Monument Valley Guide
If you could boil the American West down to one place, it would probably be Monument Valley. Towering red buttes, wavy sand dunes, and desert views as far as the eye can see greet visitors to this iconic location. Iconic? Well, one of the reasons it invokes the heart of the west is because so many westerns were filmed here--there's even a view that's been christened as John Wayne's favorite. Drive the valley road, hike around the one of the famous mitten buttes, or explore the secrets the valley holds with a Navajo guide--your options are endless here.
When to Visit
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Monument Valley is well within a desert climate, and has hot summers, mild falls and springs, and cooler winters, with snow even possible. If you're planning on doing a fair amount of hiking, it might be best to visit in one of the milder seasons, or start early in the morning if visiting in the summer. Monument Valley is a major tourist attraction though, so expect heavy crowds from May through September.
How to Get There
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Monument Valley is found right on the northeastern border of Arizona and Utah, within and administered by the Navajo Nation. With views like this, no one said it was going to be easy to get to: at just over five hours from Phoenix, and six and a half from Salt Lake City, Monument Valley is a ways away from most major airports. The drive from either direction will take you through or near some pretty incredible places as well, from Arches and Canyonlands National Parks up in Utah, to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, just to name a few, so it might be best to make a road trip out of it. Closest to the towns of Kayenta in the south or Mexican Hat to the north, take US Route 163 for about half an hour from either of these locations, turning off onto Monument Valley Road (marked by large signs on either side). The entrance fee is $20.00 per vehicle, and is good for 48 hours.
Things to Do in Monument Valley
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The Wildcat Trail
Time: 2 - 3 hours.
Distance: 3.9 miles roundtrip.
With that big beautiful valley in front of you, you're probably itching to hike some of it right? There's only one self-guided trail in the entire park, and it's the Wildcat Trail. To get there, follow the rim of the valley through the parking lot, all the way to the beginning of the Valley Drive, where you should see a sign marking the start of the trail. While the trail is not relatively well-maintained, markers should still be easy enough to spot. Hike down the sandy hill in the beginning until you reach the valley floor. From here, stay right, and the trail will lead you in a loop around the western Mitten Butte, providing closer views of the valley's most-famous formations along the way. There is little shade, so bring sunscreen and plenty of water, and prepare to trudge back up the sandy hill you initially hiked down.
The Wildcat Trail takes you down to the valley floor for a closer look.
The Valley Drive
Time: 2 - 3 hours.
Distance: 17 miles.
The initial view of Monument Valley's famous three buttes is amazing, and many people simply enter the park just to see it, and then leave. What they're missing out on is the 17 mile (13 miles of it is a one-way loop) road that goes deeper into the valley itself, taking you past some of the most picturesque views this place has to offer. The road is unpaved, bumpy, and uphill in a few portions, but as long as it's dry, most vehicles will be able to drive it--though all will exit covered in red dust! The road takes you past famous locations like John Ford's point, where for $5.00, you can pay a man on a horse to go pose on a cliff's edge. If you're one for photography, it's actually money well-spent, even if it sounds a bit ridiculous.
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$5.00 gets you this picture at John Ford's Point. Image credit: Peter K. Burian.
The road winds past other scenic locales, including Artist's Point, and the Totem Pole. There are no bathrooms along the road, so it's best to take care of any business before you start the drive. At various stops along the way you'll find Navajo vendors selling authentic jewelry and other wares. During peak months, the road can get quite busy, so an early start isn't a bad idea to avoid crowds, and maybe even to catch some early-morning light that tends to make the valley glow.
The Totem Pole, seen from the Valley Drive.
Navajo Guided Tour
Time: Varies.
Distance: Varies.
If this guide seems a bit lacking in detail, well, there's good reason. Monument Valley is different in that it is a tribal park, and to explore and hike it in depth, you'll need to hire a certified Navajo guide to take you to parts less-seen. Tours range from $75.00, all the way up to $450.00 for some of the overnight excursions. Tour guides will take you to hidden arches, or to even closer views of formations like the totem pole, or up to the spectacular view from Hunt's Mesa. A complete list of tour guides and operators can be found here.
The view from Hunt's Mesa is amazing, and it also costs minimum $250.00 to see. Image credit: Gleb Tarro.
Forrest Gump Point
Time: 15 minutes.
Distance: N/A.
Numerous movies have been filmed in Monument Valley, not just westerns. Perhaps the most famous is Forrest Gump: it was on this stretch of US Route 163 in Monument Valley that Forrest decided to end his cross country run. While not in the park itself, it's only about a ten minute drive, heading north towards the town of Mexican Hat. Keep your eye out for mile marker 13, where there will be a handful of pull offs for you to stop and take photos. For more information on Forrest Gump Point, click here.
Forrest Gump Point.
Where to Stay in Monument Valley
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Hotels
If you're looking to stay in the park itself, look no further than the View Hotel. Located on a cliff overlooking the valley, many of the rooms face the park's main viewpoint itself--not a bad place to wake up at all. With a full service restaurant inside, you'll have everything you need for your stay at Monument Valley. In peak season, expect to pay $200.00 per night or more for a room here though. Another option are the cabins: located near the campground, they have full amenities, and are usually a bit cheaper. Across the street from the park you can find Gouldings Lodge, which has standard hotel rooms for around the same price as the View Hotel, as well as villas, if you're traveling with a larger party. There's a handful of comfortable hotels in the scenic town of Mexican Hat 30 minutes north from the park, or chain hotels in the town of Kayenta 30 minutes south.
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Camping
Monument Valley features RV sites, as well as primitive campsites overlooking the valley. Bathrooms with hot showers are available, though the sites themselves have no amenities--a small price (actually, $20.00 per night) to pay for waking up with the valley as your front yard. Campsites can be booked in advance here. If the campground in the park is full, Gouldings or the KOA across the street are other options.
This could be your view in the morning--so what are you waiting for?