Monument Valley | Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation (2024)

Navajo Nation Park & Recreation

While visiting the Monument Valley, the 17-mile loop road has reopened. Currently, with the Winter hours in effect we want all travelers to know that all entry is based on “First come, First served” entry. We do not accept motorcycles into the loop drive, due to the rough terrain and deep sand dunes in the area. We ask that travelers prepared for long wait times and inclement weather during the peak season. Please obey all signs, stay on designated route; stay hydrated and stay safe. The safety of our public is our utmost importance.

Navajo Tribal Parks asks that everyone follow all NDOH and CDC Guidelines. Wear your mask at all times indoor/outdoor.

Welcome to the Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. You are experiencing one of the most majestic – and most photographed – points on earth. This great valley boasts sandstone masterpieces that tower at heights of 400 to 1,000 feet, framed by scenic clouds casting shadows that graciously roam the desert floor. The angle of the sun accents these graceful formations, providing scenery that is simply spellbinding.

The landscape overwhelms, not just by its beauty but also by its size. The fragile pinnacles of rock are surrounded by miles of mesas and buttes, shrubs and trees, and windblown sand, all comprising the magnificent colors of the valley. All of this harmoniously combines to make Monument Valley a truly wondrous experience. Enjoy this beautiful land. While on your travel stop and take a look at some of our vendors on the loop road. Our vendors have beautiful hand crafted jewelry and more. You can buy direct from the artisan, which makes your travel experience so much more to have a momentous keepsake with you while at home.

Navajo Name: Tse’Bii’Ndzisgaii – Monument Valley

Hiking Trails: Wildcat Trail 1.5 miles (Sign in/out at Visitor Center).

Monument Valley Regular Hours of Operation: Park Office:

8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Monday-Friday

Winter Hours

Scenic Drive: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Last Vehicle Entry at 2:30 pm.

Tour Booth: 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Monument Valley Closures:

We are Closed during all major Holidays in accordance with the Navajo Nation.

  • Thanksgiving Day – Nov 24
  • Christmas Day – Dec 25
  • New Year’s Day – Jan 1

Elevation: 5,564 feet above sea level

GPS Coordinates: N 37.00414 W 110.09889

Backcountry Permit: A Backcountry Permit can be obtained from the Visitor Center, and for San Juan River Permit it can be purchased at the Welcome Center. Please sign in/out prior to Hiking. Please proceed with extreme caution.

Navajo Parks and Recreation is not liable for any damage to vehicle while in loop drive or on Navajo Tribal Park land.

Special Use Permit: Needed for all other types of Land Usage. Photography, Filming, Weddings, and Paintings. Please stop by Visitor Center for more information.

Size:91,696 acres (spans Utah & Arizona)

Entry Fee: $8 per person, per day.
Additional Person: $8 per person, per day (Subject to change).

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History

Before human existence, the Park was once a lowland basin. For hundreds of millions of years, materials that eroded from the early Rock Mountains deposited layer upon layer of sediment which cemented a slow and gentle uplift, generated by ceaseless pressure from below the surface, elevating these horizontal strata quite uniformly one to three miles above sea level. What was once a basin became a plateau.

Natural forces of wind and water that eroded the land spent the last 50 million years cutting into and peeling away at the surface of the plateau. The simple wearing down of altering layers of soft and hard rock slowly revealed the natural wonders of Monument Valley today.

From the visitor center, you see the world-famous panorama of the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte. You can also purchase guided tours from Navajo tour operators, who take you down into the valley in Jeeps for a narrated cruise through these mythical formations. Places such as Ear of the Wind and other landmarks can only be accessed via guided tours. During the summer months, the visitor center also features Haskenneini Restaurant, which specializes in both native Navajo and American cuisines, and a film/snack/souvenir shop. There are year-round restroom facilities. One mile before the center, numerous Navajo vendors sell arts, crafts, native food, and souvenirs at roadside stands.

Buy local, Buy Navajo!

Monument Valley | Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation (1)

Monument Valley | Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation (2)

SCAN QR CODE FOR MONUMENT VALLEY MAP

Monument Valley | Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation (3)

Monument Valley | Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation (2024)

FAQs

Why is Monument Valley not a national park? ›

Contrary to what some might assume, Monument Valley is not a National Park, but rather a Tribal Park, as it lies within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation. The Tribal Park's designation is important in order to preserve its unique heritage and geological wonders.

