The Keys to Monument Valley
Monument Valley features some of the most iconic desert scenery in the United States.
The sandstone buttes have been commercialized and used as movie set backdrops, but a visit here will give you a greater appreciation for the land, which is managed by the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department.
Location
It’s a drive!
In fact, the five-hour drive from Phoenix is what kept me from traveling to Monument Valley for years. It was always just “a little too far” for a drive.
Monument Valley spans the Arizona-Utah border.
The nearest town is Kayenta, which can be used as a base for exploring the region.
Famous Sites
In spots, the sandstone buttes rise from the desert along the border of Arizona and Utah, some of which are 1,000 feet tall.
Right from the visitors’ center, you’ll recognize two of the most famous sites: Mittens Butte and Merrick Butte.
The Tribal Park features the vistas made famous in old Western movies. One of the trails is even named after John Wayne.
The John Ford Viewpoint is perhaps the most recognizable. It includes a parking area, a small cafe, a few vendors, and a number of photo ops.
It’s named after the movie director, John Ford, who used Monument Valley in his films from the late 1930s into the 1950s.
Truth be told, I think the best photos here would be at sunset, rather than sunrise… but I’ll have to explore that on my next trip!
The “3 Sisters” rock formation is just behind the John Ford Viewpoint.
You’ll wind through a 17-mile loop, at speeds of around 30mph. The mostly-dirt roadway is easily passable in a normal car, and it’s full of pull-out areas to park.
Adjacent to the entry, you’ll see a grouping of traditional Navajo “hogans,” a kind of dwelling made of logs and mud. Their doors open to the east, so families can wake and walk out to the rising sun.
Some Rules
The land is considered sacred by the Navajo Nation, and strict rules govern everything from drones to hiking off the roads and trails.
You can take a guided tour, or drive through on your own. You’ll need a guide to go to certain parts of Monument Valley, like Secret Valley and Hunts Mesa.
Drones are not allowed in the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.
The official website (as of this post) is outdated with pandemic-era information. While it says they only allow five cars per hour, they’re back to normal (or near-normal) crowds.
The fee is $20 per car, and you may have to pay an extra $6 or $8 per person in the car, though we just paid the flat $20.
If you just have one day:
Get up before dawn, and make your way to “Forrest Gump Point,” which you can find in Google Maps. It’s between the Arizona-Utah line and Mexican Hat, UT. If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll recognize the role this site plays in Forrest’s run across the country.
You’ll catch a beautiful sunrise, over the familiar scene of the long highway leading up to the buttes. It’s US Highway 163, and it’s open 24/7. There are places to pull off to the side to take photos. The speed limit is reduced to 35mph because so many people show up to take pictures walking down the road.
We saw only one other person along the stretch up before dawn to get the best light.
From here, make your way to the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which is about 20 minutes south.
The toll booth opens earlier than the park, so I’d suggest paying your $20, and going to cue in line at the park’s entrance.
At 8am, the park officially opens, but it’s a slow process to get inside. The line of cars inches along until a staff member officially checks you in for the day.
The 17-mile park loop, depending on how long you stop for to take photos at different sites, will take about two hours to drive through.
Hiking off the road is prohibited completely. The visit to this area really just involves driving to different sites to park and take photos.
Where to Stay & When to Go
You can stay in one of a variety of hotels in the nearby town of Kayenta, or right at the big lodge in the Tribal Park.
Another option would be to travel farther north to Medicine Hat, UT.
Maybe combine it with a trip to Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, which is about three hours north?
As always, it’s best to hit Monument Valley in an “off season.” We went on President’s Day in February of 2022, and the crowds were minimal.
It’ll snow in the winter, and can hit triple digits in the summer.
Again…
I’d suggest getting there *before the park opens, to get your car in line at the entry. I’ve had other friends go at all times of the day, and they say it’s been fine … but I do my best to avoid crowds.
The timing works well if you start at the Forrest Gump Viewpoint on the highway before sunrise. From there, it’s a beautiful 20 minute drive to the Tribal Park entry.
