Monument Valley is one of those places that many people know about but not many experience. At least, not experience well. Located on the border of Arizona and Utah, Monument Valley is seemingly in the middle of nowhere but also in between iconic locations like Moab, The Grand-Staircase Escalante, and The Grand Canyon. It’s a sacred valley in the heart of Navajo Nation and became a tourist destination for its towering red rock beauty and its infamous filming locations. Director John Ford began filming westerns here back in the 1930’s and it hit modern pop culture with the famous running scene in the film Forest Gump.

All I had ever seen from postcards and film were the famous shots of the red rock buttes from Highway 163. And it’s beautiful, don’t get me wrong. But after my third time seeing it, it didn’t quite seem worth the very long scenic route between destinations. Man, oh man, how wrong I was! And I feel like so many others drive right past this incredible place and never truly experience it’s wonder.

How to get to Monument Valley

As I mentioned, Monument Valley isn’t the easiest place to take a trip to, but it’s also in between some incredible destinations and a great stop if you have the time to take the extra scenic route. If you’re coming from Moab, Utah, it’s about 2 1/2 hours south along highway 191 and 163. It’s a beautiful drive but there is not much in terms of services so make sure you’re fueled up and came with snacks!

If you’re making the journey from the Grand Canyon, it’s 3 hours northwest along highway 64 and 160 before reaching highway 163. Along this route, stop at Cameron Trading Post for authentic Navajo art, culture, and food.

And if you’re coming from Page, Arizona (where Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon are located) it’s 2 hours west along highway 98, 160, and 163.

But wherever you are driving from, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to spend here and don’t make the mistake that I did and just drive through.

When to Visit Monument Valley

Monument Valley is located on the Colorado Plateau and the elevation on the valley floor ranges from 5,000-6,000 feet. It’s also located in a desert so the climate swings from high summer daytime temperatures to really low winter and nighttime temperatures. Because of the summer heat, the best time to visit this area is early summer or early fall. Always check the weather and be prepared with layers. We visited in April and it was in the 60’s and rainy; there was even snow on some of the buttes.

Where to Stay in Monument Valley

The nearest town to Monument Valley is the town of Kayenta and while there are a couple of options there, the two most iconic hotels are located right next to the park. Goulding’s Lodge offers hotel accommodations as well as RV and camping sites. You can feast on Navajo cuisine at the Stagecoach Dining Room or check out the Gouldings Trading Post Museum here as well. The other place to stay near the park is The View Hotel. Their lodging ranges from premium cabins to their campground, and they also have a trading post with a wide variety of Native American art.

The Best Ways to See Monument Valley

When you arrive in Monument Valley, start at the Visitors Center of the Navajo Tribal Park. This is one of the best views of the entire park and it’s a great place to get more information about the park, go shopping, and grab a snack before heading into valley.

Driving in Monument Valley

The most common way to explore this park is to drive the 17-mile loop. You can stop at some of Hollywood’s most iconic filming locations and get up close and personal with the massive red rock Buttes. Be sure to bring a vehicle that can take some bumps and that you don’t mind getting dirty! Keep an eye on the weather since when it rains, this road can become super muddy.

Hiking in Monument Valley

Another great way to experience the valley is to get out onto the Wildcat Trail around the East and West Mitten Buttes. The trail is 3.9 miles and considered a moderate hiking trail. Be sure to bring lots of water and be aware of high temperatures in the summertime. You can also apply for a backcountry hiking permit at the visitors center.

Getting into the Backcountry

I believe the BEST way to see Monument Valley is by taking one of the Navajo guided tours into the backcountry. Because this area is owned by the Navajo people, you can ONLY reach parts of the backcountry with a Navajo guide. These tours not only take you to incredible arches and ancient rock art areas, but you get an insiders perspective on the land from the people that it belongs to. We traveled with Monument Valley Safari and our guide Tonee was fantastic! He shared stories of the Navajo people, kept us entertained with jokes, knew all of the best spots to take photos and kept taking my camera from me to take the best shots, but he also performed a ritual Navajo song for us in the most beautiful canyon. I’ve been on many tours with many different companies, but this one was special on an entirely different level. When you’re in the backcountry, you can actually feel the magic of this sacred land.

I am so glad that I gave Monument Valley another chance and finally experienced it the right way, with the people who know it best. To get a glimpse of what this incredible destination has to offer, watch the video below.