tour around monument valley

How To Visit Monument Valley in 2024: Your Ultimate Guide

Written By: ThePlanetD Team

United States

Published On: January 31, 2024

Monument Valley just hits differently. The red-sand desert floor stretches over 92,000 acres across the Utah-Arizona border, dotted with sandstone buttes and dirt roads. This region is best known for Monument Valley Tribal Park – a once frequent filming location for old Western movies. You’ve already seen the valley on your TV screen. It has featured as a backdrop for all the John Wayne films, plus classics like Forrest Gump. But there is more to the valley than just good looks. You can visit attractions like the Navajo Shadehouse Museum and enjoy incredible hiking trails.

Researching Monument Valley is so much fun. It is one of the most famous sections of any  Arizona road trip  and one of the leading  US road trips . Between the red-sand scenery and Hollywood-worthy scenic drive, Monument Valley has wiggled its way onto millions of bucket lists.

Table of Contents

How to Visit Monument Valley

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know in order to have a fantastic visit. Get ready for a thorough ‘how to’ guide; by the end of this article, you’ll be well-equipped and raring to go. We’ll teach you all about the main attractions in the valley, like Elephant Butte and the Wildcat Trail. But we’ll also provide all the logistics you need, like how to get there and when is best to visit. One of the best parts about Monument Valley is its location, so skip to the end if you’d like some insights into combining your trip with other memorable attractions, like the Grand Canyon.

Are you ready? Here’s what you need to know about visiting the valley.

What is Monument Valley? A Quick Introduction

So, what is Monument Valley? Well, this 92,000-acre region is a particularly beautiful area of red-sand desert. The valley sits on the border between Utah and Arizona, with land in both states. It is most known as Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which has a beautiful collection of sandstone buttes that attracted Hollywood’s attention. Chances are, you’ve seen Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, John Wayne movies, or the famous ‘Run Forrest run’ scene in Forrest Gump.

You can drive through the valley on the 17-mile Valley Drive, a year-round accessible tarmacked highway. During your visit, you may need an off-road vehicle to tackle a dirt road or two.

The valley is full of red rock formations, and you can book experiences like  guided horseback tours . You can also embark on hikes to overlook points like John Ford’s Point or take guided hiking tours with a Navajo guide to peaks like Totem Pole or the West and East Mittens. Most attractions are off the main Valley Drive, and there are plenty of designated pull-in places to admire views of specific rock formations. Or you can stop by the Monument Valley Visitor Center and enquire about guided tour options.

How to Get to Monument Valley

So, how do you get to Monument Valley? The easiest way is to fly into one of the major cities in Arizona or Utah, renting a car to road trip your way to this remote valley.

Las Vegas and Salt Lake City are the two most famed international airports and around a 7-hour drive from the valley. Flagstaff is another excellent airport to fly into, only a 3-hour drive away and ideally located to combine Monument Valley with the Grand Canyon. You can book domestic or international flights to one of the airports, rent a car, and drive the remainder of the way to Monument Valley.

Alternatively, you could catch an Amtrak train to Salt Lake City or Las Vegas if traveling from within the United States. This would cut unnecessary flights and provide more adventurous, slow travel. You could then rent a car for the remainder of the journey.

Reading this, you can spot the recurring factor – car hire. You must travel with someone with a license if you can’t rent or bring a car yourself. The valley is one of the most remote places to visit in the US. And you’ll need to drive if you want to see it independently. You can check the best prices here on our favorite site.

With that said, there is a caveat slash loophole to this. If driving  really  isn’t an option, you could book a guided tour of Monument Valley. These tours are more expensive, and you’ll be limited in free time, but they are the perfect solution for those without licenses. You can book  Monument Valley day tours from Flagstaff  and from  Sedona . Budget around $250-300 for a group tour, including transfers, and get ready to kick your feet back with a guided tour experience.

In summary, your options to get to the valley are as follows:

• If you are short on time and want cheap flights , Fly to Salt Lake City or Las Vegas and then rent a car to drive 7 hours to Monument Valley.
• If you are short on time,  Fly to Flagstaff and then rent a car to drive 3 hours to Monument Valley.
• If you have plenty of time and want to avoid flying:  Travel by Amtrak to Las Vegas, Grand Junction, or Salt Lake City and then hire a car to drive to Monument Valley in 4.5-7 hours.
• If you aren’t able to hire a car,  Fly into Flagstaff and stay there or in Sedona. You can then book a guided tour to Monument Valley on a day trip for between $250 and $300.

Best Things to do in Monument Valley

The sheer scale of things to do in Monument Valley is awe-inspiring. It is far from just a place to drive through and passively gaze at the scenery, although we won’t knock road-tripping its 17-mile Valley Drive. Monument Valley has a wow factor that inspires you to get involved with outdoor activities, whether hiking to buttes or horse riding through Monument Valley Tribal Park.

In this section, we’ll help you embrace all the excitement that Monument Valley offers. Get ready for natural attractions, trails, and sightseeing opportunities. These are the very best things to do in the incredible valley.

1. Experience Monument Valley Tribal Park on Horseback

One of the best ways to experience Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is undoubtedly on horseback. You can drive the loop road, but horses go where vehicles can’t or aren’t permitted. You can book a  2-hour Monument Valley tour by horseback , getting up close to the buttes. We did this and absolutely loved it. We do recommend you have a little horseback experience, though.

2. Take a Jeep Tour

A great way to experience the valley is via jeep. Book a jeep tour  across the desert floor and past significant sights like the West Mitten butte. Most tours last 1.5 hours to 3 hours. And you’ll get a hassle-free driving experience with narrated sightseeing. This is a great option if you are traveling with the family.

3. Navajo Shadehouse Museum

Navajo Shadehouse Museum is a cultural attraction in Monument Valley worth visiting. It explains all the culture, traditions, beliefs, and history of the Navajo tribe, including things like how Navajo medicine men pray and what hogan homes look like. While the museum is small, it provides incredible insight into the Navajo Nation. And since the valley is situated on Navajo Tribal park land, it is a must-have addition to your itinerary.

4. Visit West, East, and Merrick Butte

If you want stunning rock formations, West, East, and Merrick Butte are the best formations to see up close. This iconic trio of buttes juts up from the valley floor in beautiful red sandstone. The East and West Buttes stand over 6,000 feet above sea level and are a dramatic sight to see up close. It is illegal to climb the formations, but you can walk around their bases.

5. Drive Monument Valley Drive with Photo Stops

We can’t mention the beautiful Monument Valley Drive. In 17 miles of highway, you embrace some of Monument Valley’s iconic landscapes and rock formations. This scenic drive passes Forrest Gump Point, a.k .a. the famous Forrest Gump Highway. The massive sandstone buttes also appeared in Western movies like the Wayne films. It’s easily one of the most famous scenic drives in the US. Allow 3-4 hours to complete the drive, depending on how long you want at each stop.

6. Elephant Butte

This beautiful butte is famously shaped like an elephant and is an excellent option if you want to see the rock formations outside of the standard trio. Again, climbing is illegal, but you can walk to its base and admire the natural landmark. Visit just before sunset for the best views.

7. John Ford’s Point

This is the money shot overlook. It’s named John Ford’s Point after the American producer and director John Ford. Ford directed tons of movies, including several featuring John Wayne. John Ford featured this viewpoint in several old American West movies. You’ll recognize the sweeping views of the buttes and desert landscape.

8. Wildcat Trail

Wildcat Trail is an approximately 4-mile loop hike that crams in the best of Monument Valley’s views on foot. It takes around 2 to 3 hours and is rated as moderate difficulty due to sections with thick sand. You can easily navigate the trail independently if you have a basic fitness level. Your efforts will be rewarded with up-close views of the famed Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte.

Set off early in the day to avoid the harsh heat in spring and summer. Make sure to bring a camera, too, as Wildcat Trail is one of Monument Valley’s best things to do.

9. Climb Mexican Hat

While climbing isn’t allowed within the valley, you can skip minutes over the border to climb Mexican Hat. This bizarre-looking sandstone rock looks like a tower with a sombrero on top – hence its name. Mexican Hat is popular amongst experienced climbers. If you are experienced enough to tackle medium challenging climbs confidently, you can take on the Bandito Route, a bolted, clip-up route.

If you aren’t a climber, you can still visit to see the rock up close. Plus, you can watch as others tackle the unique rock face.

10. North Window Overlook

Finally, there’s North Window Overlook to visit in the valley. This is brilliant if you want a viewpoint experience in the valley. North Window Overlook offers an alternative view of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park to John Ford’s Point. It is located just minutes from the Monument Valley Visitor Center and is perfect to experience at sunrise or sunset.

When to Visit Monument Valley

It goes without saying that summer is a more challenging time to visit the valley. The sky-high temperatures can reach 94 Fahrenheit in July and August, which isn’t conducive to desert hikes or long drives. Furthermore, summer also means floods of crowds. It is the busiest time of year to visit the valley. So if you are considering visiting in summer, we recommend shifting to the start or end of the season. It is mostly crowded and hot, with fewer parking spaces and shared viewpoints.

So, if not summer, when should you visit the valley? Ideally, you should visit in the fall or spring. Winter can get a little too cold, dropping to 25 Fahrenheit sometimes, so fall and spring are a great compromise. September to early November and March to May are the best periods to experience the valley. You’ll have mild temperatures in the upper 70s Fahrenheit and fewer crowds – a win-win.

Keep in mind what time of day you enter the valley, too. Visiting in the shoulder seasons like fall and spring helps to reduce the crowds. But you can also be tactical with what time of day you visit. Early morning is best if you want to spend a whole day in the park, heading to the most popular sites first. Meanwhile, if you wish to visit only a few sites, late afternoon is a good time to dodge the worst of the crowds.

Of course, choosing accommodation in the valley itself will help you get ahead of the crowds. You’ll also get to tick off sunrise and sunset viewpoints from the comfort of your own home away from home, especially at places like The View Hotel and Campground.

Where to Stay in Monument Valley And Surrounding Area

Where to stay in and around Monument Valley is a fabulous question. There is one important thing to note, though. There are minimal accommodation options inside the park itself. You’ll have to book in advance to stay inside the park boundaries. There are also more B&B or camping-style accommodation options within the valley.

Fortunately, there are many more options for those staying just outside the park boundaries. The small town of Kayenta near the south entrance has multiple inns, and the town of Bluff near the north entrance also has plenty of accommodation choices.

Staying in Monument Valley

Staying within Monument Valley’s park boundaries requires pre-planning and advance booking, but it’s definitely still possible. If you want to make your experience even more unique, snagging those sought-after accommodation reservations is well worth it. You could be bathing in an infinity pool overlooking a beautiful red rock formation or camping in a traditional tipi village. Let’s check out the top options for staying within the valley.

Goulding’s Lodge

Goulding’s Lodge  is a gorgeous property within Monument Valley and easily one of the leading places to stay. Get your reservations in quick. Guests enjoy an indoor pool and a terrace – from which you can actually see the buttes of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. It is a beautiful place to stay and enjoy scenic sunsets and sunrises.

Monument Valley Tipi Village

Monument Valley Tipi Village  is a beautiful accommodation choice for experiencing traditional tipi and hogan stays in Monument Valley. The village is run as part of the Navajo Nation and is a brilliant way to invest in the local community.

The View Campground/The View Hotel

The View Campground and View Hotel  are two adjoining properties in the middle of the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park – the most scenic section of the valley with the dramatic butte scenery. Each guest room in the hotel has a balcony to enjoy private sunrise and sunset views over the Mitte buttes. And you can also enquire about camping experiences in traditional tipis.

Staying Outside Monument Valley

As we explained, the best places to stay outside Monument Valley are Kayenta and Bluff. There’s also Mexican Hat, a tiny census-designated place right at the north entrance with a selection of hotels. Still, we wouldn’t recommend staying here as it lacks facilities.

This section will look at the best places to stay in Kayenta for inn-style accommodation and a quiet vibe. Then we’ll look at the best places to stay in more luxurious and touristy Bluff.

Kayenta is the smaller, quieter option of the two towns. It is located near the south entrance of Arizona. It is a better option for those wanting to go on day trips to Arizona attractions like the Grand Canyon or Navajo National Monument. Kayenta has several town facilities, like Amigo Cafe, the Kayenta Recreation Park, and primarily 3-4-star inns.

Wetherill Inn

Wetherill Inn  is a modest 2-star property ideal for anyone looking for budget-friendly accommodation near Monument Valley. It does have its comfortable perks, though, including an indoor heated pool and a continental breakfast.

Hampton Inn Kayenta

Hampton Inn Kayenta  is a 3-star property, best for those wanting a more mid-range to luxury option. It is a modern property with a tasteful desert-color palette that’s perfect given the reason for your stay. It has an onsite restaurant, which is convenient after a long day in Monument Valley, and a gym and outdoor pool.

Bluff is slightly bigger and best for those who want a busier base while visiting the valley. It has more luxurious places, like Bluff Dwellings Resort and Spa. Bluff also has a few attractions, like the Twin Rocks Trading Post, the Bluff Great House Museum, and the Sand Island Petroglyphs. It is located in Utah, near the north entrance to Monument Valley.

La Posada Pintada

La Posada Pintada  is first up. This 3-star property is beautiful, with traditional rooms, log cabin features and views over the surrounding red rock scenery. A daily continental breakfast is included in your booking rate. Overall, it is ideal for those with a mid-range budget.

Desert Rose Resort & Cabins

Desert Rose Resort & Cabins  is as luxurious as it comes. The property has a deluxe indoor pool, an onsite business center, and thoughtfully decorated rooms featuring traditional stone and wood details. You have all the Bluff facilities on your doorstep and a base where you can rejuvenate between sightseeing in Monument Valley.

Bluff Dwellings Resort & Spa

Bluff Dwellings  is another gem in Bluff. The resort has absolutely glowing reviews and a stunning mixture of rooms and suites. The resort is set within a section of rock formations, giving it a remote appeal despite its central Bluff location. As if that wasn’t enough, you also get an onsite pool, gym, and hot tub. Plus, there is an onsite restaurant for those days when you need a quick meal.

Excursions Near Monument Valley

One of the most incredible things about visiting Monument Valley is how perfectly it combines with other bucket list experiences in Utah and Arizona. As you know, the valley is situated on the Utah-Arizona border, meaning it has almost unbridled access to some of the state’s most sought-after destinations and excursions.

You could be trekking through Canyonlands or snapping photos in Arches National Park. You could head south to spend a few days around the Grand Canyon and Sedona. Or you could take longer, multi-day detours through Utah to visit Las Vegas. There are tons of excursions and worthy destinations near Monument Valley.

In this section, we’ll introduce you to the best of these. Here are the top ten excursions – and multi-day detours – you should combine with a visit to Monument Valley.

1. Goosenecks State Park

Goosenecks State Park is a beautiful park just north of the valley. The San Juan River splits the park and contains over 300 million years of geology. Goosenecks is a great day trip if you want to spend a day admiring geological attractions and canyon river views. Pick a hike from the multiple trail options. You can even camp there overnight if you wish.

2. Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is one of the leading national parks in the US, with some  brilliant hiking trails , including the route to Druid Arch and Lavender Point. You can admire plenty of viewpoints. There’s the stunning Needles District and Green River Overlook. Canyonlands National Park is split into four main zones, including the Island in the Sky mesa.

The national park is only a 3-hour drive from the center of Monument Valley. It is best experienced at sunset when the red rock scenery is even more beautiful.

3. Dead Horse State Park

Dead Horse State Park is just over a 2-hour from Bluff, near the valley’s north entrance. This state park is famous for its desert landscape and seriously stunning canyon scenery. While it is adjoined to Canyonlands, it offers a much more intimate experience, with fewer trails and less than 5,400 acres compared to nearly 340,000 acres.

If you want a more bitesize chunk, Dead Horse State Park is the perfect place to experience similar landscapes without the scale of Canyonlands.

