_
_
_
During our southwest road trip we drove from Page, Arizona to Moab, Utah - passing by Monument Valley. Most people drive through Monument Valley and go straight to the Forrest Gump spot, but Monument Valley is such an iconic and beautiful place, it has so much to offer. You'll want to spend at least a full day here to truly enjoy everything it has to offer.
Here's how to spend a day in Monument Valley.
The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park has a beautiful 17-mile loop road & it's worth visiting.
Cost: $8 per person
You can self-drive this loop it’s a little bumpy & dusty, but we did it with our rental car with no problems.
If it rains, this road can become impassable so check the weather before your visit.
•The wildcat Trail: This hike is a 3.2-mile loop that circles around the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte & offers incredible views.
•The Mittens & Merrick Butte: This stop is a great spot to get up close to these monuments.
•The Three Sisters: Opposite the Mittens, you’ll find the Three Sisters. These three finger-like stones rise out of the red rock.
•John Ford’s point: This is our favorite and most iconic spot on the loop. Named after film director John Ford, who filmed Stagecoach. For 5$ you can even take an iconic shot on a horse.
•Totem pole: It is an incredible and remarkable rock feature. It is the tallest spire in the world at a prominence of 381 feet.
•Artist’s point: Another popular scenic point.
This is the most famous spot. It's best to visit this spot in the morning or early afternoon because, in the late afternoon and early evening, you'll be facing the sun. The speed limit on this road is 65 mph, so it is important to watch for cars because this road gets busy, especially in the afternoon.
The Mexican Hat is a unique natural rock formation that looks like a Mexican hat located outside of the formal park.