Touring the Park
Monument Valley is all about learning more about the Navajo culture and the views of magnificent buttes, spires, mesas, and pinnacles.
You can drive the 17-mile, unpaved park loop in your car. Note the road can be quite bumpy in some areas. After a rain, the road may be quite difficult.
Along the 17-mile loop are 11 scenic stops with descriptive names. The iconic Mittens are visible from the Visitors Center. When viewed from the south, the East and West Mittens appear like two gigantic mittens with thumbs facing inward. You will be able to appreciate why the Navajo think these are the hands of a deity. Nearby is Merrick Butte, which forms a triangle with the East and West Mittens, and is named for a silver hunter who met his demise here in the 1860’s.
Other stops along the way include John Ford’s Point, Totem Pole (climbed by Clint Eastwood in The Eiger Sanction), Artist’s Point, North Window and Three Sisters. John Ford’s Point was named for the director who used the point for filming due to its panoramic views. Three Sisters refers to co-planting of corn, beans, and squash, a practice widely used by the Navajo.
The Navajo ask that you do not climb on the monuments while visiting the park.
Jeep tours, available from companies located nearby the Visitors Center, as well at Gouldings Lodge, are also an excellent way to see the park, and learn more about Navajo traditions and history.
Another great way to see the park is on horseback. Guided horseback rides, available through Navajo companies located just outside the Visitors Center, will provide you with a truly memorable experience. You will be able to access areas of the park not on the Park Loop such as the Eye of God Arch.
Some guides can also take you to Hunt’s Mesa which is a much longer tour. Two hours travel time are needed to get to the mesa peak. The overnight camping trip is 18 hours. Camping on Hunt’s Mesa was rated by Cowboys and Indians magazine as the 2011’s Best of the West pick.
Booking Tours in Monument Valley
In the parking lot of the Visitors Center, you can arrange for Jeep tours, or horseback tours at various kiosks on the day you visit the park. You can also prebook a tour from one of the guides on the Monument Valley Tour Operators website.
Monument Valley Visitor Center
The Visitors Center displays include information about Navajo philosophy, the Treaty of 1868, and the Long Walk. Another important display involves the Navajo Code Talkers, a group who developed an unbreakable code from their ancient language used in World War II.
The Visitors Center has a lovely gift shop featuring beautiful Navajo textiles and jewelry, along with Monument Valley memorabilia. The View Restaurant and a deli are also located in the Visitors Center.
You will want to spend time on one of several verandas at the Visitors Center where you can take in the views of The Mittens and the park.
Restrooms and ample parking are available at the Visitors Center.
Hours of Operation
- April 1 – September 30 (Peak Season): 6 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days a week
- October 1 – March 30 (Off Season): 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., 7 days a week
- CLOSED: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
Park Hours
The park’s 17-mile Scenic Valley Drive is open from May – September from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. In the winter season, from October – April, the drive is open from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Time Zones
Bluff, Utah is on Mountain Standard Time, which is the same time zone as Denver, Colorado. Monument Valley is located in both Utah and Arizona. Monument Valley Tribal Park does observe Daylight Savings Time. Arizona, however, does not observe Daylight Savings Time and may be 1 hour behind Bluff. This is especially important in summer months for visitors who wish to watch the sun go down in Monument Valley, and then travel to Bluff for dinner and lodging. Check the time zones carefully.
Park Fees
A kiosk is located at the park entrance. You will need to pay the entrance fee to go to the Visitors Center or to travel the park loop.
Per Vehicle Pass: $20 per non-commercial vehicle up to 4 people ($6 each additional passenger)
Per Individual Pass: $10 per walk-in, bicycle, or motorcycle
Commercial Pass: (based on capacity of vehicle)
- 1-4 Passengers: $35 (additional $6 each)
- 5-15 Passengers: $100
- 15-25 Passengers: $125
- 26+ Passengers: $300
General Admission passes do not include Backcountry Permits.
Nearby Attractions
Monument Valley is a key stop on the Grand Circle, which includes the Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches National Parks. Valley of the Gods and Goosenecks State Park are great stops on the way from Bluff to Monument Valley on Highway 163.
Getting There
Directions from Bluff: Monument Valley is 50 miles southwest of Bluff on US 163, the only main road leading to Monument Valley. Travel time is about 1 hour. Signs to the Monument Valley Tribal Park are well marked. Take a left traveling to the park, and pay at the Visitors Center to enter the park.
Sources:
1. Phipps, K. 2009, November. The Easy Rider Road Trip. Slate.com. Retrieved January 25, 2013. 2. Best of the West 2011. Cowboys and Indians. June 2011. 3. Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Navajonationparks.org. Retrieved January 25, 2013. 4. Perrottet T. Behind the Scenes in Monument Valley. Smithsonian. February 2010. 5. Leach N. 2005. Kit Carson and The Long Walk. In Cindy Bohn, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park and the Navajo Reservation (p.22). Mariposa, CA: Sierra Press. 6. McPherson R. Thru Navajo Eyes, Bluff to Monument Valley. 2014 Four Corners Digital Design.