4. Grand Canyon

Who doesn’t want to see the Grand Canyon ? The canyon is a great experience to add to your Monument Valley itinerary. You can visit the canyon in a single day from Monument Valley, taking 4 hours to reach one way. Or you can fly into Flagstaff and spend a few days visiting the canyon and its surrounding attractions before driving to Monument Valley. Either way, you can combine the two.

5. Visit the Four Corners Monument

This monument is extraordinary, marking the point where all four states – Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado – all converge. The Four Corners Monument is located in the Navajo Nation and has its own visitor center. If you want a novelty experience, you can’t beat this monument. After all, you can say you stood in all four states at once.

It takes around an hour to reach Bluff, making it one of the most accessible self-guided excursions from the valley.

6. Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is a brilliant excursion to take from Monument Valley. Once you’ve spent a couple of days exploring the valley, you can drive under 2 hours to Antelope Canyon – the famous canyon that looks like it has rock waves in its walls.

As the canyon is sacred in Navajo culture, it is vital to book through a company offering a Navajo guide for a guided tour.

7. Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is a brilliant excursion from the valley. It is most known for its abundance of Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, most famously Cliff Palace. A visit to Mesa Verde is ideal for expanding your knowledge of Puebloan history after visiting the Navajo Nation. You can quickly drive to Mesa Verde National Park from Bluff, which takes around 1.5 hours. It is one of  Colorado’s best national parks  and worth the detour.

8. Arches National Park

Arches National Park is a must if you are visiting Monument Valley. It is just too close by to miss out on. The park is named after its dozens of natural arches and is one of Utah’s most beautiful places to visit . It is just under a 2-hour drive from Bluff, near the valley’s north entrance. And you can enjoy  stunning hikes  to see the natural landmarks.

Look into national park passes for multiple parks if you’d like to combine a few of the national parks near Monument Valley.

9. Canyon de Chelly National Monument

This National Monument is one of the best areas of natural beauty within the Navajo Nation. And as a bonus, it is just over an hour’s drive from Kayenta. You can take guided tours, learn about sacred sites, and visit a cliff dwelling and petroglyphs.

10. Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is another leading attraction and excursion from the valley. It is just over 1.5 hours from Kayenta by car by the valley’s south entrance. The park is best known for its dramatic river canyon landscape, featuring a curve in the Colorado River that looks like a horseshoe shape.

While there, you could go hiking or boating. Or sightsee other attractions near Page, like Antelope Canyon.

Visiting Monument Valley: FAQs

Are you excited about visiting Monument Valley? Whether you visit Mystery Valley, drive the Monument Valley loop road, or detour to nearby Goosenecks State Park, you’ll love seeing the part of the US. Monument Valley is a tiny section of fiery, red-rock intensity. It is the scenery of the old West that generations of people grew to love on their TV screens. From a sightseeing perspective, it is one of the nation’s most impressive areas of rock formations. That’s before you even get to the cultural side of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, with all its history of the Navajo people.

Before you rush to appreciate Monument Valley in person, check out these common FAQs. These FAQs could provide you with that extra information that transforms your trip.

Why is Monument Valley so famous?

Hollywood has immortalized Monument Valley. Sure, its culture and geology would have still attracted visitors even if Hollywood hadn’t scouted it as a movie set. However, its appearance in John Wayne films and blockbusters like Forrest Gump is what has made Monument Valley famous worldwide.

What town is closest to Monument Valley?

Kayenta is a super close town to Monument Valley on the Arizona side of the border. On the Utah side of the border, Bluff is the nearest town to Monument Valley. Bluff has more tourist infrastructure, with hotels, inns, and a few attractions.

Can you still drive through Monument Valley?

Yes, Monument Valley is open to drivers. The Monument Valley Loop Road is open all year round, although it does restrict its hours in winter, typically opening between 8 am and 2 pm. The Scenic Drive is available from 6 am until 8 pm in summer.

Is Monument Valley in Utah or Arizona?

Monument Valley straddles the border, meaning it is officially in both Utah and Arizona, not just one or the other. However, most of the park falls within the state boundaries of Arizona.

Monument Valley is exceptional; there’s no doubting that. These 92,000 acres contain so much natural beauty and culture. You can learn about the Navajo Nation and pay for a guided tour to embrace Monument Valley with the Navajo people. You can take a road trip through Monument Valley via Highway 163, passing Forrest Gump Point, Hollywood movie scenes, and stunning rock formations. Or, you can venture out on excursions nearby, like visiting Goosenecks State Park, the Grand Canyon, or nearby national parks. A visit to Monument Valley is one you won’t soon forget.

You now know all the practical information necessary to organize a trip to Monument Valley. We hope you have a wonderful time and encourage you to extend your stay to appreciate the wider region and its surrounding attractions. In need of some extra inspiration? These are the most  stunning places to visit in Arizona . And we have a complete guide on  Utah’s ‘Mighty 5’ national parks . Make the most of visiting a destination right on the Utah-Arizona border.

Plan your Next Trip To Utah Or Arizona Here

• Utah National Parks: How to visit The Mighty 5
• 26 Stunning Places to Visit in Arizona That We Love
• 36 Fun Things To Do In Utah
• 33 Best Things to Do in Arizona

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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1 thought on “How To Visit Monument Valley in 2024: Your Ultimate Guide”

Just stumbled upon your Monument Valley guide, and it’s a game-changer for my travel plans in 2024! The advice on local culture and hidden gems is fantastic. Thanks for putting together such an informative piece. Excited to explore this iconic destination!

THE 10 BEST Monument Valley Tours & Excursions

Monument valley tours.

• Cultural Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Private Tours
• Literary, Art & Music Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Shopping Tours
• Photography Tours
• Archaeology Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
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• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Monument Valley Tour

2. 2.5 Hours of Monument Valley's Backcountry 4×4 Tour

3. Monument Valley Daytime Tour - 3 Hours - Navajo Spirit Tours

4. 3.0 Hours of Monument Valley's Sunrise or Sunset 4×4 Tour

5. 2 Hour Monument Valley Horseback Tour

6. 1.5 Hour Tour of Monument Valley's Loop Drive

7. Sunset Tour of Monument Valley

8. Dreamcatcher Evening Experience in Monument Valley

9. Private Monument Valley Tour

10. Monument Valley Extended Backcountry Tour

11. Sunrise Tour of Monument Valley

12. 1 Hour Monument Valley Horseback Tour

13. 3.5 Hours Mystery Valley Navajo Spirit Tour

14. Stargazing Tour of Monument Valley

15. 3.5 Hours of Monument Valley's Cultural 4×4 Tour

16. Ultimate Utah Bundle Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

17. Mystery Valley Tour 3.5 -4hrs (TSNGT)

18. 2.5 Hours Monument Valley Historical Sightseeing Tour by Jeep

19. Monument Valley 4x4 Tour

20. Navajo Tribal Park Monument Valley Self-Guided Driving Tour

21. 25+ National Parks Self-Guided Driving Tours Bundle

22. Tour Monument Valley with a Navajo guide (1.5hr TSNGT)

23. 1.5 Hour Jeep Tour in Monument Valley

24. Monumental tours

25. Monument Valley Backcountry Tour

26. Monument Valley Hogan Overnight Experience

27. Monument Valley Tour from Flagstaff

28. 2.5 HR tour (TSNGT)

29. Monument Valley's Mystery Valley 4×4 Tour

30. Tear Drop Arch Tour (TSNGT)

What travelers are saying.

• Monument Valley Tour
• 2.5 Hours of Monument Valley's Backcountry 4×4 Tour
• 3.0 Hours of Monument Valley's Sunrise or Sunset 4×4 Tour
• Monument Valley Daytime Tour - 3 Hours - Navajo Spirit Tours
• 2 Hour Monument Valley Horseback Tour
• Navajo Spirit Tours
• Dineh Bekeyah Tours
• Monument Valley Tribal Tours
• Monument Valley Safari
• Phillips Photography Tours - Day Tours
• Navajo Guided Tour Service
• Goulding's Monument Valley

Read our short tour booking policy before you call!

Adventurous Monument Valley

Scenic monument valley tours in arizona.

• Most popular tour!

Scenic Monument Valley Tour

Experience Monument Valley’s highlights in 1.5 hrs. Tour the 17-mile loop in an open-air safari vehicle, see iconic landmarks, and learn Navajo history from a local guide.

• Hour Glass 1.5 hours
• User Ages 6+

Discover Stunning Landscapes at the Oljato-Monument Valley

Welcome to the best experience of Adventurous Monument Valley Tours, where we offer a unique blend of cultural, historical, and scenic explorations on private Navajo land. Dive into the heart of Navajo culture with our guided tours that have received stellar reviews from visitors from all over the world!

We take you beyond the ordinary with our luxury and affordable options, ensuring that you get to witness the best of Monument Valley in a way that suits your preferences. From the magnificent sunrise tours to the breathtaking sunset tours, and from day tours to overnight tours, we have it all. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly adventures, private tours, or photography tours, our offerings are designed to cater to every need.

Ready to see more than Monument Valley? Our tour options extend to Antelope Canyon as well. Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of these natural monuments, with the help of our skilled Navajo guides who bring the history, culture, and geology of these lands to life during your journey.

Backcountry Tour

Explore Monument Valley’s restricted backcountry. Capture photos at Ear of the Wind, visit Anasazi ruins, and learn Navajo history from a local guide. This Arizona tour is ideal for photographers. Book online!

• Hour Glass 2.5 hours

Join our Top-Rated Monument Valley Tours ★★★★★

Nat was a great tour guide. He took us to the upper canyon and from the minute we boarded the bus, he made a point to let us know he's only plan was to give us a great tour. He took lots of pictures for us, explained everything, and was overall more than I would have ever expected.

It was a fantastic tour. Lydell was tremendous. Helpful, knowledgeable, interactive. And a great photographer!! Not only would we recommend this tour, we would go back!

Absolutely worth the experience and with brilliant and supportive tour guides. Our guides were not only enthusiastic with information but also in advice and assistance with clients taking the best photos. The canyons were breathtaking and the drive was incredibly fun with the company vehicles.

We had a amazing tour guide, Nate. He offered a lot of information and was able to answer all my questions. He helped with setting up my phone so I had professional pictues. This tour guide is well worth the money and highly recommend going. A once in a lifetime.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Navajo nation park & recreation.

While visiting the Monument Valley, you will need to try the 17-mile loop drive for a view of the scenic beauty and magnificent formations. Currently, with the monsoon season we want all travelers to know that the valley drive has very rough terrain and deep sand dunes.  Motorcycles/RV’s are Prohibited on the loop drive, due to the rough terrain and deep sand dunes. We ask that travelers be prepared for long wait times and inclement weather during the peak season. Which begins in the months of  May to September, the high volume of travelers will create some wait time. So please be cognizant of your surroundings and please obey all signs, stay on designated routes; stay hydrated and stay safe. The safety of our public and community is our utmost importance. Also, wear appropriate attire as the weather is unpredictable and can change at any time. Wearing a hat, t-shirt, long sleeves and tennis shoes will keep you comfortable and avoid the elements. Including, staying hydrated and have water on you at all times which makes you less prone to heat exhaustion and dehydration.

Welcome to the Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. You are experiencing one of the most majestic – and most photographed – points on earth. This great valley boasts sandstone masterpieces that tower at heights of 400 to 1,000 feet, framed by scenic clouds casting shadows that graciously roam the desert floor. The angle of the sun accents these graceful formations, providing scenery that is simply spellbinding.

The landscape overwhelms, not just by its beauty but also by its size. The fragile pinnacles of rock are surrounded by miles of mesas and buttes, shrubs and trees, and windblown sand, all comprising the magnificent colors of the valley. All of this harmoniously combines to make Monument Valley a truly wondrous experience. Enjoy this beautiful land. While on your travel stop and take a look at some of our vendors on the loop road. Our vendors have beautiful hand crafted jewelry and more. You can buy direct from the artisan, which makes your travel experience so much more to have a momentous keepsake with you while at home.

Navajo Name: Tse’Bii’Ndzisgaii – Monument Valley

Hiking Trails : Wildcat Trail 1.5 miles (Sign in/out at Visitor Center).

Monument Valley Hours of Operation:

Park/administration office:   8:00 am to 5:00 pm. monday-friday.

Winter Hours-

Scenic Drive: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday – Sunday. Last Entry at 2:30 pm, Daily.

Tour Booth: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday – Sunday.

Summer Hours-

Scenic Drive: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday – Sunday. Last Entry: 4:30 pm, Daily.

Tour Operator Booth: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday – Sunday.

Monument Valley Closures:

We are Closed during all major Holidays in accordance with the Navajo Nation.

• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day
• New Year’s Day

Elevation: 5,564 feet above sea level

GPS Coordinates: N 37.00414 W 110.09889

Backcountry Permit: A Backcountry Permit can be obtained from the Visitor Center, and for San Juan River Permit it can be purchased at the Welcome Center.  Please sign in/out prior to Hiking.  Please proceed with extreme caution. 

Navajo Parks and Recreation is not liable for any damage to vehicle while in loop drive or on Navajo Tribal Park land.

Special Use Permit: Needed for all other types of Land Usage. Photography,  Filming, Weddings, and Paintings.  Please stop by Visitor Center for more information.

Size:  91,696 acres (spans across Utah & Arizona)

Entry Fee: $8 per person, per day.

Additional person: $8 per person, per day, per location.  (subject to change)..

Before human existence, the Park was once a lowland basin. For hundreds of millions of years, materials that eroded from the early Rock Mountains deposited layer upon layer of sediment which cemented a slow and gentle uplift, generated by ceaseless pressure from below the surface, elevating these horizontal strata quite uniformly one to three miles above sea level. What was once a basin became a plateau.

Natural forces of wind and water that eroded the land spent the last 50 million years cutting into and peeling away at the surface of the plateau. The simple wearing down of altering layers of soft and hard rock slowly revealed the natural wonders of Monument Valley today.

From the visitor center, you see the world-famous panorama of the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte. You can also purchase guided tours from Navajo tour operators, who take you down into the valley in Jeeps for a narrated cruise through these mythical formations. Places such as Ear of the Wind and other landmarks can only be accessed via guided tours. During the summer months, the visitor center also features Haskenneini Restaurant, which specializes in both native Navajo and American cuisines, and a film/snack/souvenir shop. There are year-round restroom facilities. One mile before the center, numerous Navajo vendors sell arts, crafts, native food, and souvenirs at roadside stands.

Buy local, Buy Navajo!

SCAN QR CODE FOR MONUMENT  VALLEY MAP

Call Today! 855-761-8133

#1 rated tour company in monument valley.

Goulding's Resort & Tours offers a variety of exclusive guided tours through Monument Valley and beyond. All of our tour guides are local Navajos who grew up in and around the Monument Valley area. During the tour, they will provide our guests access to the trails and paths not open to the public while offering insight into Monument Valley. Discover the far-reaching destinations you have seen in popular Hollywood movies. With authentic insights about Monument Valley, you can enjoy and relax among the towering dunes. Whether you are visiting with your significant other or enjoying a family trip with your kids, Goulding's Resort & Tours has something for everyone and makes the best choice for planning a stay at Monument valley.

After your tour, explore Goulding's Resort & Tours, the well-equipped and amenity-rich resort features fantastic rooms, restaurants, museums, campgrounds, and stores. You can use the base camp at Goulding's Resort & Tours to make the most of your mesa excursions.

Book your tour today!

What makes goulding's resort & tours the best place to stay during your tour.

Goulding's Resort & Tours is one of the places where a smorgasbord of interesting options awaits for the visitors. The resort caters to your living needs by offering your aesthetically designed and amenity-rich spaces including spacious rooms, villas, and campsites.

Start your trip to Monument Valley with your local guide after booking a myriad of exciting excursions. Go on half-day, full-day, or hour-long trips to some of the exotic and less traveled spots such as Mystery Canyon .

Do not miss a walk to the Goulding Trade Post Museum. Within this museum, you will find a historic trading post reminiscent of the 1920s and 1940s, harkening back to the time of its sale. Go upstairs to see the historic rooms in the area of living quarters of Harry and Leone "Mike" Goulding.

Get a close glimpse of the location featured in many celebrated movies as well as viewing the John Wayne classics and several other memorabilia in the Earth Spirit Theater.

