Shiprock is named after the promanent volcanic rock formation just out of town. The town is on the Navajo Nation which is mostly in the state of Arizona. The Navajos called Shiprock Naat’áanii Nééz, meaning “tall leader” in the Navajo language or Tsé Bitʼaʼí, which means "rock with wings" or simply "winged rock." The formation figures prominently in Navajo Indian mythology as a giant bird that carried the Navajo from the cold northlands to the Four Corners region. Ship Rock, when viewed from certain angles, resembles a large sitting bird with folded wings; the north and south summits are the tops of the wings.

Driving to the town on USHwy-491 (previously Hwy-666 which was changed because of its negative Christian religious meaning) many other volcanic cores can be recognized as well. These are all the exposed neck or throat of volcanos that eroded long ago. All that remains of them is the solidified feeder pipe of lava of the volcanos that erupted over 30 million years ago. Radiating out from the main formation of Shiprock are dikes of cooled lava. The dikes formed when magma filled in cracks during volcanic eruptions and then cooled, forming the long distinctive rock walls sometimes know as "hog backs."

There are several aspects of the town that are worth the trip. In the summer there is a flea market at the base of the bridge where Navajo jewelry, food, etc. can be purchased. There are several food vendors there and the green chile lamb stew is great! There are also several trading posts along the way where "dead pawn" and more recently made jewelry and handwoven rugs can be purchased.

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