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The famous view of Monument Valley. Photo by Bob Riel.
The iconic image of Monument Valley is known to people the world over, primarily because of its prevalence in Western movies and car commercials. But Monument Valley must be seen to be believed. This land that is sacred to the Navajo people is truly one of the world’s scenic wonders. Here, stunning red buttes and mesas seem to stand as sentinels, guarding the dusty silence of a hallowed ground.
The area is administered as a Navajo Nation tribal park and is situated on the Arizona-Utah border, in the midst of the vast Navajo reservation. The only nearby town is the small municipality of Kayenta, Arizona. Beyond that, it is a drive of several hours to Moab, Utah; Cortez, Colorado, and Flagstaff, Arizona. Of course, if you really want to soak in the scenery then you should probably stay at the aptly named View Hotel, where every room looks out over the famed Mitten buttes. Or, a few miles away is Goulding’s Lodge and Trading Post, where there are hotel rooms and a museum of Western movie memorabilia.
One way to experience Monument Valley is to follow the scenic 17-mile loop road through the park, which gets you up close to the rock formations. It’s a bumpy dirt road, however, and parts of it are rough on the average vehicle. Another option is to hike the area with a Navajo guide, or to take a guided tour by jeep or horseback. However you see Monument Valley, though, the vision of the landscape is likely to stay with you for a very long time.
Following is a slideshow that gives you a few different views of Monument Valley.
(All photos by Bob Riel.)
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