Goulding's Resort Rooms

Goulding's Hillside Villas

Goulding's RV Park & Campground

Stagecoach Restaurant

Indoor Pools

Goulding's Museum

Hiking Trails

Goulding's Gift Shop

Goulding's Grocery Store

Goulding's Destination Weddings

Enjoy this never-ending fun at monument valley by booking rooms at goulding's resort & tours to make your trip memorable., see what others are saying about goulding's resort & tours, summer vacation 2018.

Loved it with a CAPITAL "L" This area is best described as majestic. Beautiful, Iconic Bluffs and Mesa. Forrest Gump Highway is near here. Took the sunrise tour. I was going to do the drive myself, glad I sprung for the cash and had somebody else do the driving. We went from here to Page Az, then to South Entry of Grand Canyon. If you love BIG Nature. Take the trip. We stayed at Goulding's 1 night and had a cabin near the Store / Gas station just a bit down the road. Excellent, comfortable, backed the rental car up to the back door of the cabin and unloaded the cooler and suitcase. Could not have been easier.

Best hotel we stayed in on our whole trip to the USA

Great rooms - all of which have an incredible view of monument valley from their balcony. Really amazing food served at the lodge's restaurant and friendly staff. A few shops etc nearby, not too much of an issue but something to note is that you can't purchase alcohol anywhere on the reserve (nearest place 16 miles away) including inside the restaurant. Great experience

The view is Monument Valley

We stayed here after visiting 4 Corners and Mexican Hat. We arrived in time to take an afternoon tour which we did. We had dinner at their restaurant and a free movie featuring westerns that were shot in Monument valley, the showed Stage Coach this night. The room was big and comfortable and had a view of Monument Valley!! A nice place to stay!

Sunrise Tour of Monument Valley

Our family took the sunrise tour of Monument Valley and were thrilled with the scenery and "photo ops." The ride was a bit rough over unpaved roads through the valley itself. The guide was Navajo and grew up locally so she showed us all the highlights and more. She told us local stories and made sure we were at a good angle to catch the sunrise at the Mittens. Expensive tour, but worth it!

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SandStone Tours

Monument Valley's Top-Ranking 4×4 Vehicle Tour Company!

Monument Valley Tour Rates & Booking

Welcome To Our Rates & Booking Page

Monument Valley scenic vehicle tours depart daily, our Navajo guides will take you on an unforgettable excursion through one of the Southwest’s iconic landscapes.

Tour route time starts from the Valley Drive entrance, not from the parking lot pickup point or time spent loading the vehicle.

** Booking restrictions apply, 2 persons minimum **

Children 4 – 11 Years Old are 1/2 Price

Daylight Savings Time Started March 10, 2024.

Monument Valley is the same time as; Salt Lake City, Utah – Denver, Colorado

We are one hour ahead of; Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Grand Canyon, Arizona.

Sunrise Tour of Monument Valley

Enjoy the morning as the sandstone cliffs are awakened by the first burst of the morning sunlight. Our guide will make sure it’s a morning to remember by showing you the advantage of the sun’s early fiery hues, and its ability to create shadows that are momentarily visible for a few hours as the day starts.

Duration: Approximately 3 Hours

$90.00 Per Adult | $45.00 per Child

Departure Time: Due to the solstice, times may change. The confirmed time of departure will appear when reserving this tour.

See Departure Time during the Booking Procedure.

Short Tour of Monument Valley

This tour might be appropriate for people who have a busy travel itinerary, but still has time for a short excursion into one of the Southwest’s iconic wonders.

Duration: Approximately 1.5 Hours

$70.00 Per Adult | $35.00 per Child

Currently Departing Daily at:

8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m.

MOST POPULAR TOUR!

Complete Tour of Monument Valley

This is the complete tour of Monument Valley. Visit what most visitors and locals call the “Back-County” or “Restricted Area” and get up close, step under, or up to the natural sandstone arches that have been carved into the sandstone cliffs over the eons. Our guides will show you other vantage points of spires and buttes that cannot be seen on the short tour.

Duration: Approximately 2.5 Hours

$80.00 Per Adult | $40.00 per Child

9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.

Sunset Tour of Monument Valley

Be in the park as it closes for the day when visitors vacate, leaving a serene quiet and stillness. Enjoy the setting sun as it transforms the colors of the massive sandstone cliffs a deeper red-orange, then ending with long shadows stretching across the valley floor.

Departure Time: Due to the solstice, times change during the year. The confirmed time of departure will appear when reserving this tour.

See the Departure Time during the booking procedure.

Our Booking System is Powered by Fareharbor !

Fees and Pricing

The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park entry fee or any other fees initiated by the Navajo Nation is NOT included in our rates. A 6% Navajo Nation Tax and applicable State sales taxes and booking partner fees will be calculated at checkout.

Recording Notice: (Navajo Nation)

Monument Valley is a major tourist attraction and though we are in the 21st century, many Navajo respect sacred beliefs and adhere to Navajo religion. This includes our guides and surrounding locals, many still prefer not to be included in; photographs, video, and or any kind of recording. Please be considerate. Ask and confirm permission before taking their picture or recording anyone in any way.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 Restrictions Lifted With Exceptions

Masks are totally optional. As of January 20, 2023, The Navajo Nation has lifted its COVID-19 Mask Mandates. Some of our employees may still prefer to wear a masks.

Mountain Standard Time & Daylight Savings Time

We are on daylight savings time. Make sure your time is set for our area, we follow the same time as Salt Lake City, Utah and Denver, Colorado. We are one hour ahead of; Phoenix, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Page, Arizona.

Early Departure

Sandstone Tours schedules guides and vehicle based on booked tours with specific departure times and capacities. Requests to depart before your reserved tour time will be changed to a “Private Tour”. A $100.00 fee will be added and will be due before departure.

Missed Reservation Departure Time

Please arrive at the time you have booked your tour for. Tours will wait no longer than 10 minutes maximum. If there is any availability for another tour departure at a later time, and if you still wish to take a tour contact us right away.

1 Adult & Infant/Child Policy

We have had people try to defeat our 2 adult minimum booking system. In fairness of single parents wanting to take a tour, reservations that pay for one adult and one child at the time of booking will be accepted. This reservation is non-refundable. At the time of departure, your child must be present; otherwise, the tour will be immediately canceled.

Cancellation Policy

A 50% fee will be charged for all and any kind of cancellation made by the customer. National emergencies U.S, European, ETC., such as; travel restrictions, closures, ETC., will not apply to our cancellation policy.

We depart wind, rain, or shine. If SandStone Tours defaults a tour for reasons beyond our control; impassible roads due to weather conditions, emergency park closures, Navajo Nation shut-downs, etc., you will be contacted as soon as possible and given a full refund. Refunds may take time, you may have to be very patient.

After Office Hour Bookings

Our Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 7 days a week. If you book after these hour please call our office the next day to confirm your reservation has been received by our tour coordinator. Not calling may result in a late tour or cancelled tour.

Tours – Length & Time Approximation

The Sunrise Tour, Short Tour, Complete Tour, and Sunset Tour times are set by tour routes. Tour times are, “approximate”. Factors may include; participation, tour route congestion, inclement weather, park road re-routes & activities, etc. Our tours are conducted by routes identified and permitted for use by the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Participation: The party on tour may request to skip a stop or not exit the vehicle at all, this often shortens the tour time . The tour route taken for the tour is what we charge for, the length of the tour will not be taken into account.

Inclement weather: Weather in Monument Valley and the surrounding area may be unpredictable. Rain, hail, wind, or snow may affect road conditions, this may slow the tour and lengthen the tour time. Rain sometimes affects tour routes, and alternative routes may be used by our guides.

Tour Route Congestion: The route may become congested, this may lengthen the tour time. We will not deviate from the reserved tour route during the peak season.

Park Re-routes and Activities: From time to time the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park performs activities for the community or for the Navajo Nation government, this sometimes affects tour times. If the tour is re-routed, our Sandstone Tours guides may have to use alternative routes to make up for deviations not usually used in our daily tour listings.

Rates listed from this website will not be honored upon arrival.

A booking must be made in advance and must have a; printed receipt, reservation sheet, or confirmation number made available to our tour coordinator on – site..

© Sandstone Tours Inc. 2023

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Monument Valley Tours

• Monument Valley RV & Campgrounds
• Goulding’s History

Goulding’s offers a variety of exclusive tours through Monument Valley Tribal Park and beyond. Sit back and enjoy fascinating geological and historical information about this amazing area known as the “Land of Long Shadows.”

All of our tour guides are local Navajos who grew up in and around the Monument Valley area. During the tours, they provide access to trails and paths not open to the public while offering insight about the Valley. They are proud of their heritage and are more than happy to share stories about their culture and history, so don’t hesitate to ask!

Our tour vehicles are modern, clean and well-maintained, providing top safety and comfort. The open-air vehicles in our fleet come equipped with large transparent flaps that can be quickly deployed, should the weather take an abrupt turn.

During your tour, you will have the opportunity to stop and gaze at the panorama where John Ford, John Wayne, and countless other historical figures of the Southwest have left their footprints. All tours include the entry fee to Monument Valley Tribal Park, a map, water, tickets to Earth Spirit Theater and traditional Navajo cultural demonstration. Don’t forget your camera!

CHOOSE FROM ONE OF OUR MANY TOUR PACKAGES:

This tour covers the famous 17-mile loop of Monument Valley. View many of the famous monuments when the tour makes stops at The East and West Mittens viewpoint, John Ford’s Point & Three Sisters viewpoint, the Totem Pole viewpoint, Artist’s Point, and the North Window viewpoints. This tour offers you the opportunity to visit an authentic Navajo Hogan .

Cost Per Person: $77.00 Adults | $57.00 Children 11 and under Departure Time: 1:30pm Available: April – October Duration of Tour: 2.5 Hours (approximately)

Deluxe Tour

This tour covers the famous 17-mile loop of Monument Valley plus visits some restricted back-country stops. View many of the famous monuments when the tour makes stops at The East and West Mittens viewpoint, John Ford’s Point & Three Sisters viewpoint, the Totem Pole viewpoint, Artist’s Point, and the North Window viewpoints. In the back-country, you will make stops at The Sun’s Eye & Ear of the Wind. This area of the Navajo Tribal Park boasts hidden treasures like natural arches and provides different vantage points from the traditional 17-mile loop road. This tour offers you the opportunity to visit an authentic Navajo Hogan.

Cost Per Person: $89.00 Adults | $69.00 Children 11 and under Departure Time: 8:00am & 4:00pm - April – September | 3:15pm - March –  October | 2:30pm - November – February Duration of Tour: 3.5 Hours (approximately)

Sunrise Tour

Wake up to the morning majesty of Monument Valley! Start in front of the world-famous Mitten rock formations and make your way through the Valley as the sun casts its light upon the mesas and buttes. This tour covers viewpoints along the 17-mile loop road.

Cost Per Person: $87.00 All Ages Departure Time: 20 Minutes Before Sunrise (times vary) Available: April – October Duration of Tour: 2.5 Hours (approximately)

Sunset Tour

End your day by watching nature’s slideshow of the ever-changing light and the different moments it creates. This tour winds its way around the 17-mile loop road as the light dances around and lights up the monuments. Finish in front of the Mittens for the sunlight’s last glow.

Cost Per Person: $77.00 Adults | $57.00 Children 11 and under Departure Time: 2 Hours Before Sunset (times vary) Available: April – September Duration of Tour: 2.5 hours (approximately)

All Day Tour

Do you have a day and want to see more of the Monument Valley area? Our 8 hour All-Day tour allows you to escape the future and take a trip back into the ancient past with a trip to Mystery Valley. Explore Anasazi Ruins, Rock Art panels, and hidden arches that take you back to bygone eras during the first half of the tour. Before continuing your tour into Monument Valley you will stop to recharge and enjoy a boxed lunch prepared by our staff *. Enter Monument Valley and (re)discover the beauty and comfort of the world famous Mittens as well as many more of the sacred and unique rock formations that have adorned walls across the world. Breathe in the energy, but mind the dust, as you follow in the footsteps of the legends who made this scenery so famous. This tour offers you the opportunity to visit an authentic Navajo Hogan

*Please check-in for the tour the evening prior so the front desk staff can go over the menu and get your selections ordered.

Cost Per Person: $160.00 Adults | $110.00 Children 11 and under Departure Time: 9:00am Available: April – October Duration of Tour: 8 hours

Private Tours

Special custom tours are available with a minimum of four people. call 866-313-9769 to ask about prices, times, locations and availability., what to bring.

Please keep in mind that all tours will take you to some very beautiful yet secluded locations. It is recommended that you bring the following items with you:

Hat/Sunscreen

The Mittens may cast long shadows, but the sun will find you while you are on your tour. Skin protection is highly encouraged.

Closed-toe shoes

The scenery is beautiful, but the terrain can be rough in spots. We recommend you wear shoes with good traction that will protect your feet from thorns.

Layered clothing

Weather in the valley can be very unpredictable. Windstorms can and do occur without warning throughout the year. These storms can bring lightning, rain or snow with them, depending on the season.

Water/Snacks

Water is provided on all tours, but you are encouraged to bring a water bottle and any light snacks that you may want to carry with you.

Of course, you wouldn't want to forget a camera to take pictures of the breathtaking mountains of Monument Valley.

*Taxes extra. Please consult with the front desk or your tour guide if you have any questions.

Explore the Museum

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Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park: The Complete Guide

David Toussaint / Getty Images

Things to Do

Hiking in monument valley, types of tours, park guides, where to camp, where to stay nearby, how to get there, accessibility, tips for your visit, monument valley.

Straddling the Arizona/Utah border, Monument Valley is one of the nation’s most recognizable landscapes, thanks to its appearance in classic Westerns and movies like “Forrest Gump.” (Forrest decides to stop running against the backdrop of Monument Valley’s iconic buttes.) But it’s not your typical national park. In fact, it’s not a national park at all. Located on Navajo lands, Monument Valley is actually a tribal park operated by the Navajo people, who consider it a very sacred place.

As a result, access is restricted within the park. While you can drive a 17-mile section through the park on your own, you’ll need a Navajo guide to do anything more than that. However, that’s part of what makes Monument Valley so unique—you learn about Navajo history, culture, and traditions from the tribal member welcoming you into their lands. Plan to spend the night at the park’s hotel, The View, so you can watch the sunrise, sunset, or both over the amazing rock formations.

If you’re short on time, drive the 17-mile, extremely rough dirt road past the Mittens and Totem Pole formations on a self-guided tour. If you have more time, book a tour with a Navajo guide online or at the park’s visitor center. Tours range from 90 minutes to full-day adventures. Some guides even offer traditional meals, entertainment, and overnight stays in a Hogan.

Beyond that, activities are limited in the park. There are no ranger-led programs, helicopter rides, or hot air balloon rides here. You can’t mountain bike, off-road, or ride your own horse through the park either. Want to climb the monuments? Forget that, too. Rock climbing is strictly prohibited.

TripSavvy / Lauren Breedlove

The Wildcat Trail is the only one you can hike unescorted in Monument Valley. If you want to do anything more, you’ll have to hire a Navajo guide. Book a hiking tour before you go. Otherwise, there’s no guarantee a guide at the visitor center will be available—or prepared—to take you on a hike when you arrive.

Wildcat Trail: This 3.2-mile trail begins at the campground next to The View Hotel and loops around the Left Mitten before returning. Go at sunrise. Not only is it cooler, but the soft light washes the valley in ever-changing color. 

