Monument Valley Tribal Park is the eye candy of the West. When you are here, you cannot help but keep your eyes peeled over its vast, scenic 92,000 acres of rust-colored landscaping and tall buttes.
The Navajo Nation calls this sacred land Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii, or “The Valley of the Rocks.” It is located on the remote northern border of Arizona, just south of Utah.
Cinematic Legacy And Approach
For 500 years, this region has been sacred to the Navajo people. There are stories and legends associated with many of the rock formations.
Over the last 100 years, Monument Valley has served as the backdrop for many movies, both western and non-western. For the last 70 years, it has also been the site of countless television shows.
Its most recent, Dark Horse, a Navajo crime drama set in the 1970s, airs on AMC, Netflix, and Amazon.
Driving in from Moab, Utah, the view of Monument Valley on Highway 163 at Forrest Gump Hill is beautiful (more on Forrest Gump Hill below).
Geology And Iconic Buttes
Geologically, Monument Valley is over 300 million years old and sits on the Colorado Plateau. This tribal park is known for its unique colored landscape, weathered rocks, and sandstone buttes.
The largest of the buttes stands 1,000 feet above the valley. John Ford Point features several iconic buttes visible from the parking lot and closer from the scenic drive.
Backroads With A Navajo Guide
A good place to start your visit would be with a Navajo-guided 1½- or 2½-hour backcountry tour. Native guides take you in vans or covered open trucks (my recommendation) over bumpy roads to learn the area’s history, folklore, and geology.
The 2½-hour tour is only $20 extra, covers more ground, and is less rushed with extra stops.
Our guide stopped several times to point out geological formations that resembled people, animals, and a dragon.
We also stopped in a family village and were invited inside a one-room hogan to watch a local artist producing a rug. Hogans are 22 feet in diameter and made of splintered logs and mud with a stove in the middle.
They keep the heat in during winter and keep the one-room structure cool in summer. Entering and exiting must be in a clockwise motion. Hogans have been known to last a lifetime.
Another highlight of our tour was our guide walking us to a tall, arched cavern. Here he played the flute and sang spiritual songs in his native language.
Read More: Explore the Epicenter of Navajo Culture at Canyon de Chelly
Self-Drive Scenic Loop
Monument Valley Scenic Drive is a 17-mile one-way loop that gets you closer to many of the famous buttes, cliffs, and rock formations. Using a map from the hotel front desk, you can follow along the route to the 11 named rock formations.
For the drive, I do not recommend taking a passenger car. While 95% of the road we drove would have been OK for the average car, it is the 5% of the road the average driver needs to be concerned about.
At best, use an SUV with good tires and go slow. Our Land Rover, after the recent rain, crossed a few washed-out areas that would have bottomed out any car.
The drive has turnoffs and parking areas to appreciate and photograph the landscape. A few miles in is John Ford Point. Movie director John Ford made this place famous with the 1939 movie Stagecoach, starring John Wayne.
This is one of the best scenic vistas. Here you can buy Navajo tacos, snacks, native jewelry, crafts, and arrange a horseback ride. Another highlight on the road is Artists Point, located on a side road to the Navajo Code Talker Outpost.
During peak season, start the drive within two hours of sunrise or late in the afternoon. It will be less crowded then and you will get the best light.
Officially, the information states the road is open to the last driver at 2:30. Unofficially, we saw cars making their way through the gate later in the afternoon. Allow up to two hours to leisurely enjoy this loop.
Read More: Hidden Gems in the American West: Road Tripping Through Canyon Country
Wildcat Trail Hike
A 24-hour visit to Monument Valley should include hiking the Wildcat Trail. Wildcat is often called one of the best hikes in the West for its up-close look at the desert and rock scenery.
It is the only walk in the park you can do on your own. The trail is 3.9 miles long from the parking lot. It has a gradual elevation change of about 400 feet, making it doable for people in average condition, going slowly.
The trail goes between the towering East and West Mitten Buttes before circling West Mitten. During the hike, you will be in awe when standing in the middle of three majestic buttes.
To prepare for the Wildcat Trail, bring a quart of water and apply sunscreen. It is also important to wear good shoes and a hat. When going in the warmer months, leave early.
Most hikers take between two and three hours.
Forrest Gump Was Here
Forrest Gump Hill is located 13 miles from the park entrance. It sits on a hill overlooking much of Monument Valley.
When you see the Forrest Gump sign or cars pulled off the two-lane highway, slow down. It is common to see people in the middle of the road doing their Gump impersonation while cars and 18-wheelers are driving by.
There are a few table-side Navajo jewelry and craft markets to view. Frequently, the ladies there are the artists themselves.
Where To Stay And Eat
The View Hotel is the place to stay when visiting Monument Valley. The View is a 3½-star hotel offering a 5-star view. Their 95 standard rooms include a refrigerator, coffee maker, flat-screen TV, and microwave.
There are also 29 small valley-view, Western motif cabins, as well as an RV park with a campground. Hotel rooms average $300 a night and should be booked as far in advance as possible.
The View Inn restaurant serves three meals a day with a basic buffet breakfast included. This is a dry hotel. Guests are allowed to bring their own wine or spirits, which we enjoyed from our balcony at sunset.
Sunset tip: It is best to look in the opposite direction from the setting sun so you can see the valley glow. Your balcony is the best place.
If you will also be in the Phoenix area, consider an Old West experience in the city: Scottsdale History Comes Alive on a Best of the West Tour With JoyRidesAZ
Upon check-in, ask for the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park brochure and the Wildcat Trail map. This will give you most of the information you will need during your stay.
Information on The View and its tours can be found here.
The on-site Monument Valley Trading Post is a large gift shop. It features Native American art, pottery, rugs, and jewelry. They also carry the usual types of souvenirs you would expect for this location.
Hotel guests receive $20 off most native-made crafts with no minimum purchase required. To enter Monument Valley, the Navajo Tribal Park charges $20 per vehicle for four people, whether you are staying at the hotel or not.
There is an $8 per-person extra charge. Payment is only by credit card at the gate.
Learn more about Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park here.
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Author Bio: After 30 years, Tab Hauser left the business world and reinvented himself as a journalist and professional photographer. His travels have taken him to seven continents and 100 countries or unique locations. He is friend of Explorers Club, a member of the New York Press Association, a diver, and a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captain. This native New Yorker now calls Colorado home. Follow on Facebook and Instagram.
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