Monument Valley Mac Download
Alexander Latt
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.
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.
The area is part of the Colorado Plateau. The elevation of the valley floor ranges from 5,000 to 6,000 feet (1,500 to 1,800 m) above sea level. The floor is largely siltstone of the Cutler Group, or sand derived from it, deposited by the meandering rivers that carved the valley. The valley's vivid red color comes from iron oxide exposed in the weathered siltstone. The darker, blue-gray rocks in the valley get their color from manganese oxide.
The buttes are clearly stratified, with three principal layers. The lowest layer is the Organ Rock Shale, the middle is de Chelly Sandstone, and the top layer is the Moenkopi Formation capped by Shinarump Conglomerate. The valley includes large stone structures, including the "Eye of the Sun".
The Colorado Plateau area encompassing the Arizona-Utah border features some of the most scenic drives in the United States. While the area is remote and services are limited, small towns such as Dennehotso and Kayenta have restaurants and convenience stores to stock up on road trip supplies. Plus, inside the park, The View Hotel offers an overnight option with rooms and cabins that capture magnificent views of the valley. Options for RVs and camping in Monument Valley allow visitors to fully surround themselves with stunning rock outcroppings that come to life with color and light every sunrise and sunset.
Okay, so this was my first time riding on sand! The first part of riding into the valley was super fun. A little windy dirt road, but not too steep with stunning views. Soon we reached the iconic Mitton and Merick Buttes, our first stop. You can see them from the visitor centre already. But standing in front of them and looking at them from within the valley still felt pretty impressive. It is that classic postcard view of Monument Valley that we were dying to see with our own eyes!
Generally speaking, you are not allowed to freely walk around the valley as you please. You are also required to stay on designated roads at all times! BUT there is one super nice trail, about 3.2 miles long that you can hike without a guide. The Wildcat Trail leads to the first stop of the Valley Drive. It does actually offer you some of the most iconic and beautiful scenery.
The Valley Loop is comprised of 17 miles, and includes regular stops along the way at significant viewpoints. Before starting the drive, we encourage you to stop at the View Hotel which has an overlook into the park. We caught one of the more incredible sunrises from there with the clouds inverting below the monuments.
Monument Valley is located on both sides of the Utah and Arizona border, with the most popular parts of the monument located in Arizona. To give you a sense of where Monument Valley is located in reference to national parks, other public lands, and large cities in the area, I have put together the table in my Monument Valley guide below for your reference.
Whether you are coming from the North or the South, you will use highway 163 to get to Monument Valley, as the highway runs right thru the valley. If you are coming from the North, the Forrest Gump Point is located just outside of the town of Halchita.
If you are interested in checking out John Ford Point, which is another popular viewpoint for Monument Valley, you will need to take Main Monument Valley Rd and Indian Rte. 42 about 10 miles South. For more detailed instructions on how to get to the valley, please review the Monument Valley directions map that I have included in my Monument Valley guide below.
Within the Park, the Wildcat Trail is a really nice trail that allows you to get a little more up-close-and-personal with the valley. If you do decide to do some hiking, please make sure you practice proper trail etiquette and leave no trace of your visit. It is our responsibility to future generations to preserve these beautiful places as they are. For more information on navigating within Monument Valley, please review the Monument Valley map that I have included in my Monument Valley guide below.
In Monument Valley, there are ten major formations present throughout the park. They include the Halgaito, Cedar Mesa, Organ Rock, De Shelly, Moenkopi, Owl Rock, Chinle, Wingate, Kayenta and Navajo Formations. The three major formations that make up the monuments themselves are the Organ Rock Formation, De Chelly Formation and the Moenkopi Formation.
Our Airbnb hosts suggested when it came to visiting the valley, there were two choices. Take photos from the viewing platforms beside the car park, have a bite to eat and leave, or drive the 17 mile road along the valley floor and see a whole lot more.
Given it was a three hour drive each way from Flagstaff, there was no way we were opting for the five minute photo stop. I mean sure, the valley road was extremely rough, consisting of more clay than dirt, and more pothole than anything else. Sure, we were behind the wheel of an underpowered, two-wheel drive Hyundai automatic that was blatantly not fit for off-road driving. There was, however, one other important factor to consider.
And so it was we found ourselves bouncing from rut to rut as we descended towards the valley floor. Large pickups almost glided past us, their superior suspension and half a mile of ground clearance serving them well. Us, however? Not so much.
At night, you can watch a John Wayne movie outside the main hotel. The Monument Valley area is also a great place for stargazing if you can get away from the lights. At our cabin, the stars were simply gorgeous as they sprinkled the sky over the monuments.
We checked in at the main hotel and explored a bit. Then we headed over to the cabins. The cabins are two rows long on two levels. We made our reservation months in advance, and we reserved a cabin on the front row. Any cabin experience would be worth it, I think. But there is something special about an unobstructed view of the monuments.
Monument Valley is a surreal exploration through fantastical architecture and impossible geometry. The player guides the silent princess Ida through mysterious monuments, to uncover hidden paths, unfold optical illusions and outsmart the enigmatic Crow People.
Following the success of Monument Valley came a completely new story set in the same fantastical universe. Monument Valley 2 tells the tale of a mother and child as they embark on a journey of discovery. The game allows the player to assist Ro as she teaches her child about the mysteries of the valley, exploring stunning environments and manipulating architecture to guide them on their way.
To be honest, this place will leave you SPEECHLESS! The Panoramic views found here show the most spectacular buttes towering over the valley. This place is almost too good to be true.
Valley Drive provides visitors an option to weave through the monuments and admire the landscape from their vehicles. This scenic loop is 17 miles long and is filled with some great turn-outs.
I hope you find this guide helpful as you find the best dog friendly things to do in monument valley! And while you are in Utah make sure to check out my dog-friendly guide on Kanab, Utah.
While journeying on the valley road, the impressive sandstone formations of East Mitten, Merrick, Elephant, Cly, and Camel buttes loom overhead, creating a striking silhouette against the nearby scenery. These geological masterpieces evoke a sense of wonder, as if time itself carved this marvel of unparalleled beauty.
A range of tour types are offered for all kinds of adventurous souls. Tours can be purchased online at navajonationparks.org/guided-tour-operators/monument-valley-tour-operators/ or upon your arrival at the park.
Private cabins sit on the valley rim and offer excellent views as well. Including private bathrooms, Old West decor, a fridge and microwave, these cozy spaces offer more seclusion than the hotel rooms. Sit on your porch with a cup of coffee in the morning and watch the sun light up the buttes.
We loaded up for our final stop of the morning, at a property in Monument Valley. We have visited this family for many years, bring our groups here and either the mom, or one of her daughters, dresses up a bit and sits in their hogan for us to photograph her. On this visit, it was the daughter and after posing inside for us, she came out and posed next to the hogan. She shared about what life was like growing up as a child in the valley as well as some info about the Navajos in general. By the way, a hogan is a Navajo dwelling used for ceremonies as well as living. Made out of fallen branches, woven in to a dome, it is then covered with dirt and mud to keep out the elements.
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