Monument Valley- Legendary Landscape

By Steve Cuff.

Without a doubt Monument Valley is a very special place, and watching the sunrise on a crisp Autumn morning was worth the early morning alarm to see this magnificent area come alive for another day.

The sandstone Monuments are buttes and spires that have eroded over millions of years to leave only the most stubborn still standing and making for an impressive landscape. You can drive through sections of the Valley on self-drive tours or take a guided tour to other areas where the native Navajo Indians tell their history and stories as you admire the beautiful surroundings. You are in desert country here so ensure you have a water bottle to quench the thirst on hot days and to wash away the dust from your tour along the dirt roads.

If you have never visited Monument Valley, you have no doubt seen it as the backdrop for hundreds of movies. In 1938 movie director John Ford teamed with legendary John Wayne to make Stagecoach, the first movie to use this dramatic backdrop in their film. John Ford would go on to make many more movies with John Wayne in this same area and you can visit John Ford point, a short drive from the visitor centre. Here you can capture another angle and different views of this classic valley and it is a must for landscape photographers worldwide. At certain times a Navajo Indian on horseback adds to the drama of this main veiwing point and the backdrop. With such a unique landscape it will be home to movie sets for many more years to come.

Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park and actually sits on the border of Utah and Arizona. Once you start your guided tour you cross into Arizona and then return back to Utah. There is scenery at every turn as you venture into the Valley and depending on how much time you have, there are endless scenic locations to visit such as North Window and the Three Sisters. If you like local craft and trinkets there are many Indian stalls selling their native wears to take home as a souvenir.

You could easily spend a few days here especially if you were keen on photos as there are so many stunning opportunities for sunrise and sunset images. There is a hotel adjacent to the sunrise lookout, The View, which is an ideal place to stay. Otherwise there are nearby towns like Medicine Hat and Bluff that require a drive but have additional vantage spots along the way for more spectacular scenery. The main visitor centre also has a museum and booking office for any tours you desire and all the information you will need to get the most out of your stay here.