Monument Valley

From World travel guide

Monument Valley is perhaps the most famous example of the classic American West landscape, located within the Navajo Nation on the border of Arizona and Utah. The valley has been the backdrop for numerous western movies, ranging from the films of John Wayne to Back to the Future 3 to Forrest Gump.

Contents 1 Understand 1.1 History 1.2 Landscape 1.3 Flora and fauna 1.4 Climate 2 Get in 3 Fees/Permits 4 Get around 5 See 6 Do 7 Buy 8 Eat 9 Drink 10 Sleep 10.1 Lodging 10.2 Camping 10.3 Backcountry 11 Stay safe 12 Get out 13 External links

Understand

History

Landscape

Flora and fauna

Climate

Get in

The Valley lies mostly in northern Arizona, but the highway turn-off that leads into it is just across the Utah border. The nearest town with a hotel is in Kayenta, which is about twenty miles from Monument Valley.

Fees/Permits

Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal park (not a USA National Park) and charges a fee of $5 per person (children 9 and under free) for access to the loop road through the valley. National park passes will not be accepted.

Get around

While many incredible formations can be seen from the main roads, the best views can be had from the fourteen mile loop road that runs through the valley. The road is open from 6:00 AM to 8:30 PM in the summer (May - September) and from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM in the winter (October - April). The road is generally in good condition and does not require high clearance or four-wheel drive.

See

• The scenery is lovely. There is a loop drive you may take in your own vehicle. The loop is not paved, but relatively flat. You are not permitted to deviate from the loop drive without a native guide present. The loop drive can be done in as little as 30-40 minutes, but most visitors will take several hours to enjoy the scenery. There is no shortage of native guides eager to take you (for a fee, of course!) to the restricted areas.

Do

Buy

Eat

• Some places serve Navajo fry-bread dishes. Don't pass up the opportunity if you have it! The restaurant in the Hampton Inn had a most excellent entree featuring the fry-bread.

Drink

Sleep

Lodging

• Goulding's Lodge, [1].

Camping

Backcountry

Stay safe

Get out

• Unless you plan to keep the native guides busy, this is a one-day stop. However, from Kayenta you are close to Four Corners and the Grand Canyon North Rim (Jacob Lake).

External links

• Monument Valley from the Navajo Nations Parks & Recreation site.

fr:Monument Valley de:Monument Valley

This article is still a stub and needs your attention. Plunge forward and help it grow!