Monument Valley
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is a sandstone desert on the Arizona-Utah border. The park is known for its iconic red-rock buttes and mesas. In addition, Monument has become a well-known beacon for tourism due to its popularity for film sets.
History
The valley’s famous mesas and buttes formed millions of years ago when a basin covered the entire area. Eons of sediments gathering at the bottom created the great rock monoliths we see today. The Colorado Plateau uplifted the valley from the basin draining all the water. Wind and water erosion carved unique details in the desert landscape.
Navajo Indians lived off this land for thousands of years before many knew about it. Part of that reason is because of the rural location of Monument Valley. The area remained off the radar until the 1930s when American film icon John Ford brought fame to the valley through the movies he filmed here. Since then, Monument Valley has been subject to sets of a plethora of movies.
How to Get Here
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is north, shortly past the Utah border into Arizona on US – 163.
This park is on Navajo Tribal lands, so it is not a National Park.
A vehicle fee of $20 is required upon entry, and an “America the Beautiful Pass” will not be accepted. However, you can get in for free when the entrance station closes.
Camping and Lodging
During my one-night stay here over the summer, I decided to stay at the KOA Campground off the right of US – 163, around 25 minutes from the visitor center.
The campground had showers, and an air-conditioned laundry room which was nice to escape the 95-degree heat.
If you take 421 at the roundabout, you can find more camping, villas, and apartment options.
The closest place to stay to the Monument Valley View is just past the entrance station at The View hotel.
Things to Do in Monument Valley
Sightseeing massive red-rock monoliths is the main attention for Monument Valley.
Only on your way to the visitor center from Moab, you will come across Forest Gump Road.
If you go past the entrance station, to the left is the beginning of Monument Valley’s 17-mile road loop. This loop will take you past the buttes and mesas on a rocky dirt road. A 2WD vehicle is good enough as long as it has not and will not rain.
Consider taking a Jeep tour through the valley around $40.
Many pull-offs and parking lots are available for easy picture-taking.
Great Area for Stargazing
When visiting Monument Valley, seeing everything from Forest Gump Road to driving the 17-mile road loop took me about four hours with stopping for pictures. Staying on a clear night here makes everything worthwhile, with silhouette views of buttes and mesas underneath a starry sky.
Best Time to Visit Here
Staying here over the summer during the busiest time for people to be out, the park can become crowded at popular areas. If you want to come here and see fewer people try visiting during Spring or Fall.
Monument Valley is usually around 90 degrees, although when I was here in August, we experienced a 100-degree heat wave. If you are coming here in the summer, carry plenty of water, and a cooler is a luxury. During mid-summer days here, staying adequately hydrated and having a way to escape the heat is vital.
Conclusion
No matter what time of year you visit, Monument Valley will make for a memorable road trip. This location is out of the way of many routes for popular National Parks, but many other great places are nearby, like the Valley of the Gods, or the Four Corner Monument. So, are you ready to plan your next road trip to Monument Valley?
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