Can you drive the 17 mile loop in Monument Valley? ›

Private vehicles are allowed to enter the park as far as the main viewpoint at the visitor center. In addition, 25 private vehicles at a time are allowed on the 17-mile Tribal Valley Loop. Entrance to the loop is regulated by a free permit upon arrival; permits are first come, first served.

How many days do you need in Monument Valley National Park? ›

Sure, it's possible to drive right through Monument Valley, visiting the main sites in just two or three hours, but if you really want to explore it, consider spending at least one day here.

Is alcohol illegal on the Navajo reservation? ›

Please keep the land clean. Do not litter, burn debris, or bury trash. Please place refuse » in trash containers or hold onto trash until you reach a trash container. The use of » alcoholic beverages and firearms are both strictly prohibited on the Navajo Nation.

What Indian tribe owns Monument Valley? ›

The valley and monument area is now home to the Navajo Nation, one of the largest American Indian tribes.

Is Monument Valley included in national park Pass? ›

Per Individual Entry Fee:

WE do NOT Accept the National Park Pass.

Can I drive my own car through Monument Valley? ›

One of the ways to enjoy Monument Valley is by general admission. This allows you to enter the park for $20 per vehicle (with up to four people in each car) and drive the seventeen-mile scenic loop road up to the valley overlook, but not beyond.

What is the most scenic route in Monument Valley? ›

The drive along U.S. Route 163 offers marvelous panoramic views and many photo ops of Monument Valley's towering buttes and mesas and other unique and stunning rock formations, including Mexican Hat and a mesa in nearby Hidden Valley where a B-52 once made a crash landing.

How long does it take to drive through Monument Valley Loop? ›

The drive through Monument Valley covers a 17-mile (27 km) loop road. Most people spend about 3 hours driving through Monument Valley, but some people spend as little as 2 hours or even longer than 4 hours.

What is the best month to visit Monument Valley? ›

Fall and spring are the best times to visit Monument Valley. This is when temperatures are most pleasant. If you are looking for warm days and comfortable nights, we recommend September as the best month to visit Monument Valley. Monument Valley is cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

Is it worth staying overnight at Monument Valley? ›

Conclusion. Staying overnight in Monument Valley is more than worth it for those seeking to fully experience the beauty, culture, and tranquility of this iconic landscape.

Can I visit Monument Valley without a tour? ›

Take a Hike Through Monument Valley

There are only three trails inside the park's boundary that you can hike without a guide or backcountry permit. You must sign in at the visitor center before you embark on your self-guided hike. For more hiking inside the park, see the section above on hiring a guide.

What not to do in Navajo Nation? ›

Please respect tribal beliefs. No Dumping of Cremations on Navajo land. Climbing and Base Jumping is STRICTLY Prohibited in Navajo Tribal Park areas. Please abide by the humble religious requests of the Navajo people and do not climb on the Monuments, Sacred Sites, and/or Buttes.

What is the poorest Indian reservation? ›

Pine Ridge is the eighth-largest reservation in the United States and it is the poorest.

Can you carry a gun on a Navajo reservation? ›

Arizona Specific Indian Reservations

Navajo Nation: According to HandgunLaw.us, carrying a deadly weapon, including a firearm, is prohibited within the Navajo Nation.

Why isn't Colorado national monument a national park? ›

A: The difference lies in how they are established. A National Park is set aside by an act of Congress, which after approval, requires the president's signature. A National Monument is established by presidential proclamation and doesn't require an act of Congress.

What is the difference between a national park and a national monument? ›

Generally, a national park contains a variety of resources and encompasses large land or water areas to help provide adequate protection of the resources. A national monument is intended to preserve at least one nationally significant resource.

Which national park is Monument Valley in? ›

Location. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is located in a remote area on the Utah/Arizona border. Here's an idea of how far it is from notable destinations: Lake Powell: 143 miles.

Is Monument Valley one of the wonders of the world? ›

Combined with the surrounding mesas, buttes, and desert environment, it truly is one of the natural wonders of the world. Set aside by the Navajo Tribal Council in 1958, the park covers almost 92,000 acres in northern Arizona and southern Utah and lies within the Navajo Nation reservation.

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