Most people experience Monument Valley on a 4x4 tour, but there are other options, including horseback rides and photography tours. Each Navajo guide or company offers slightly different tours, but these are the common ones available in the park:

• Basic Scenic Tour: Lasting about 90 minutes, these tours follow the 17-mile route through the park that you could drive on your own. So why pay the $65 to $75 per person charge for a guided tour? Many drivers don’t want to subject their vehicles to the treacherous road, but Navajo guides also give you insights on how the formations came to be, point out where movies were filmed, and share their culture.
• Cultural Tour: Held late in the afternoon, this tour builds on the full valley tours, adding a cultural experience like a weaving demonstration or live music. As the sun begins to set, the tour continues with a Navajo dinner, usually puffy fry bread topped with meat and beans, followed by traditional dancing and music.
• Time of Day Tour: Because light can change the color of the rock formations dramatically, several tours revolve around the time of the day. Many consider sunrise the best time to take one of these tours, but sunset can be equally impressive as can a night with a full moon. Often a photographer leads these tours.
• Photography Tours: Led by Navajo photographers, these tours are usually for any skill level with any type of camera—even a cell phone—but you may want to check with the guide or company before committing.
• Overnight Tours: Want to experience Monument Valley at night? Several companies offer the option to stay overnight in a Hogan, a traditional Navajo structure. Dinner and breakfast are included.

You’ll find a list of guided tour operators on the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation website. It’s not unusual for individuals and smaller guide companies to stop offering tours for a length of time only to start up again later, sometimes under another company name, but some companies are fixtures in Monument Valley. These companies have experienced guides and provide a consistent experience for their guests.

• Roy Black’s Guided Tours : Started by a Navajo person who grew up in Monument Valley, this company specializes in sharing Navajo culture. Tours include the 4x4 adventures and overnight Hogan stays. Roy Black’s Guided Tours is one of the few companies in Monument Valley with guided horseback tours, from 30 minutes to six hours long.
• Monument Valley Simpson’s Trailhandler Tours : Guides with Monument Valley Simpson’s Trailhandler Tours know the valley better than anyone—they were all born and raised here. The company has an extensive list of tours including Hogan stays, cultural experiences, sunrise/sunset outings, and guided hikes.
• Goulding’s Lodge Tours : Operated out of Goulding’s Lodge, 5 miles from the park’s entrance, this company takes guests on partial and full-day tours of the valley. It also offers sunrise, sunset, and full moon tours as well as tours of the areas surrounding Monument Valley Tribal Park.

TripSavvy / Lauren Breedlove 

You can camp inside the park at The View Campground. Nearby, camping is also available at Goulding’s RV & Campgrounds and Monument Valley KOA.

• The View Campground : Located inside the park, this campground has dry RV and tent camping with unobstructed views of the Mittens. The RV sites do not have hookups. Restrooms and showers are available for all campers.
• Goulding’s RV & Campgrounds : Five miles outside the park, near Goulding’s Lodge, this campground has RV sites with full hookups and tent camping. In addition to restrooms and grills, the campground has Wi-Fi and access to the laundromat, convenience store, and indoor pool at the lodge.
• Monument Valley KOA : Campers will find full hookup RV and tent sites about 1.5 miles north of the park entrance at Monument Valley KOA. Campsite amenities include a dog park, basic Wi-Fi, and firewood for sale.

You can actually stay inside the park at The View, aptly named for its balconies overlooking the valley. However, you’ll pay extra for the privilege and have very limited dining options. Nearby, Goulding’s Lodge is a convenient option with similarly limited food options. Kayenta, 25 miles south of the park’s entrance, has chain hotels and several decent restaurants, some serving Navajo specialties. 

• The View Hotel : The only hotel in the park, The View Hotel is operated by the Navajo tribe and boasts some of the most outstanding views in the Southwest. Each of its 96 rooms has its own private balcony, and you can sample Navajo dishes at its restaurant. You’ll also find a gift shop and the park’s visitor center on-site.
• Goulding’s Lodge : Originally a trading post and a base for director John Ford and his crew when they filmed in Monument Valley, Goulding’s Lodge has 152 rooms, Wi-Fi, and cable TV. There’s also a restaurant, indoor swimming pool, museum, theater, laundromat, and convenience store onsite. Planning on a guided tour through Monument Valley? Goulding’s has its own tour company that leaves from the property. 

Monument Valley is quitw remote, the nearest major cities of Phoenix and Albuquerque are both roughly 320 miles away.

From Phoenix, take I-17 north to I-40. Head east to the edge of Flagstaff, and follow signs to pick up US-89 north. Drive approximately 70 miles and turn at US-160, heading east towards Tuba City. Follow this to Kayenta. Turn north on US-163 and continue 25 miles to the park’s entrance.

From Albuquerque, take 1-40 west to Gallup. At Gallup, head north on US-491. Before leaving Gallup, turn left onto SR 264 and head west to Burnside. There, take US 191 north and drive 40 miles north to Indian Route 59. Where IR-59 intersects US-160, turn left. Go 8 miles, and turn right at US-163. Head north 25 miles to the park’s entrance.

The visitor center and facilities are accessible. However, tours may not be. Check with the guide or company before hiring them. Stops on the 17-mile drive are no paved and may be difficult for some to navigate.

• Park admission is $20 per vehicle transporting up to four people. Since this is not a national park, America the Beautiful and other passes are not honored here.
• Navajo Nation observes daylight savings times even though the rest of Arizona does not. When you book a tour, confirm whether daylight savings times will be in effect and adjust your schedule accordingly.
• Drones, weapons, and alcohol are prohibited on Navajo land.
• Because the monuments are considered sacred, you are not allowed to climb them.

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Monument Valley: The Ultimate First Timer’s Travel Itinerary

Most of you know Monument Valley because Forest Gump ran across America. Pictures of the famous Highway 163 with towering red monuments in the background are sprawled across Instagram, from the park’s 350,000 visitors a year.

What To Expect: Driving through Monument Valley was somewhat shocking for us – and we’d almost compare it to a bit of culture shock . Being from Kentucky, neither of us had spent a ton of time out West and we weren’t prepared for the spectacular landscapes. From the swirling red desert to the towering monuments… it somewhat felt surreal . On our trip through the Southwest, we had already been to the Grand Canyon and we were still overwhelmed by the beauty of it all!

Monument Valley Navajo Park stretches across the 26,000 square mile Navajo Reservation in Utah and Arizona. The entrance to the park is in Utah – but you’ll technically be driving through the Arizona side to see all of the most famous rock formations.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO How Much Does Monument Valley Cost? $20 Per Car ** Park Hours: Hours change with the seasons. Check here. Is Monument Valley In Arizona or Utah? Both. Best Time To Go To Monument Valley? Spring and Fall. Best Hotels: Goulding’s Lodge , The View Hotel Closest Airport: Page Airport Can I Use My US National Park Pass: No

** There is an additional $6 a person fee if your car has more than 4 people, and ages 9 and under are free. This cost does not include guided tour tickets. At the time of writing this article – normal private car tours have not resumed. Make sure to book your tickets in advance! (See guided tours below!)

Navajo History

While most people know Monument Valley by its common name – the park also has a Navajo name: Tse’Bii’Ndzisgaii. No tour of these fascinating monoliths would be complete without sharing the history of the people whose land you’re driving on!

The first peoples to inhabit the area were the Anasazi Indians in 1200 B.C.E. There is still evidence of their dwellings and pictograph cave drawings in protected areas around Monument Valley. (To access these historic relics – see the Mystery Valley tour below!)

Spanish settlers from the 17-18th century frequently roamed the parts of the desert but there is little evidence that they ever entered or found Monument Valley. With frequent clashes between the Spanish and the Navajo who called themselves Dine, (in English ‘The People’), no outsiders have ever truly settled in what the Navajo considered a sacred place.

• The Spiritual Background of Monument Valley: To the Navajo people, different parts of this region represent different things spiritually. Some spaces between the monoliths were considered ‘doors’ while others were considered the hands of dieties.

The Navajo people did not officially own this tract of land until the late 1920s/early 1930s. That’s less than 100 years!! Now home to the Navajo Nation, over 100 people from the Navajo tribe still live and work in the valley to manage and preserve this natural wonder. Other Navajo Tribal Parks include Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park, Tseyi Dine’ Heritage Area, Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park, and Little Colorado River Gorge.

• FUN FACT: Wild horses can still be seen roaming in Monument Valley! The Navajo people help manage the herds that run in Utah Valley, and there are regular ponies belonging to the tribe rounded up in pens near the scenic loop.

With all that the Navajo people have endured over the years due to settlers, please be deeply respectful. Don’t carve anything into their land and practice strict Leave No Trace principles!

Monument Valley Driving Tours

If you’re doing a self-paced tour through Monument Valley – you’ll likely be able to cover the 17 miles of the park in one day. This is what we did and absolutely loved it for our first time there.

NEW REGULATIONS AS OF 2021 At the time of writing this article – the Navajo Nation had just reopened the park. To do the full 17-mile Monument Valley scenic loop drive – you will have to book a tour. Private vehicles are not allowed at this time to limit capacity and protect the health and safety of the Navajo people. Before planning your trip – make sure to book in advance with one of the tour options we’ve shared below. If you’re willing to risk getting a tour or not, you can also potentially get a spot in one of the daily tours at the parks Visitors Center. Spots are not guaranteed.

After entering the park from Highway 163, visit the visitors center to pay your $20 visitors fee. Take a moment to walk around and look at the exhibits featuring local geology and Navajo culture!

You may then start your driving tour of Monument Valley past The View Campground.

P.S. Something we loved about visiting Monument Valley that you’ll notice right away: it’s not corporate. Even with the sheer volume of people who visit every year – it’s still a local feeling operation and feels like one of the more authentic American experiences!

• Driving Speed: We went no more than 20 miles and hour throughout our entire tour. If you’re short on time – don’t plan to rush through. Just see what you can see!

Scenic Driving Points

There is so much to see on the Scenic Loop – you could go back three or four times and notice something new every time. With that being said – there are a few major formations and gorgeous viewpoints that your guide will point out right away! (Even if you’re not with a guide – most of these fascinating waypoints are pretty easily identified.)

These are the 11 major sites to be on the lookout for while driving :

NO. 1 THE MITTENS AND MERRICK BUTTE: The most recognizable and most photographed section of Monument Valley, comprised of West mitten, East Mitten and Merrick Buttes. It’s where we stopped for the first photo in this post! There is a large area where you can park on your driving tour and take photos! Highly recommend having a tripod and a wide-angle lens!!

NO.2 ELEPHANT BUTTE: Doesn’t look like an elephant but it is MASSIVE! Like the kind of thing you just do not expect to be popping up out of the ground.

NO.3 THREE SISTERS: One of our favorite shots from the trip was at Three Sisters. The sun shone perfectly through three sisters perched high on the hill with a plane trailing close by!

NO.4 JOHN FORD’S POINT

John Ford’s Point is famous for many reasons. It’s a popular horseback riding tour spot, with people getting epic shots into the Valley down below – and also a famous movie scene!! Named after the director John Ford, this scene was in Stagecoach, My Darling Clementine, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and many more! To get here – make sure you follow the map and take a right instead of following the trail to the left along the main Valley Trail. There are shops and such there so you’ll know you’re in the right place!

• Oljato Navajo Trading Post: Close to John Ford Point is an area with little shops and the histoic national monument ‘Oljato Navajo Trading Post’. While no longer in use – you can still grab a frybread snack from Linda’s Frybread stand closeby!!

NO.5 CAMEL BUTTE: This formation is closer to the road and allows visitors to see striations in the rock. Take a moment to think about how these monuments formed over millions of years!

NO.6 THE HUB: A phallic-shaped formation that you can’t miss. (Insert hand covering face emoji here lol..) This formation is another that’s close to the road and allows you to see layers of sediment and rock that have formed over time.

NO.7 TOTEM POLE AND YEI BE CHEI

Where Are Totem Pole and Yei Be Chei: If you look closely in the background of the photo above – you’ll see the spindly columns of red rocks that form Totem Pole and Yei Be Chei. Totem Pole is farthest to the right and the jagged line of the other column formations is Yei Be Chei. NO.8 You can also see Sand Spring from this point! Sand Spring is where you can truly experience the red sands of the desert near the parking area for the Totem Pole lookout.

NO.9 ARTISTS POINT OVERLOOK: Driving back away from Totem Pole, head towards the loop and take a right. You’ll pass another giant formation called Spearhead Mesa , and before continuing on the loop you’ll see an offshoot to the north of Spearhead Mesa . This road will take you to the viewing area for Artist’s Point. Named Artist’s Point for a reason – this spot offers picturesque views of the Northern side of Monument Valley.

NO.10 NORTH WINDOW OVERLOOK: After leaving Artist’s Point, continue back towards the scenic driving loop and take a right. The first road you come to on your right will take you to North Window Overlook. Standing between Elephant Butte (left) and Clay Butte (right), you’ll have incredible views of East Mitten Butte and small portions of Merrick Butte to the west.

NO.11 THE THUMB: When you’re done admiring the view at North Window Overlook – head back towards the scenic loop. Before you continue driving, you should run smack dab into The Thumb. As the last official stop on the scenic loop, take your time enjoying this unique formation. As one of the only rounded formations in the park, this is where The Thumb takes its name from!

Booking Guided Tours in Monument Valley

There is so much to see and do – it can be somewhat overwhelming in reality? The sky is bigger than anything you’ve ever seen and if you’re from the East Coast or anywhere in the mountains, it’s an odd feeling being so out in the open.

If you’re not sure about driving through the park yourself – we highly recommend taking a guided tour of the park.

Guided tours of the park can be purchased through the Get Your Guide links below to support Navajo Nation! These tours are only available with Navajo Guides. (These tours are also great if you’re short on time and you want to see the best of Monument Valley in a few hours!!)

• Stargazing Tours – With nothing around Monument Valley for miles – stargazing here is one of the last places on Earth you can really go with no light pollution ! See the Milky Way for miles above the purple and red hues of the valley below!
• Scenic Loop Tour (Stopping at John Ford’s Point) – 2.5 Hour Tour – Explore backcountry with a Navajo guide and see landmarks that you can only access with a guided tour.
• Extended Monument Valley Tour & Backcountry Access – 3.5 Hour Tour – Explore deeping into the wilderness of Monument Valley with your Navajo tour guide!! Perfect for photographers – you’ll be allowed extra time at each stop.

All guided tours with Navajo guides will be in open-top guide trucks. 5-6 people can sit comfortably per tour!

Hiking Trails in Monument Valley

Because Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park isn’t a National Park – what you can see is extremely limited. To really get the most of your Monument Valley excursions, most people want to hike and get up close to the monuments. There is only one trail to be able to do that without a Navajo Guide: Wildcat Trail.

• Wildcat Trail – This 3.2 mile loop will take you around Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte. This trail is moeratly difficult and will take you 2-3 hours to complete. (You’ll proabably stop for pictures alot!)

A LITTLE GEOLOGY LESSON! One of the best parts about visiting Monument Valley is the deep red clay and sands that swirl through the desert. Whether you’re hiking or driving – do yourself a favor and really pay attention to the desert around you. What Are The Rocks Made Of? The rocks are an interesting mix of red, purple, and blue hues throughout the day! These colors are made possible by deposits of different minerals throughout the soil. Iron oxides give off red hues and magnesium oxide gives off purple and blue hues!! FLORA & FAUNA: Vegetation of Monument Valley: Juniper trees, yucca, Russian thistle AKA tumbleweeds, and Navajo Tea. Flowers of the region: Purple Smallflower Fishhook Cactus, Yellow Hairspine Pricklypear Cactus, and Desert Tobacco (White Flowers) Animals in Monument Valley: Sparrows, Lizards, Rattlesnakes, Desert Cottontail Bunnies, Antelope Squirrel, and Coyote

Other Places To See Around Monument Valley

If you have time to spare, there are other tours around Monument Valley not specifically on the 17-mile scenic loop. For more hiking adventures – you’ll want to book one of the tours below to gain access to off-road hiking adventures.

The 17-mile scenic loop is the most epic part of the area though so if you have to choose between doing the main loop and other tours – you won’t regret doing the main loop!!

