Whether you started watching John Wayne movies like Stagecoach back in the 1930s, or you’re a modern day fan of the slightly more recent Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, you’ve probably seen shots of Monument Valley at some point in your life…because…well…its pretty monumental.

The magnificent sanstone buttes shoot out of the desert landscape, the tallest reaching up over 1,000 ft above the valley floor. This land that time forgot straddles the Utah-Arizona border and is actually part of the Navajo Nation Reservation territory. Despite the locations non-designation as neither a national nor a state park nor even a national monument, you haven’t seen the real American West if you haven’t set your sights on the iconic Monument Valley.

Visitors can enjoy the majesty of Monument Valley by paying a small access fee and driving the 17-mile dirt road through the area. This drive allows visitors to see many of the valley’s monuments including, The Mittens, Merrick Butte, and Totem Pole. There are additional sections of the valley which our off limits to public access unless you are accompanied by a local guide. Locally-owned Navajo tour companies offer a variety of tours in Monument Valley ranging from jeep tours to overnighters. Cookout tours might also add an authentic flare to your visit, complete with the famous Navajo tacos.

When traveling to Monument Valley, make sure to stop in at the visitor center which is open seven days a week:
May to September: 6am – 8pm
October to April: 8am – 5pm

Weather in the region is typical of a high-desert climate with hot summers and cold winters, so plan accordingly depending on when you decide to visit.