“So this is where God put the West” – John Wayne
The south eastern corner of Utah looks like it did over 3000 years ago; vast, wild and sunbaked. The red desert is filled with towering buttes….. and nothing else. Monument Valley isn’t a National Park or even a National Monument, but it is a tribal park, operated by the Navajo Nation.
The charm of Monument Valley is its remoteness, about 60 miles west of the Utah/NM border off hwy 163. Make sure you gas up before heading out there, you won’t find a convenience store in sight.
First, well really the only stop, is the visitors center. Run by the local Navajo tribe it costs $10 per person or $20 per car. Here you can get so much information on the valley; where to hike, what monuments to look for, guided tours and permits to hike other trails like the rainbow bridge. The admission fee gets you access to some of the hiking trails and the driving trail.
One of the more popular trails is the Wild Cat Loop
This 4 mile loop will get you up close and personal with some of the famous monuments in the valley. The trail head starts at the visitors center. Go early, or later on the afternoon, depending on the time of year because the desert can be very hot.
Don’t feel like hiking? the Monument Valley Scenic Drive is another great option.
This 14 mile road is a bumpy dirt road, but a regular car can do it as long as you drive slowly. This drive will take you past all the monuments in about an hour. Early mornings or sunset is the best light for photography.
Monument Valley is said to be one of the most photographed places in the world and after being there I believe it.
to visit Monument Valley set your gps to Indian Route 42, Oljato-Monument Valley, AZ
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michelle in the wild 