• Mystery Valley – Where you can see the petroglyphs from the anceint Anasazi settlements throusands of years ago!
• Teardrop Arch – This tour will be a 2 hour adventure through Horse Shoe Canyon to see Pearl Drop Ruins along with Teardrop Arch. One of the most highly reccomended tours after the Scenic Drive on Trip Advisor!
• Lower Monument Valley – Typically included with ‘backcountry’ tours and extended tours of Monument Valley that we’ve listed below. You’ll get to be up close with Totem Pole and other scenic spots that you can’t do while on the Scenic Loop.
• Hunts Mesa – The best overnight tour!! Camp out, grill steaks and enjoy the views from this 1200 foot tall mesa in Monument Valley!

Leave a comment below if you’ve done any other tours we should include in this first-timer’s guide to Monument Valley!

What To Pack For Monument Valley

Because Monument Valley is around very few other destinations – you’ll most likely be staying overnight. Beyond your normal toiletries, there are a few factors to consider.

• Are You Hiking or Driving The Park? Depending on how you plan on getting around the park, you’ll have different needs. If you’re driving the park, make sure you pack comfortable clothing to be in the car and your normal travel shoes. If you’re hiking the park, make sure to pack hiking boots.
• A Note For Hikers – If you’ve never been to the American Southwest, keep in mind that it’s an incredibly dry climate. Day 2 our lips were peeling because we’ve never been so dehydrated!!! Pack a reuseable water bottle/hydration bladder for hiking.

Regardless of whether you hike or drive the park – make sure you plan to put extra water in the car. We had reusable water bottles that we constantly filled with gallon jugs we kept in the trunk.

• Food: There is not much around the area for miles. We highly reccomend poacking all sorts of road trip snacks to get your through the day!! Get our guide here for the best healthy road trip snacks!!

Another thing to remember – Monument Valley lays in the Utah Desert. The temperature swings in large ranges between when the sun is highest at midday – and when the sun sets. Between these two extremes – you can go from hot to cold pretty quickly! Other items to include while packing for Monument Valley:

• Layers – Plan on at least bringing sweatshirts even in the dead of summer for the evenings!
• Camera or a Go Pro ( We took our Go Pro and it was a great choice!!! The air is so clear you’ll get some really stunning shots!)
• Reuseable Water Bottle

Restaurants Near Monument valley

As we mentioned before – there really isn’t much around Monument Valley. Finding restaurants can be somewhat difficult in the more popular months. HENCE the reason we highly recommend packing snacks!! That way you’ll at least be able to tide yourself over until you can grab a meal.

TRADITIONAL NAVAJO FOODS When you’re in the area, you’ll have the opportunity to try some traditional Navajo foods. Typically corn, beans, and grains are the main staples in Navajo dishes, with a familiar Mexican-style spice profile. What you may not have had before is frybread! Frybread is a slightly sweet cake, similar in texture to a funnel cake without sugar. Use it to sop up all the last bits of deliciousness!

The best places to eat around Monument Valley from closest to farthest are:

• Haskenneini Restaurant (0 miles): Only open during the summer months, this restaurant is inside the Monument Valley Visitor’s Center. They specialize in Navajo and American cuisines.
• The View Restaurant (1 mile) : Navajo tacos and plenty of veggies. This spot isn’t necessarily amazing food but it’s close and convenient when there isn’t much else around. (In The View hotel)
• Amigo Cafe (29.3 Miles/39 minutes): We hghly reccomend this spot in Kayenta for breakfast burritos! Expect Native American/Mexican cuisine with no fuss.
• Blue Coffee Pot Restaurant (29.5 miles/40 minutes) : A good little crossover between Native American cuisine and American food. Think burgers and breakfast sandwiches on frybread!

How To Get To Monument Valley

Plan to drive into Monument Valley mid to late afternoon from your previous destination. The closest airport is Page or Flagstaff (depending on how many layovers you have – one may be faster than the other.)

• Most people fly into Las Vegas to do a American Southwest Roadtrip. That’s what we did and what we would recommend as far as traveling if you’re not from the region.

If you’re from anywhere close to Monument Valley, flying isn’t worth your time. It’s literally not close to anything. (That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth your time! It’s absolutely worth the 3-4 hour drive out of your way!)

DIRECTIONS TO MONUMENT VALLEY:

• From Las Vegas, Through Zion National Park, to Monument Valley: Starting in Las Vegas means you’ll take Interstate-15 from Las Vegas all the way to Zion National Park for about2 hours. You can either stop here in Zion National Park in Utah, (which we highly reccomend!) or continue on to Monument Valley for another 4.5 hours.
• Directions From The Grand Canyon in Arizona to Monument Valley (3.5 hours): AZ-64E for 1 hour to US-160 E towards Monument Valley. You’ll be on this highway for almost two hours! Then get off onto Main Monument Valley Road for the last 16 minutes of your journey.

You’ll be driving from your previous destination either from Utah or Arizona and all of a sudden giant rocks rise up in the distance. Signs will start pointing you towards Monument Valley and since there’s nothing else around – it’s hard to miss!

We also recommend booking your rental car in advance. With rental car shortages all across the country – booking a rental car at the airport last minute may be difficult! We booked a jeep months in advance because we knew that it would be difficult to get one so close to our trip.

Nearby Attractions

Since you only need one day in Monument Valley to really experience everything it has to offer – make sure to include these nearby attractions on your itinerary! (Most of these are within 6 hours from Monument Valley so it’s easy to add to your American Southwest road trip!)

• Forrest Gump Point: to get those spectacular shots, drive North of the Utah side of Monument Valley to US-163 Scenic, Mexican Hat, UT 84531. (Click the link for Google Maps directions!)

Monument Valley is also one of our favorite destinations for getting out where there are very few people. There are a few destinations left in the United States that lack the massive crowds that frequent many more popular destinations. If you’re looking for a more private hiking experience – read our guide to the most underrated hiking destinations throughout the United States!

If we were planning two separate trips – we would suggest starting in either Las Vegas or Sedona.

Trip Itinerary Starting in Las Vegas:

• Las Vegas – Get our full 24-Hour Las Vegas Guide here .
• Don’t forget to stop at the Neon Musem in Las Vegas – it was the best part of our trip there!
• Valley of Fire (Off I-15 on your way to Zion)
• Zion National Park

Trip Itinerary Starting in Sedona:

• Sedona – Hike to the Hidden Soldiers Pass Cave!
• Grand Canyon
• Antelope Canyon

After you’ve seen Monument Valley from either direction add these stops to extend your trip!

• Mexican Hat & Goosenecks State Park
• Valley of The Gods – Very similar to Monument Valley but much less touristy. You’ll see the Mexican Hat formation on the way
• Bryce Canyon National Park

The Best Time To Go to Monument Valley

The American Southwest is special in that it’s truly beautiful all throughout the year. The red clay and desert-like landscape mean that no matter when you go – you’ll take stunning photos and have epic sunsets.

For the most comfortable temperatures, we recommend going spring and fall. Temperatures in the winter stay in the 40s and 50s, and temperatures in the summer are usually above 90 most days. Since this is also the most touristy time to visit (school is out), the fall and spring tend to be less crowded.

When we visited in November – the weather was epically beautiful. We are hoping to visit again someday soon in the spring to see all of the desert wildflowers and cactus bloom!

• No matter when you visit Monument Valley – you’ll be sure to have one of the most stunning sunsets you’ve ever seen in your life! Get our guide here for the Prettiest Sunsets Across The USA .

HOW LONG DO YOU NEED IN MONUMENT VALLEY? Most people only need about a day and a half – so it can be part of a much longer American Southwest Tour.

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Until next time friends,

Thanks for sharing!

Evan and Shelby

Sharing beautiful places, sustainable & slow living tips, + good food from across the globe. You can probably find Shelbs creating a new playlist or editing photos, and Ev researching the latest and greatest in all manner of travel gear and tech. We're so happy you're here taking a moment to read and slow down a little.

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Sarah Wilson

This is one of the best detailed posts I’ve discovered about Monument Valley. I’m planning a road trip to the States, although being European I have to wait a bit so this is probably a 2023 trip now, I hadn’t realised that the tours on offer were run by Navajo guides, that makes me even more keen to book. I’m planning to do the full scenic route, some hiking and I’d love to do some star gazing.

I’ve been wanting to visit MV and remember seeing it on Forest Gump! I had plans to go last year and even booked a room, but the pandemic shut down the area so I had to cancel my plans. Looks like some areas are limited for safety, but glad to hear it’s back open to visitors. Loved the brief history and I can’t wait to visit soon.

Too bad we had to skip this on our visit to the Southwest, but we plan to make a stop in the future. Not just from Forrest Gump, but I also recognized Monument Valley from the old western movies. I think I will wait until everything is back to normal so we can do our self-guided tour when visiting.

Amazing itinerary made, very helpful. A long way away from me, like a distant dream, but reading this gave a good picture of the place and how the places can be visited.

I also visited the American Southwest for the first time this year. Isn’t it incredible?? I can’t wait to go back, and Monument Valley looks like the perfect next destination. It’s crazy how relatively close it is to the Grand Canyon despite having such a different vibe to it. I also love to hear that it’s not overly commercial. Trying the local food would definitely be a highlight for me, especially the frybread. It sounds delicious!

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How To Visit Monument Valley: Which Tour to Pick?

In this post I explain everything you need to know to plan your visit to Monument Valley. I describe why taking a tour is the best way to experience this special place. I provide information on the tour operators available and the best tour to take.

I was talking to a friend recently who was planning a road trip around the American South West. (For an epic southwest road itinerary read this!) She mentioned that she had seen a sunrise photo of mine at Monument Valley and was excited for her visit.

I explained that to see the view from that photograph it was necessary to do a tour in the valley. This got me to thinking – maybe other people would like to know the best way to visit Monument Valley?

Disclaimer:  Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. This helps cover the cost of running this blog. Thanks for your support!

A Brief Introduction to Monument Valley

The broad term Monument Valley typically refers to the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. It is an area of sandstone buttes on the Colorado Plateau .

Access to the Monument Valley Tribal Park is on US-163, just north of the Utah-Arizona border. The nearest major airport is Flagstaff, Arizona.

Monument Valley is a little out of the way so tourist numbers were typically never too high. However, with the inclusion of Monument Valley in numerous films over the years, visitor numbers have grown.

Monument Valley has featured in classic westerns such as Stagecoach as well as more modern action movies such as Transformers. If you take a tour in the valley your guide will point out which locations have been used for filming.

How to visit Monument Valley – Should I do a tour?

Absolutely yes!

The first time I visited Monument Valley I didn’t know about the available tours. I had very little money to spare and just a basic rental car so driving into the valley for a self guided tour wasn’t an option (high clearance and 4WD recommended).

I admired the buttes from the viewing points, explored the visitor centre and watched a storm roll by during sunset.

It was an incredible sight which I absolutely loved. However, little did I know that in a few years time I would return to Monument Valley for an overnight tour that would lift this special place to a whole new level.

Below, I describe the kind of experience you can expect to have on one of these tours.

Which Monument Valley Tour to Pick?

There are many tour operators offering a wide variety of tours around Monument Valley. There are tours specifically for sunrise or sunset, some for a few hours and some that last all day.

I will focus on the tour that I believe allows you to see the best Monument Valley sights, as well as providing a unique experience which wouldn’t be possible on a self guided visit. That tour is the overnight package.

Tour operators offering an overnight package include: (Click on the tour operator name to visit their site)

What to expect on a Monument Valley Tour

In short you can expect a magical experience that might be your highlight on a trip around the USA.

Yes it’s that good!

The exact itinerary will depend on which tour you book but all will include an unforgettable sunset and sunrise, dinner and entertainment and a night camping or sleeping in a traditional hogan.

I have done the Simpson Trailhandler Tour four times with my groups and I believe it is the best way to see Monument Valley.

On the Simpson Trailhandler tour you set off from the visiter centre just a few hours before sunset. Driving along Monument Valley Scenic Drive you visit popular scenic spots such as John Ford’s Point, before heading deeper into the park.

The informative local guides tell stories and sing traditional songs as you explore the valley.

“We feasted on a steak taco dinner before enjoying a traditional Pow Wow – a chance to experience Navajo dancing and singing around the campfire”.

After fun and games joining in with the dancing, it’s time to lay your heads down for the night.

The inclusion is to sleep in a Hogan – the traditional dwelling of Navajo people. However, I always chose to sleep outside under the stars. Deep down in the valley there is little to no light pollution so the night skies are absolutely incredible.

Early in the morning the guides wake you to head off to the totem pole, where you can enjoy a beautiful sunrise. This area is unaccessible unless on a guided tour. A basic breakfast is provided before slowly making your way back out of the valley.

A truly unforgettable experience.

Monument Valley was always a highlight of my North American Tours and is a must on any Utah bucket list .

Read more about the highlights of our epic overland journey from Alaska to Panama, in a converted American school bus called Betsy!

What to pack on an overnight visit in Monument Valley

A small basic overnight bag that will fit in the jeeps, which includes:

• Warm clothes for the evening
• A warm sleeping bag and matt – in the desert temperatures can plummet to sub zero at night.
• Extra batteries and sim card for your camera and/or a power bank for charging whilst you camp. I use a Zendure power bank for my travels as its robust and provides multiple charges for my devices.

The Best Time to Visit Monument Valley

The best time to visit Monument Valley is during the quieter months of Spring or Fall (May and September). During the peak summer months the temperatures are high and the crowds at their most busy.

Useful things to know before you go

• Monument valley crosses two state lines – Utah and Arizona.
• Tribal Lands don’t recognise daylight saving hours. So in the summer months, even though your phone might tell you you are in Arizona on daylight saving time, you’ll actually be on Utah time who also don’t observe daylight saving time!
• Monument Valley is not a National Park of the Southwest so is not covered by the National Parks Pass. Entrance costs $20 per car. This is not included in the tour package.
• Don’t forget to stop at the Forest Gump Point for that classic photograph. “I was running” (Route 163, 13 miles north of the Arizona-Utah border)
• After Monument Valley why not continue north to Moab? You can discover all the awesome things to do in Moab in this post! Alternatively head west and challenge yourself to a Grand Canyon adventure or embark on a road trip around the best national parks on the west coast .

Final Thoughts On Visiting Monument Valley

Monument Valley is a very special place to visit on a trip to the South West. The way to see of what Monument Valley has to offer to spend a night in the valley and the only way to do this is through booking onto a tour. On the tour you can enjoy beautiful sunset and sunrise at unique locations as well as a traditional Pow Wow and night in a Hogan.

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Louise is an Adventure Tour Guide & Mountain Leader from South Wales. Through working as a tour guide and snowboard instructor, she has spent the last 15 years travelling Asia, Africa and the Americas. Louise is a published photographer and is currently based in the UK.

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Scenic Tour

Visit a lot in little time. Explore six popular destinations in Monument Valley.

Sacred Tour

More destinations than the Scenic Express at a lower price and additional hour.

One Hour Horseback

Ride around one of the most magnificent buttes in Monument Valley, The Mittens.

Two Hour Horseback

Explore more of The Mittens & Sentinel Mesa for an additional hour on horseback.

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The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Monument Valley

Home | Travel | North America | United States | Arizona | Monument Valley | The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Monument Valley

When traveling abroad, get a policy from one of the  best travel insurance companies . Y ou can get a  5% discount   on Heymondo , the only insurance that pays medical bills upfront for you, HERE!

Visiting Monument Valley was a highlight of our West Coast America road trip.

Our American adventure finally started as we walked through the reddish lands of the far west. Up until then, we only got to enjoy these vast territories through classic western films.

As you visit Monument Valley, let your imagination fly to a life-or-death duel between cowboys or an ambush of Indians riding wild horses.

In this guide for planning your visit to Monument Valley in the United States, you will find all the information you need to make the most of your trip.

We spent one night and one morning in Monument Valley during our 10-day West Coast America self-drive holidays. However, if you want to discover this Navajo Indian Reservation in depth, I recommend at least a two-day visit.

