Monument Valley — Attraction in Oljato-Monument Valley

Monument Valley is an iconic landscape of southwest america's desert region. Unbelievably beautiful!

I must have driven through Monument Valley almost 50 times in my life, and I never had a clue you could actually drive through these amazing rock formations and landscape on dirt roads. The dirt roads can be rough in spots and I thought it was crazy that people brought low clearance, two wheel drive vehicles out there and i'm sure a fair share of them bottomed out, but if you have high clearance there is nothing to worry about out here unless your tires are bald. The sand can get deep due to winds, so if you only have two wheel drives, deflating your tires and momentum might be recommended if sand is deep. I have a forerunner with all terrain tires, and I had no issue and didn't even engage four-wheel drive or lower my tire pressure.

Also, if you don't want to risk any damage to your car or deal with sand, they do have tours. Some appear to be in buses, and I think there is horseback as well according to other google reviews.

The dirt roads are located past an admission gate to park, which leads to the visitor center and the entrance to the trails/dirt roads. They do charge per person, and I can't remember what it was, but I want to say it was like fifteen dollars per person ( maybe less), but well worth it.

The trails themselves can be a bit confusing and if not careful, you may end up going down a narrow road the wrong way as I did, but if you see any tour guides, they will tell you to turn around and you will be back on track! Basically, there is a loop at the end of the park that goes through the most iconic formations and you should be driving counterclockwise on this loop, meaning when you come to the area where it splits, and you can take a left onto the loop, don't - keep going straight and you should be going the proper direction. Along this route, there will be many areas to pull off and take pictures and appreciate the amazing landscape and rock formations. Picture time!

• One thing I noticed out there that causes a bit of issue is the speed limits are low ( I don't remember how low)but some of the two wheel drive honda minivans, for example, were literally going like one mile per hour And people behind them were getting extremely frustrated. If you're going to drive super slow and bottom your car out, try to pull over and let people pass when there are opportunities. Begin to note, there were a ton of two wheel drive low clearance vehicles out there and if you are a good driver I don't think you'll have an issue, but I just wouldn't recommend it to everyone.

I also highly recommend stopping at the Visitor Center as they have a lot of cool stuff to check out.

It does get unbelievably hot out here in the summer, so make sure you have plenty of water and your vehicle is in good shape.

This is located on Navajo Tribal land, so please be respectful of this beautiful environment and the people who live here.

Also, to the north of the park entrance road on the main road you use to get to Monument Valley is the iconic Forest Gump spot. People are a bit crazy here and block traffic and there can be cars absolutely everywhere as these said people are trying to take pictures of themselves in the middle of the road With traffic oncoming, lol, but still cool to see. I used AI photo edit to put our faces near the road rather than standing in the...

Un hallucinant chapelet de monolithes, tables et buttes se dresse contre un ciel d’un bleu pur. Ce décor en trompe-l’œil c’est la mythique Monument Valley. L’aube et le crépuscule donnent toute leur mesure à cette « plaine des colosses » dont la vue coupe le souffle. La lumière y orchestre une magnifique chorégraphie. L’aurore anime lentement les roches rose orangé avant d’offrir en apothéose un véritable incendie minéral. Le lieu peut se visiter en 4X4 ou se découvrir du ciel en montgolfière. N’oubliez surtout pas de recharger vos appareils photos ce serait dommage de rater cet embrasement !

Ici, les formations exhibent, dans une allégorie géologique, leurs singuliers visages… Là, une mesa accolée d’une haute cheminée de grès devient au regard une gigantesque manique (Mitten Rock) tandis que sa voisine évoque une antique cafetière de cow-boy… Plus loin, trois pitons élancés prennent vie et l’on salue les Three Sisters vénérées des Navajos. Une déambulation à cheval (ou en voiture) au sein de ce site inouï fait découvrir bien d’autres sculptures rocheuses. Comme ces arches graciles baptisées Pleine Lune ou Lune de Miel, fenêtres ouvertes sur le grand univers si l’on en croit la sagesse des chamans. Au fil de la découverte, les roches dévoilent leurs noms et leurs formes : la Diligence, le Roi sur son Trône, l’Ours et le Lièvre…

La visite en territoire sacré

Le territoire est géré par les Indiens Navajos qui préservent ce site sacré. L’idéal est de passer la nuit sur place pour contempler les jeux de lumière sur les reliefs et assister au coucher de soleil sur les Mitten Buttes. L’hôtel The View a certes été bâti très près du site mais offre la vue la plus exceptionnelle. Pas très loin, le Goulding’s est la plus vieille implantation hôtelière. John Ford y séjournait régulièrement. On y trouve un amusant musée. Le camping de Mitten View Campground, situé sur la frange du plateau, jouit d’une vue époustouflante sur la plaine. Au Visitor Center, on apprend le rôle des Navajos pendant la Seconde Guerre Mondiale dans le cryptage des messages, la langue navajo, très complexe, étant « incassable » par l’ennemi. En voiture, la piste de Valley Drive permet d’aborder les sites les plus spectaculaires dont ceux bien sûr, immortalisés par John Ford dans La Chevauchée Fantastique. Les guides Navajos proposent d’autres chevauchées formidables, juste bercées par le pas du cheval et le frôlement du vent chaud. A votre tour d’être dans le film… Si vous préférez la marche à pied, suivez les traces de « Forest Gump » qui termina sa course folle devant les « Three Sisters » en plein cœur de ce parc national époustouflant !Un hallucinant chapelet de monolithes, tables et buttes se dresse contre un ciel d’un bleu pur. Ce décor en trompe-l’œil c’est la mythique Monument Valley. L’aube et le crépuscule donnent toute leur mesure à cette « plaine des colosses » dont la vue coupe le souffle. La lumière y orchestre une magnifique chorégraphie. L’aurore anime lentement les roches rose orangé avant d’offrir en apothéose un véritable incendie minéral. Le lieu peut se visiter en 4X4 ou se découvrir du ciel en montgolfière. N’oubliez surtout pas de recharger vos appareils photos ce serait dommage de rater cet...

Visiting Monument Valley Tribal Park was an unforgettable experience! The towering sandstone formations, vast desert landscapes, and ever-changing hues of the sky made it feel like stepping into a dream. The iconic rock formations, such as the Mittens and Merrick Butte, were even more impressive in person than in photographs.

The guided Navajo tour was a highlight, offering deep insights into the history, culture, and traditions of the Navajo people. Our guide shared fascinating stories, pointed out hidden arches and petroglyphs, and even played a traditional flute, adding to the magical atmosphere.

The scenic drive through the park was well worth it, offering stunning views at every turn. Sunset and sunrise were particularly mesmerizing, with the warm glow casting dramatic shadows across the landscape.

If you love nature, photography, or cultural history, Monument Valley is a must-visit destination. It’s a place that leaves you in awe of the beauty and spirit of the land. Highly...