbell trading post bullpen, squeaky wood-plank floors, shelves of goods and hanging lanterns, warm low light

Field briefing

Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site changes fast with season and elevation.

Before you go

Hubbell Trading Post is unlike most NPS sites: it is a living, working trading post that has operated continuously on the Navajo Nation since 1878, not a static museum.

The site is free, and the experience is to walk into the dim, squeaky-floored bullpen, browse the room of handwoven Navajo rugs and silver jewelry, and join a free ranger-led tour of the trader's historic home. The post sits in Ganado, Arizona, deep in the Navajo Nation, so plan fuel and meals around the remote setting.

Best window
April to October for mild weather, with spring and fall the most comfortable
Signature routes
The trading post bullpen, Navajo rug and jewelry room
Pack focus
Water, weather checks, layers

The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.

Location
Arizona
Established
1965
Size
160 acres
Best time
April to October for mild weather, with spring and fall the most comfortable
Entrance
Free, no entrance fee or pass required
Nearest airport
Flagstaff (FLG) about 3 hours; Albuquerque (ABQ) about 3.5 hours

When to go

Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.

Spring

Moderate crowds

Mild days, cool nights, and wind common across the high desert.

Pack Wind layer, sun protection, and comfortable shoes for the grounds.

Summer

300F

Moderate crowds

Warm to hot days at 6,300 feet with afternoon monsoon storms.

Pack Sun shirt, water, and a rain shell for monsoon afternoons.

Fall

Moderate crowds

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

Low crowds

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.

How long to spend

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

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.

  1. Dates and season are set.
  2. Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
  3. Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.

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

Hubbell plan your visit

Official NPS page with hours, the home tour, and the trading post grounds.

Canyon de Chelly camping

Nearest developed camping, at Cottonwood Campground near Chinle.

Search Recreation.gov

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

The historic stone-and-wood Hubbell Trading Post building in Ganado on the Navajo Nation, high-desert light, cottonwood trees and red earth, sheep grazing nearby

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
  1. Arrival note

    Hubbell Trading Post sits in Ganado, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation, just off AZ 264 about an hour west of Window Rock.

  2. Car strategy

    The drive from Flagstaff is roughly three hours across the high desert.

  3. 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.

LocationArizona

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.

Keep planning