TO SUMMARIZE, THESE ARE THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN MONUMENT VALLEY:

• The Mittens and Merrick Butte : See the sunrise from the most famous viewpoint in Monument Valley.
• Hiking routes : Hike the “Wildcat trail”, the only route that you can hike on your own in Monument Valley.
• John Ford’s Point : Shoot the classic western scene of the cowboy and the horse in this viewpoint.
• “Elephant Butte” , “Three Sisters” and “Camel Butte” : Visit some of the most curious formations in the valley.
• Visit the road where Forrest Gump stopped running , located at mile 13 of the Federal Route 163.
• Take a guided Navajo Tour : Like “Hunts Mesa” or “Mystery Valley”.
• Starry Skies : Enjoy one of the best starry skies in the United States with the silhouette of the main rocks of the Valley.
• See historical movie sets : Such as “Stagecoach”, “Fort Apache” or “Back to the Future III”.

VISIT MONUMENT VALLEY

After seeing images of this place, everyone who is planning a West Coast USA road trip wants to visit Monument Valley.

However, you will notice that Monument Valley is on the border between Utah and Arizona, likely the easternmost point of your West Coast trip. Following this, you may consider crossing it out from your travel itinerary because it’s too far from other points of interest.

Well, if you ask me whether visiting Monument Valley is worth it , I would most definitely say yes.

We drove 7 hours from Las Vegas to get to Monument Valley and pitched our tent. We arrived at night, but it only took us 5 minutes to realize how much we would have regretted it if we had not included Monument Valley on our Western USA trip.

If we have persuaded you to include this wonder in your trip planning, I recommend paying close attention to the details of this guide to visiting Monument Valley.

• Best time to visit Monument Valley
• How to get to Monument Valley
• Best things to do in Monument Valley
• Monument Valley Opening Hours
• Monument Valley entrance fee
• Places to stay in Monument Valley
• Monument Valley Map

BEST TIME TO VISIT MONUMENT VALLEY

Visiting Monument Valley is an incredible experience throughout the year, but spring and fall are the most recommended seasons.

When you see the arid and desertic landscape, you might think that temperatures are high during summer. However, being at high altitude (5577 feet), it rarely exceeds 90ºF. The main reason to keep you from visiting  Monument Valley during summer should be the large number of tourists who come here during these months.

On the other hand, if you visit Monument Valley during winter , temperatures can be around 32ºF, so it is not strange to find Monument Valley covered by snow.

HOW TO GET TO MONUMENT VALLEY

If you are going to visit Monument Valley by yourself , keep in mind that you will be driving long distances. The only practical way to get to Monument Valley is by car (or with an RV rental in the USA ).

FIND CHEAP RENTAL CARS IN THE US

You can check our 20 best tips to find cheap rental cars here.

For us, the only reason to not visit Monument Valley would have been the long-distance  travel to get there. However, without any doubt, our visit to Monument Valley was worth it, and the views at the end of the road will make up for it.

If you don’t know where Monument Valley is, I suggest checking this map of the West Coast that we created to help you choose your travel route to the West Coast.

HOW TO GET TO MONUMENT VALLEY FROM PAGE (ANTELOPE CANYON)

People who visit Monument Valley usually also visit the Antelope Canyon. This canyon carved into the reddish sand of Arizona is located in Page. Since Page and Monument Valley are only 124 miles apart, it is not uncommon to visit Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley on the same trip.

I also recommend visiting Horseshoe Bend as it is also in Page a few minutes from Antelope Canyon and can be visited on the same day.

Keep in mind that while the Page and Monument Valley are just three hours apart in the same state of Arizona , the time zone between the two are different during the summer . Although Page also belongs to the Navajo Indian Reservation, it does not observe daylight savings, which maintains the same time throughout the year.

If you are going to spend the night in Page, you can check where to stay near Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend here.

HOW TO GET TO MONUMENT VALLEY FROM LAS VEGAS

The closest international airport to Monument Valley is in Las Vegas, located in Nevada. In addition to this, there are a million things to do in Las Vegas, so it is very likely you are going to visit it at some point. To get to Monument Valley from Las Vegas by car, you will have to travel about 400 miles which will take you at least 7 hours. This is one of my favorite road trips from Las Vegas .

However, if you prefer not to drive you can hire this 3-day tour to Monument Valley from Las Vegas, one of the best tours in Vegas, where you will also visit Horseshoe Bend and the Antelope Canyon.

If you decide to go on your own and spend a few days in the city, you can check the best hotels in Las Vegas here and some tips to rent a car in Las Vegas here.

HOW TO GET TO MONUMENT VALLEY FROM THE GRAND CANYON

The Grand Canyon is the most popular National Park in the United States. There is a  distance between the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley  of 186 miles, which takes about four hours.

Although there are different tour packages to Grand Canyon and Monument Valley in one day, I advise visiting the two Arizonian wonders in at least two days. If you can, I advise you to spend at least two days for visiting the Grand Canyon.

If you’re traveling on your own, you can check where to stay in Grand Canyon Village here.

MONUMENT VALLEY OPENING HOURS

When planning your visit to Monument Valley without a guide, keep in mind that the visiting hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. May to September and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from October to April.

While you can still enter at any time of the day, the Monument Valley Visitor Center will be closed.

HOW MUCH DOES MONUMENT VALLEY COST?

The Monument Valley entrance fee is $ 20 per car (up to 4 people) + $ 10 for each extra person.

If you want to visit Monument Valley for free , enter the park when it is closed and stay at one of its campsites or hotels. This way, you don’t have to pay the Monument Valley entry fee whilst being able to see incredible views the next morning.

Keep in mind that Monument Valley is part of the Navajo Indian Reservation and not a National Park or State Park, so you cannot use your “America the Beautiful” Pass to enter.

The Monument Valley admission fee corresponds with the entry fee to the Navajo Nation, so if you are going to visit different attractions within the Navajo Nation on the same day (i.e. Antelope Canyon + Monument Valley), make sure you only pay this fee once.

BEST THINGS TO DO IN MONUMENT VALLEY

The main attraction of Monument Valley is the diverse rock formations, which you will discover in this section.

There is nothing like exploring through the incredible landscapes of Monument Valley. Driving across the Monument Valley Scenic Drive is the best way to make the most of your trip.

Keep in mind that you will need between 2 and 4 hours to see this arid landscape. Although it is a dirt road, it is not necessary to have a 4×4 car.

You can drive the 16 miles loop and visit the 11 main viewpoints listed in this  Monument Valley map that you will find at the end of the post.

Note: Take into account that some vehicles like motorcycles or RVs are not allowed at the scenic drive .

1. THE MITTENS AND MERRICK BUTTE

From the first viewpoint at the entrance of the reserve, we can see the most famous rock formations of Monument Valley –  The East and West Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte . They are undoubtedly one of the most imposing structures in Monument Valley as they rise 6500 feet above the vast plains.

The Mittens earned its name due to its silhouette – the shape of a mitten. Merrick Butte, on the other hand, was named after one of the two explorers who discovered Monument Valley.

2. ELEPHANT BUTTE

Following the path, we find the Elephant Butte, a rock formation in the shape of an elephant sitting on the desert sand, only recognizable when the shadows at the end of the day cast over the rock.

3. THREE SISTERS

If you turn around, you will find the Thee Sisters. These three high pinnacles recall the figure of a nun teaching two students.

Mitchell Mesa stands next to them. This plateau is named after another explorer in the area.

4. JOHN FORDS’ POINT

The most exciting viewpoint for Western film lovers. Film director John Ford brought Monument Valley to the big screen in 1939, and since then, Monument Valley has become one of the most filmed locations.

To this day, it continues to serve as a film set, not only for movies but also for cartoons and computer games.

This stop is also perfect for buying Navajo made crafts and taking the famous shot of a man on horseback over the ravine.

5. CAMEL BUTTE

Considering its name, you would expect that the shape of Camel Butte should vaguely resemble a camel lying on the desert. However, do not be frustrated if you do not see it, as most others can’t see it either. It is supposed to be seen facing west.

The road continues toward the Rain God Mesa, named after a sacred place of the Navajos. It was also used by healers to praise the God of rain.

After this, we will get to The Hub, which rises 164 feet above the ground. Its unique and solitary needle shape has a group of Navajo homes at the base.

A secondary path that can only be accessed with a guide starts from here, to Saddle Rock or Ear of the Wind near  Thunderbird Mesa.

7. TOTEM POLE AND YEI BI CHEI

Past the Rain God Mesa, we reach the next viewpoint from where we can see a group of needles called Yei Bi Chei (Navajo spiritual gods) and Totem Pole at 140 meters high.

We can also see Sand Springs from here, although you can see it better from the next viewpoint.

8. SAND SPRINGS

On the way to this viewpoint, we find the Sand Springs, different red-orange dunes and the only natural aquifer in the reserve .

From here, we will get an even better view of Yei Bi Chei and Totem Pole. However, if we want to get even closer to these rock formations, we will have to take the Thunderbird Mesa guided tour.

9. ARTIST’S POINT

It is located in front of Spearhead Mesa, but if we turn around, we can see The Mittens and Merrick Butte here from the end of the valley.

Many consider this to be the second-best viewpoint in Monument Valley, following John Ford’s Point.

Of course, it is the best viewpoint to photograph Monument Valley at dawn, since it is facing west and therefore the reddish stone will be illuminated with the first lights of the day making the color even more vivid.

10. NORTH WINDOW

North Window opens like a window to the north of the reserve in such a way that East Mitten Butte is framed between Elephant Butte and Cly Butte. However, it will be difficult to recognize it from this position since the main finger of the mitten will be hidden.

11. THE THUMB

The Thumb is the last point of interest in the Monument Valley Scenic Drive. Some say that the figure of the rock reminds them of a thumb and others of a cowboy boot.

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN MONUMENT VALLEY

In addition to this scenic drive, there are many other things to do in Monument Valley.

HIKING THE WILDCAT TRAIL

The next free activity to do in Monument Valley is hiking the Wildcat Trail.  The is the only hike that you can do for free in the reserve, which consists of going around one of the most popular rock formations, West Mitten Butte.

It is a 3.7 miles loop with elevation gains up to 656 feet that takes two hours to complete.

We didn’t do it since we were told that it could be a bit monotonous.

STOP AT THE EXACT POINT WHERE FORREST GUMP STOPPED RUNNING

The last free activity in Monument Valley will take you to one of the most iconic spots, a stop at the exact point where Forrest Gump stopped running in the United States.

This stop takes place at mile 13 of Federal Route 163, where you will drive through on your way to Monument Valley. There is a small sign indicating the stop, so you should not miss it.

TAKE A NAVAJO GUIDED TOUR

If you want to dig a little deeper into Monument Valley, you can take a Navajo Indian guided tour. There are several companies approved by the Navajo Parks & Recreation Department. You can find a list of these official companies here .

Each company offers different but similar tours at the same time. Some tours focus on photography whereas others are eager to show the Navajo culture . These tend to dig into the spiritual significance of Monument Valley for the Navajos and can show you their traditions, history, music, and even gastronomy.

Other tours focus on showing you the best places to photograph Monument Valley. Some of these tours are night photography tours, and others are sunrise or sunset photo tours.

You can take your vehicle on some of the tours while others provide 4×4s, and some even offer horseback riding through Monument Valley. While it is quite popular, we do not recommend it since it is not right to use animals as a tourist attraction.

Although many tours take you through the same Monument Valley drive that we can do for free, other tours go across some of the private routes found in the valley. Following are the most outstanding ones:

If you want to see the best views of Monument Valley, you must take a tour to the top of Hunts Mesa  in a 4×4 vehicle. After passing through dunes, the plateau rises 984 feet above Monument Valley, and from here you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire valley.

This excursion usually takes about 7 hours, but you can also find some tourist agencies that offer overnight tours with tents and sleeping bags supplied. This way, you can photograph Monument Valley at sunset and at sunrise with an aerial view that is difficult to get from another point.

Although the price is higher than other tours, keep in mind that it includes lodging, a Navajo dinner and breakfast, and unique priceless experiences like listening to folktales, native songs, and Navajo flute music around a campfire.

MYSTERY VALLEY

Mystery Valley,  just by Monument Valley, is one of the most exclusive tours of the Navajo Indian Reservation. As the Navajo consider the valley to be sacred, access is only allowed if a member of the tribe accompanies you.

Also, the road is barely visible between the dunes, and there are no traffic signals, so it is not a good idea trying to go on your own.

This tour is somewhat physically demanding since the essential points of interest would be visited on foot. Across the valley, we will find the Anasazi ruins (a tribe that lived in the valley before the Navajos arrived), Navajo family homes and spectacular landscapes that include stone arches and views of Monument Valley in the distance. The guide will also tell you about Navajo culture and traditions.

The tour takes between three and four hours and the best time to do it is at sunset.

TEARDROP ARCH

Another frequently photographed point is one known as Tear Drop Arch,  where you can frame Monument Valley in the tear-shaped opening of the rock. This tour is very short and can be done on foot.

As the location is somewhat unknown, most choose to hire a guide to get there. Once you know the location (36 ° 59’59.5 “N 110 ° 11’16.3” W), it may not be necessary.

CURIOSITIES OF MONUMENT VALLEY

We did not want to forget in our guide to visiting the Monument Vally a section to discuss the main peculiarities of Monument Valley.

HISTORY OF MONUMENT VALLEY AND THE NAVAJO NATION

Did you know that the Navajo Indians are not originally from the United States, but from Canada? Nonetheless, they had been inhabiting in Monument Valley, or Tsé Bii ‘Ndzisgaii (‘Valley of the Rocks’) in the Navajo language, long before the Spaniards arrived.

It was not the first tribe to inhabit the Monument Valley. To date, there are many indications of the presence of Anasazis, an indigenous tribe that inhabited Western United States and ancestors of other indigenous cultures such as the Pueblo Indians, the Zuni, and the Hopi.

Politically, the Navajo Nation, Diné Bikeyah, or Navajoland is recognized as a nation within the United States. However, what may seem like one of the most significant victories achieved by an indigenous tribe is fictitious, since the United States continues to enforce its laws on the Navajo Nation.

HOW MONUMENT VALLEY WAS FORMED

Like the rest of the Colorado Plateau, Monument Valley was a seabed that covered the western part of the United States millions of years ago.

The tectonic movement pushed rocks formed by strata of siltstone and shale up to 5900 feet above sea level.

After this, the erosion shaped the landscape. Rain, wind, and rivers that flowed into the basin ended up forming what we know today as Monument Valley.

The characteristic reddish and orange colors of the Monument Valley landscape are from the iron oxide present in the geological formations.

MONUMENT VALLEY IN FILMS

Monument Valley is one of those places in Western America that looks very familiar to you even if you have never been there.

The first moments of Monument Valley on the big screen was thanks to film director John Ford, who used the landscapes as the main stage of the 1939 film Stagecoach , starring John Wayne.

Since then, it has been one of the most iconic spots for Western films such as Fort Apache or The Searchers.

Later on, other films took place across the incredible background of Monument Valley, like Forrest Gump, Lone Ranger, License to Kill or Back to the Future Part III. Some cartoons and animated films staged these landscapes as a base for their stories, such as Wile E. Coyote, the Road Runner, and Cars.

And of course, we can find in many advertisements or even video games featuring Monument Valley landscapes, such as in GTA San Andreas or Red Dead Redemption.

WHERE TO STAY IN MONUMENT VALLEY

Other useful information that we want to share with you are the best places to stay in Monument Valley. In this section, you will find the best campsite, hotel, and lodge in Monument Valley, so you can choose the option that best suits your needs.

THE VIEW CAMPGROUND

If you ask me what is the best accommodation in Monument Valley , without a doubt I would say it is The View Campground (not The View Hotel). This campsite, with only space for 30 tents, has the best views of Monument Valley. Also, there’s nothing like sleeping in a tent in such a place to feel like an authentic Navajo Indian.

The price is $20 per tent. The camp has bathrooms and a small kitchen. However, they do not have tent rental services, so you must bring your own.

They also have space for RVs, however, the reviews are not as good as it is just a parking without connections or the views from the tent sites. However, if you are interested in that option, check the RV rental in the USA

Though they say that you can make reservations online, the campsites can only be booked via phone by calling +1 435-727-5802. Book well in advance if you want to sleep in the best place in Monument Valley.

THE VIEW HOTEL

Another option is to book at The View Hotel , a sister establishment that also manages the campsite. While not as authentic as camping in Monument Valley, if you are looking for comfort, this is the best hotel in Monument Valley . Online booking is available for this hotel.

The premium cabins , though much more expensive, offer very similar views you can see from the campsite.

You will need a credit card to do the check-in for either the hotel or the campground.

GOULDING’S LODGE

A little further away, but still very close to the valley, we found Goulding’s Lodge .

Unlike the previous one, this hotel offers a pool and a museum about the Navajo Nation. The price follows the quality of its rooms, but the possibilities of last-minute vacancies are higher than at The View.

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MORE INFO ABOUT MONUMENT VALLEY

To finish with this complete guide to Monument Valley, we are going to give you some tips for visiting Monument Valley in this section. We will explain, among other things, the time zone that they follow (one of the biggest curiosities of Monument Valley) so that you don’t arrive late to your next destination.

At the end of this section, you will have all the necessary information you need to visit Monument Valley.

MONUMENT VALLEY TIME ZONE

Monument Valley is located within the Navajo Indian Reservation. Navajo Nation follows Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) during the summer months to increase daylight hours.

However, you should know that Arizona, the state in which Monument Valley is located, observe Mountain Standard Time (MST) and does not participate in the summertime change. Instead, it maintains the same time throughout the year.

The reason why Arizona decided not to observe Daylight Savings is because increased daylight hours also meant increased hours of heat and therefore more electricity consumption from the air conditioners.

During summertime, the state of Utah (north of Arizona) and the Navajo Nation (within Arizona) is one hour behind Arizona. However, during the rest of the year, all three are observing the same hours.

We advise you to keep this time difference in mind, especially when you hire tours, for example, to visit Antelope Canyon (which follows MST all year) and you plan to come from Monument Valley (which follow MDT in the summer) or vice versa.

GAS STATIONS IN MONUMENT VALLEY

There is only one gas station in Monument Valley, and that belongs to the Goulding’s Lodge hotel. As with every service, when demand exceeds supply, refueling in Monument Valley will be quite expensive, so we recommend coming into Monument Valley with a full tank.

BEST RESTAURANTS IN MONUMENT VALLEY

There are just a few places to eat in Monument Valley , and they are essentially the hotel restaurants that we have already mentioned.

One of the most outstanding is the restaurant at The View Hotel, where you can find Navajo cuisine (quite similar to Mexican) as well as American classics.

The Goulding’s Lodge also has a restaurant with common Navajo dishes, although its menu is somewhat small.

With both cases, if you’re going to eat in Monument Valley, you can order take-out food and enjoy it throughout your visit, while driving across Monument Valley Scenic Drive.

TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR USA

Do not forget to hire   travel insurance in the United States . Although I always recommend buying the best travel insurance wherever you go, for the US, your policy must have excellent coverage (never consider hiring anything that covers below $300,000).

The cost of healthcare in the US is very high, and if you have to go to the hospital without any insurance, you will have to pay between $10,000 and $15,000 per night at the hospital.

You can get the best quality-price insurance with Heymondo . Right now, I’m traveling with their long term travel insurance plan.

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MAP OF MONUMENT VALLEY

You will find the Monument Valley map below. As you can see on the map, Wildcat Trail is marked as the only hiking trail through Monument Valley that can be done on your own.

Also, you will find the loop that can be done in Monument Valley by car, with the different stops and most outstanding viewpoints.

Finally, you can also see the different Navajo guided tours that can be hired, to discover other places such as Mystery Valley, Hunts Mesa and Lower Monument Valley that are off limits without a Navajo guide.

We hope that you have found all the information to visit Monument Valley  through this guide. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to write us 😉

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3 replies on “ The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Monument Valley ”

Thank you for providing such detailed itinerary of the west coast trip. Really helps. Very nicely done. Keep up the good work. Did you guys visit any of the monument valley points like tear drop or mystery valley etc in your own vehicle? Or it can only be done with a guided tour.

Hi Karishma, We need to come back to do the Mystery Valley. It’s one of the best views in all the west coast! Sadly, If you want to visit Mystery Valley you need to take a tour. For the tear drop arch, I think you can visit it by yourself. It is only 500m from the road. The exact location is (36°59’59.5″N 110°11’16.3″W).

Let me know if you have any questions.

Hi Can you plan our itenary for 9 days of travel in west coast we are two people traveling with a toddler. Driving is fine with us.

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Monument Valley: Everything You Need To Plan Your Visit (2024)

If you’re traveling through the southwestern United States, visiting Monument Valley is a must. There’s a reason this unique area has been featured in countless Hollywood films and it’s well worth a day or two of any road trip.

The southwestern states are home to some of the USA’s most dramatic landscapes, and one of the best places to visit when you are traveling through the region is Monument Valley, Utah.

Found within the vast expanse of land that forms the Navajo Nation, Monument Valley is known for the imposing rock formations that rise sharply from the otherwise flat plateau.

This is arid, desert-like land too, and it’s Monument Valley that has been featured more than any other location in Hollywood movies set in the Wild West. 

While its landscapes might have been romanticized by famous Westerns, and more recently by Instagrammers living the Van Life and road-tripping west, Monument Valley will always be unnervingly beautiful to see firsthand.

It’s one of the best stops in the southwest, and to inspire your journey, here’s our ultimate guide to Monument Valley. 

Don’t leave home without:  Lonely Planet Southwest USA (Travel Guide)

Where is Monument Valley?

Table of Contents

Monument Valley is located within the Navajo Nation, and it straddles the border between the states of Utah in the north and Arizona in the south.

The valley is just a small part of the vast Colorado Plateau, and Monument Valley itself stretches for around 17 miles in length, through a protected area known as the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.  

How to Get to Monument Valley

Monument Valley is best accessed on a self-drive tour. If you don’t drive, then your best option is to join a multi-day excursion on an organized tour through the southwest because Monument Valley is in a remote location – it’s not exactly the day-tripping kind of destination! 

Monument Valley is located along Highway 163, which passes through the valley itself on its way from Utah south into Arizona. The highway is around 60 miles long, and starts in Bluff, Utah, and continues south to Kayenta in Arizona.

The entire highway is a beautiful place to road trip, as it passes not only through Monument Valley but through this spectacular desert-like part of the southwest. 

But part of the beauty of Monument Valley lies in its veritable isolation from the rest of the world. This is not a place you can simply visit on a whim, purely because it’s a long way from any major cities.

For this reason, you will want to consider putting together a longer road trip , that takes in many more of the sights in the Utah-Arizona area and across the Colorado Plateau. 

In fact, the nearest major cities are a long way from Monument Valley, and the closest large airport is almost 200 miles to the south in Arizona, in the provincial city of Flagstaff.

There are few connections here – certainly no international ones anyway – and you will need to pass through larger hubs such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, or Salt Lake City anyway, giving you yet another reason to simply turn this into one large road trip through the southwest.

Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City are all at least a 6 hour drive in different directions , but they are great places to start or end your trip, as you can easily pick up hire cars or campervans at the airports.

Depending on how much time you have, you can even start or end your trip on the Pacific coast, in Los Angeles , San Diego , or San Francisco, but be prepared for a lot of driving. 

There are a lot of great places to see in the area, and you can incorporate monumental destinations such as the Grand Canyon , Horseshoe Bend , and Antelope Canyon into your itinerary if you are traveling through Arizona.

To the north of Monument Valley, in Utah, you can call into the Canyonlands, into Moab or you can see the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, amongst many more sights and attractions too. 

Best Time to Visit Monument Valley

As with most other places in the American Southwest, the best time to visit Monument Valley is during the late Spring and early Fall. That is if you want to avoid the peak season crowds and heat that come with the summer months of June through September. 

If you want a totally unique visit, consider the off-season, which runs from late Fall to early Spring. There will be very few people and you will have a high degree of weather fluctuation. The days will be mostly sunny but that intense heat from summer will be gone. 

During these seasons you can also expect cold evenings, overnights, and mornings. Our visit to Monument Valley was in mid-March, during our road trip from Las Vegas to Denver. I can attest to both colder weather and small crowds. 

When we went to dinner in the evening, we had to wear sweaters. When we got up for a sunrise backcountry tour to photograph the sunrise, we had to wear down jackets . It was freezing cold until later morning when the sun was fully up. 

If you are really looking for a unique experience, consider visiting Monument Valley during the winter, when the valley is occasionally blanketed in snow. 

Things to do in Monument Valley, Utah

Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park and is administered and cared for directly by the Navajo Nation. For this reason, you must pay $8 per person to enter the park. National park passes are not accepted.

The Navajo Nation also arranges more in-depth tours, as some areas of Monument Valley can only be accessed with local guides. 

Our Top Recommended Tours in Monument Valley:

• Monument Valley Guided Tour
• Monument Valley Daytime Tour
• Sunset Tour of Monument Valley
• Monument Valley Extended Back-country Tour

Tribal Park Loop

The main thing to do in Monument Valley is to drive the beautiful Tribal Park Loop. This 17-mile long road passes through the best natural sights that the valley has to offer, including the iconic rock formations and rock pillars, and past excellent viewpoints.

In fact, if you are only paying the $20 entrance fee, this is the only part of the tribal park that you can actually access in your vehicle, as anywhere else requires you to be on a tour with a Navajo guide.

The Tribal Park Loop is the best way to see the highlights on an independent trip though, and if this is all you can afford or all you have time for, then don’t worry too much, because you’ll experience the best of Monument Valley anyway!

The Tribal Park Loop starts and ends at the local visitor’s center at the entrance to Monument Valley. While the road is a dirt track, it’s very well maintained and a four-by-four vehicle is not necessary to drive the loop.

West and East Mitten Buttes

One of the most iconic sights that you’ll see on the Tribal Park Loop, is the sight of the West and East Mitten Buttes.

These are the tall, imposing rock formations that rise dramatically from the otherwise flat valley floor, and it’s these rock formations that always seem to make it into scenes from Hollywood Westerns, they even formed an integral backdrop to the HBO TV series, Westworld, a few years ago. 

These enormous rocks are so named because they appear to look like hands wrapped in mittens, pointing toward the sky!

Wildcat Trail

The Wildcat Trail is a fantastic, short hiking trail that takes you around the base of West Mitten Butte. There are few trails in the park that you can hike without a Navajo guide, but the Wildcat Trail is one that you can self-walk.

It’s around 4 miles long, and quite literally takes you into the shadow of the butte, offering you the best view of the rocks. Remember to take lots of water, as the sun can be brutal in summer in Monument Valley. The hike will take around two hours, with plenty of time for taking photographs along the way. 

Lower Monument Valley

If you have more time to explore Monument Valley, then it’s worth joining a tour with a local guide to visit Lower Monument Valley. This area of the tribal park isn’t accessible by the public unless they are accompanied by a Navajo Guide. 

You will not only be given a four-by-four tour of more remote areas, but you’ll also have the chance to learn about Navajo history and culture at the same time.

The highlight of Lower Monument Valley is the Totem Pole, a tall, fragile, and thin-looking piece of rock that rises sharply from its base in the valley – like a Totem Pole.

Most tours last around three hours from start to finish and offer you the opportunity to experience not only a Monument Valley ‘safari’, as they call them, but parts of the park that you cannot visit on your own accord, and that consequently, are much quieter than points on the standard Tribal Park Loop. 

Forrest Gump Point

Monument Valley formed the backdrop to an iconic scene in the quirky movie, Forrest Gump. Partway through the movie, Forrest Gump begins running across the USA, and there’s a famed clip of the character, played by Tom Hanks, running along Highway 163, with the monumental rock formations of the Mitten Buttes in the background.

In fact, Forrest Gump Point, which is around 8 miles north of the state border, has become one of the most photographed spots in the valley, as the highway runs almost perfectly straight towards the rocks in the distance.

If you see a picture of Monument Valley from any road trip, on any Instagram account, it’s going to be from Forrest Gump Point. 

Take a Sunrise Photography Tour

We simply could not resist the opportunity to take a specialized sunrise tour into the backcountry of Monument Valley. We had the opportunity to see and photograph places in the park that are completely inaccessible to the general public. 

The tours generally start around 3 AM (or around there depending on the time of year and sunrise times) from the lobby of the View Hotel . So if you’re not staying there, you will need to make sure you have a rental car or have arranged a ride there from one of the other hotels nearby. 

The tour we did lasted 4 hours and took us to many iconic spots located in the private Navajo areas of the park. The guide was knowledgeable and great about showing us the famous angles for each stop. 

Plan Your Monument Valley Itinerary

One of the biggest challenges you’ll face is just how much time you should give yourself for this massive site. Truth be told, the more time you can give it the more enriching experience you will have. 

At the very least, try to give yourself 2 full days if you can. This would mean spending two nights, with a later in the day arrival before the first night. As we were pressed for time on our road trip and wanted to pack in several famous sites, we only spent one night. 

What it really comes down to is planning ahead and then making the most of your time while there. This is how we put together our itinerary in Monument Valley.

Day 1: Arrival at Monument Valley by car from Page, Arizona just after lunch. Drove the Tribal Park Loop for the afternoon, stopping at various lookouts for photographs. Checked into Goulding’s Lodge then drove up to Forest Gump Point. Dinner at Goulding’s Stagecoach Restaurant.  

Day 2: Early Sunrise Photography tour in the backcountry followed by breakfast at The View Restaurant. We then took a tour of the Lower Monument Valley before leaving Monument Valley and heading East to the Four Corners National Monument.

Where to Stay When Visiting Monument Valley

While you might pass through Monument Valley and spend a few hours exploring and driving around, before continuing your road trip north or south on the highway, you can also take the time to stay nearby and spend longer in the area. 

This is a great idea if you want to catch that early morning sunrise over Highway 163, over the epic rock formations, or if you want to join more in-depth tours with Navajo guides across the valley, rather than simply driving the usual loop.

The nearest towns are Kayenta, which is just under 30 miles to the south, while Bluff is around 50 miles to the north. The intriguingly named town of Mexican Hat is a little closer to the north, but there are fewer hotels or accommodations here than in Bluff.

In Bluff and Kayenta you can find an array of hotels, while you can also find a few camping areas along the highway. These are our recommendations for accommodation during your visit:

• Goulding’s Lodge : (we stayed here in a cabin) Located 2km outside of the park entrance, this hotel offers both standard room and cabin options. The cabins have stunning views over the valley. They have an onsite restaurant too. 
• The View Hotel : Offers comfortable accommodation with onsite dining. This hotel offers insane valley views. They also offer premium cabins too. 

Places to Eat Near Monument Valley

Your options here are limited if you are planning to stay at one of the two places we recommend above. Each of the hotels offers its own onsite restaurant. The options are limited and expensive but you can’t really trade the convenience.

The day we arrived, we ate dinner at the Goulding’s Lodge Stagecoach Restaurant . They were offering a salad bar and a menu with a variety of entrees. The salad bar reminded me of a typical dinner club salad bar, much as we have in Wisconsin. Fresh ingredients and a decent variety.

I would highly recommend that you give the Navajo Tacos a try! They are delicious. 

After our sunrise tour, we opted to try breakfast at The View Restaurant . They offered the typical breakfast options that you would find in any diner across the states. The food was good but as I said, options are limited so you’re going to be left with little choice. 

The alternative is making the drive to either nearby Kayenta or Bluff, where you can find a wider variety of options, gas stations, and some fast food. 

Monument Valley, Utah FAQs

Yes. Anyone can pay to enter Monument Valley and drive the scenic road, as well as partake in a few short hikes. Note that certain areas are off-limit unless you are with a Navajo guide.

Absolutely! It’s a very unique destination and even if you’re visiting other landmarks in the West, Monument Valley still stands out.

Mexican Hat is technically the closest town, though you’ll find little there. Bluff and Kayenta are where most people choose to spend the night.

It will take about 2 to 4 hours, depending on how frequently you stop. There are many different outlooks and photo opportunities, plus some short hikes, so take your time and enjoy!

It costs $8 per person to enter Monument Valley, plus additional fees for any tours with Navajo guides. Note that they do NOT accept national park passes.

The road in Monument Valley that you see in the movies (including Forrest Gump!) and on postcards is Highway 163 Scenic Drive.

Almost all cars can drive the scenic road through the valley. It is not paved but it is well kept, so in most cases, an SUV or even 4×4 is not necessary.

Yes, you can drive Highway 163 Scenic Drive without a Navajo guide. You just need to pay the $8 per person entry fee.

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Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents. Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA

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7 top tips for photographing Monument Valley

F or many, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is the American West. It’s been the backdrop to countless movies and the subject of some spectacular landscape photography over many decades, Monument Valley on the Arizona Utah border is a destination that requires some research if you are to get the most out of it. 

The classic view in Monument Valley is of three Navajo Sandstone buttes called West Mitten Butte, East Mitten Butte and Merrick Butte. There are many other compositions to try your hand at, but the view of these three buttes – as captured while standing next to the visitor center, of course – is the image most photographers want to capture. The joy is to get that image on your own terms, both at sunrise and sunset, and possibly at night, too, without ignoring the rest of the richly photogenic area. 

1. Understand the region

Monument Valley is within the Navajo Nation, the largest land area held by a Native American tribe in the U.S. that covers parts of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. As you stand beside the visitors center in Monument Valley Tribal Park and look at the three buttes you’re looking east and southeast. The position of the rising sun will differ depending on when you go, but at sunrise, you’ll get the three buttes in silhouette, with all three lit up and looking orange in the late afternoon ‘golden hour’ before sunset. It costs $8 per person per day to enter Monument Valley Tribal Park, where official opening hours vary throughout the year. In practice, it sometimes opens at 7:00 a.m. despite that not being advertised. 

2. Find a room with a view

If you want to guarantee being in the right place for sunrise and sunset then stay in the park itself. The View is a hotel beside the visitors center on the edge of the valley with a great view of West Mitten Butte, East Mitten Butte and Merrick Butte. Even if you get a room with a perfect view for photography, you are yards away from a ringside seat. The best place to stay, however, is a cluster of simple rentable cabins slightly away from the crowds at the top of the valley side that has a stupendous view. Just as good is a basic campground in the sand dunes at the top of the Wildcat Trail. All are managed by The View, a Najavo-owned business.

If you can't get a room/cabin/tent in Monument Valley Tribal Park itself then you'll have to stay outside the park, which generally means staying around four miles away back down Monument Valley Road. The most accessible place to stay is Goulding's Monument Valley, a historic trading post that is now a hotel on one site and, slightly further away, an RV and campsite at another site. Gas stations and grocery stores are available, as is a basic restaurant, though you’re not going to get a view of Monument Valley – and you’ll need to get up that bit earlier to drive into the park. You can book a range of tours at Goulding’s. 

3. Tackle the Loop Road yourself

Most visitors to Monument Valley appear just to take in the view from the visitor center, you can get far deeper into the park without getting out of your car. The Valley Drive is a 17-mile dirt road that is best tackled slowly – particularly the first steep descent – though a 4x4 will help. It’s pretty rough all the way around, though mostly flat, and there are soft sand sections. You can book a tour and see it all on the back of a safari-style truck. Most of those tours do take you down private roads not accessible to those who take their own car, but compared to driving yourself you’ll have a lot less time for photography. While the tourist trucks stop in every third viewpoint or so of the dozen pullouts between the buttes and mesas, if you have your own car you can spend as long as you like. It’s generally agreed that it takes two hours to The Valley Drive, but photographers should plan on four or five hours. It’s best done as early in the morning as possible before the crowds arrive.

4. Take the ‘secret’ photography hike

Although you can stay in the park itself and have to yourself after the gates have closed and before they open, there is a budget option very close by that’s just as good. Before you reach the gates of Monument Valley Tribal Park there’s a Navajo Nation Monument. Take a left-hand turn onto a dirt road and, after a few hundred yards, you’ll reach a couple of campsites called Hummingbird, which you can book on Airbnb. As well as being far cheaper places to stay, whether you're camping or in an RV or campervan, there is a trail that leads from here to the edge of the valley that has genuinely stunning views. It’s the ideal place for a sunset if you’ve just arrived in the region and don’t want to pay the park’s daily entrance fee. It also offers a slightly different view of the three buttes, but is no less dramatic. 

5. Bring the right gear

When tackling a subject as vast as the landscapes of the American West, it's best to come prepared. If you can only bring one lens, make it a zoom lens that covers an effective focal length range of around 25 to 105mm. However, a telephoto stretching to 300-400mm can also be for isolating specific rock formations such as the Three Sisters, and Totem Pole and Yei bi Chei. A wide-angle lens is not so critical unless you are interested in astrophotography, though since The Loop is closed at night you’ll need to stick to the rim of the valley for that (though unless you’re here in early spring and prepared to stay up very late the Milky Way is not ideally positioned). In general, the light pollution and frequent car headlights in the area make Monument Valley less than ideal for astrophotography. 

6. Venture down the WildCat Trail

Few tourists do it, but the chance to get a close-up of one of the famous buttes is not to be missed. A 3.2-mile trail from the valley rim at the visitors center, the Wildcat Trail loops around West Mitten Butte and back up to the rim. It takes a couple of hours and is best done in the late afternoon when the shadows lengthen, with half the walk in its shadow and plenty of opportunities for starburst photography and silhouettes of the mighty butte. You need to sign out at the beginning of the trail and sign in when you return, but be sure to be back at the rim for sunset – it’s the perfect place. Just bear in mind that Monument Valley is 5,550 feet above sea level, so the hike back to the rim is best taken slowly. 

7. Explore the area

Although Monument Valley Tribal Park is the place to head, there are plenty of other spectacular views to be had in the general area. The most famous is a few miles northeast of Monument Valley on Highway 163 at what’s informally known as Forrest Gump Point. It’s actually three separate small parking areas, one of them unnamed and one called Monument Valley Overlook. For all three it’s possible to get an image of the highway snaking into the distance to Monument Valley. It’s an image that's on postcards literally millions of times and not surprisingly the highway is almost permanently covered in tourists trying to snap selfies. If you are a photographer you'll want to avoid all that, which you can do by going to the overlook closest to Monument Valley, which tends to be quieter. Other iconic red rock landscapes in the general area include Mexican hat about 25 miles further along Highway 163 and, about 10 miles further on than that, the fabulous 17-mile loop road called Valley of the Gods – though you’ll need a 4x4 to be safe. 

Check out guide to other great locations for photographers: the best places for photography around the world

Chuckwalla National Monument would protect swath of California desert and preserve a sacred land

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Thomas Tortez Jr. leads a group across a gravelly wash in Painted Canyon, at the spot where his Cahuilla tribal ancestors once lived in a village.

The solar eclipse is underway. Suddenly, a strange yelp echoes from a ridge of craggy outcroppings.

Perhaps the yelp comes from a hiker who’s been struck with awe while climbing ladders into terraced slot canyons that seem to funnel echoes to the heavens.

Maybe it’s a coyote crying out as the moon passes partway in front of the sun, briefly cooling the dry desert wind and bathing bands of red, sandstone and iron green rocks in an otherworldly light.

Or might it be Mukat, the exiled Cahuilla creator god who roamed among the ironwoods, smoke trees, palo verdes and ghost flowers?

Tortez, tribal council chairman of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, spikes the sand with the desiccated yucca stalk that he’s repurposed as a walking stick. He seems at ease with the mystery of the sound and the mystique of this section of the Mecca Hills Wilderness.

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His people have cherished and watched over this canyon in the eastern Coachella Valley for thousands of years. Now they are among the Indigenous Californians, conservationists and other nature lovers who want President Biden to designate 627,855 acres of desert where the canyon sits as the Chuckwalla National Monument.

Rep. Raul Ruiz, a Democrat who represents the desert communities in eastern Riverside and Imperial counties that border the proposed land mass, joined with California Sens. Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler in introducing legislation to support the creation of the monument and to expand Joshua Tree National Park by 17,915 acres.

Chuckwalla sits at the heart of a burgeoning ecological and economic zone — a short drive from the city of Indio and the date farms of Mecca, and near the vast mineral flats and off-grid settlements of the Salton Sea and the towering Santa Rosa Mountains. It would become the fifth-largest land-based national monument in the continental U.S.

In announcing the legislation on the steps of the U.S. Capitol this month, Padilla said he was especially gratified that a coalition came together to craft the monument proposal — Indigenous leaders, community members, environmental groups, recreationists, renewable energy companies and local businesses.

Speaking later by phone, Ruiz touted the monument as important for helping California meet its conservation and climate change goals without encroaching on public lands already designated for other uses, such as green energy projects. Ruiz says his congressional district produces the most renewable energy on federal land in the U.S.

Evidence of these intersecting interests is clear in Chuckwalla, where power lines channeling electricity from solar farms farther east cut across the land.

Ruiz says the design of the monument proposal is distinct in that it gives Indigenous tribes the power to co-manage Chuckwalla alongside the federal Bureau of Land Management.

“In Congress, I really have seen a movement toward incorporating tribal, Indigenous knowledge in land stewardship,” Ruiz says.

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Co-existence doesn’t come without tension. In another section of desert south of the Salton Sea, construction has started on a $1.85-billion lithium mine and geothermal power plant, prompting some pushback from residents there who argue that developers haven’t adequately weighed the impacts on the environment and public health.

Tortez says pushing for Chuckwalla’s monument designation is hugely important to tribes, given that so many are vying for a stake in the region’s future.

Members of the Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mojave, Quechan and Serrano nations who call the California desert home worked together to call for Biden to establish the monument using the authority granted to presidents under the Antiquities Act of 1906, which was enacted to safeguard threatened cultures as well as precious lands. The Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe wants Biden to use the same authority to establish 390,000 acres of their ancestral land in Imperial County as the Kw’tsán National Monument .

Tortez says the Antiquities Act was written for places like these.

He notes how bands of rock swirl and stack on top of each other and jut skyward at gravity-defying angles. It’s all the result of millions of years of sediment flows, soil erosion and the endless clash of the San Andreas Fault’s two plates.

“It’s like a timepiece — chapters in history,” he says of the open-faced geology of this canyon.

This place holds the ancestral memory of tribal members too.

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The landscape may look desolate and unforgiving to an outsider — a setting where Chuckwalla lizards, cactus wrens and western tanagers thrive — but for the Cahuilla it is a paradise.

According to the Cahuilla creation story, Tortez says, the people of this desert were born from a bolt of lightning that lit up the sky and flooded the empty land with life.

“Even the darkness is alive,” he says. “There’s a spirit there.”

Tortez says that his Cahuilla elders on the Torres Martinez reservation, which is a short drive down the hill, acclimated themselves to the arid conditions and 100-degree-plus summer temperatures. They would trek great distances between hidden streams and through slots as narrow as alleyways in order to build up their resistance to extreme thirst.

“You would think of it as odd now, but they would practice not drinking water,” says Tortez, 62. “My mom was born on the reservation — there were no hospitals back then. She remembers running around in the desert barefoot on dirt roads. Imagine doing that now.”

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The Cahuilla learned to live in harmony with all aspects of the ecosystem. They gathered plants and seeds for food and medicine, cut grass to weave baskets and built steps leading to wells to retrieve groundwater. They cremated their dead on wood funeral pyres for three days, to purify the bodies of the deceased and transition their souls back into the Earth.

The Cahuilla also charted trade corridors reaching from the Colorado River to the shores of the Pacific, where coastal tribes traded shell jewelry for obsidian tools and animal skins from the interior.

The ancient trails still exist, Tortez says. Southern Californians know them as State Route 74, which runs west from Palm Desert to the ocean, and Interstate 10, which skirts Chuckwalla’s northern edge.

Tortez’s ancestors didn’t need paved roads or signs. As a young man, he was amazed to learn from older relatives of how ancestors could travel from one hill to the next, through disorienting expanses of sand and rock, yet never lose their bearings.

“If you can imagine, they can remember when their grandparents were able to run up to the mountains with a message and come back down with another message, like it was nothing, like going to Wal-Mart,” Tortez says with a chuckle.

As Tortez contemplates Chuckwalla’s richness, another member of the hiking group, Stephanie Dashiell, an environmental consultant who is manager of the national monument campaign, spots a thorny ocotillo growing high on a cliff.

The canyon is even more awash in colors than usual because of the frequent winter rains : blueish lupines, indigo bushes, pinkish-purple sand verbena, golden desert poppies, powdery desert lavender, mallow blossoms in creamy orange, lemon-yellow brittlebush.

Dashiell, 43, steps in close to enjoy a creosote bush’s telltale aroma of black tar and sand after a storm. With seeds that look like tiny cotton balls, the plant can produce clones of itself for hundreds or even thousands of years.

The flora seen in Chuckwalla are true survivors.

“The plants here have so much grit,” Dashiell says. “There’s not that much left in the Coachella Valley that’s natural like this, where you just have the native species and it hasn’t been transformed into agriculture or golf courses. The desert is really important.”

Even the desert soil has properties which could prove beneficial as the state plans to transform millions of acres into landscapes that absorb more carbon than they release, as part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s goal to make California carbon-neutral by 2045.

“Plants themselves sequester carbon but in the desert soils there’s this caliche layer,” Dashiell says. “It’s this compact, hard, almost cementlike layer. A lot of carbon is stored in that.”

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Joining the hike are local residents Camila Bautista of Audubon California, which has championed the monument designation, and Brenda Ortiz, a youth ambassador for the Chuckwalla campaign.

Ortiz, 21, has lived in the Eastern Coachella Valley her whole life.

She says the monument designation is important for other reasons. The valley is exploding not just with industry but with walled-off housing subdivisions, as well as a race track and other attractions.

It can be hard for locals in California’s desert, many of whom are Latinos working low-wage farm jobs, to feel as if the change they see around them takes their priorities into account, Ortiz says.

“We’re always asking for more affordable housing, for more resources for low-income communities, and yet we’re met with these developments that are only meant for a few exclusive members from outside,” Ortiz says. “Some are only a few miles away from trailer home parks.”

A desire to make public lands more accessible to people of color and economically distressed communities drives an effort closer to Los Angeles, where a different coalition wants Biden to expand the San Gabriel National Monument by adding 109,000 acres of wilderness adjacent to the city.

Ortiz says Chuckwalla would be a place where those who don’t normally picture themselves in the outdoors can relax, get exercise and simply be at one with nature.

“I just feel like it’s a project that’s really for everybody,” she says.

Tortez nods. The Indigenous people of the desert have maintained bonds with each other despite forced displacement and the fact that their reservations are carved up to resemble squares on a checkerboard, interspersed with parcels that are not under tribal control.

Chuckwalla will help strengthen their sense of common cause, he says.

Tortez is proud to show a first-time visitor a side of this landscape that some outsiders might miss. He thinks again about his people’s creation story and the plight of Mukat.

Given his awesome yet unpredictable powers, many Cahuilla felt it wasn’t safe for him to live among mere mortals, Tortez says. So Mukat went to live out his days here.

Villagers communicated with Mukat by sending coyotes into the hills to bring back his messages of wisdom and warning.

Once he died and was cremated, it was said that his ashes gave rise to the same medicinal and culinary plants that Dashiell spots during the tour.

“His remains are within this area,” Tortez says. “Everything here spurred from the remains of that creator.”

Tortez stops to gaze at a cliff face that is so red it resembles dried blood and so hulking that humans look tiny by comparison.

The Cahuilla believe that red rocks are evidence of the shaman’s eternal sorrow.

“It’s a sign of his heart bleeding,” Tortez says.

As Tortez speaks, a strong, cold gust suddenly blows down through the canyon, drowning out his voice but filling him with delight.

“He heard!” Tortez yells over the force of the wind. “He can’t be seen, but he’s speaking now.”

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Tyrone Beason is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times who writes about America through the lenses of race and culture. He previously covered the 2020 presidential election. Before joining the paper in 2019, the Kentucky native spent nearly 25 years at the Seattle Times covering the Pacific Northwest. Follow him on Instagram @tyrone_california and Twitter @tyrone_beason.

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