Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Things to do
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Hiking the Wildcat Trail
The Wildcat Trail is a 3.2-mile loop hike (4 miles total, including the return to the trailhead and parking area) into one of the most scenic areas that Monument Valley has to offer. This trail lets hikers feel like they stepped back in time into the Wild West.
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Mexican Hat
Mexican Hat, one of Utah’s strangest rock formations, balances a flattened pancake disk atop a 300-foot-high talus cone. It’s a novel route and quick summit for expert desert rock climbers.
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Monument Valley Area Scenic Drives
A scenic drive around Monument Valley is one of the area’s most popular activities, and for good reason. High-clearance vehicles are recommended to navigate the dirt, gravel and red rock road.
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Guided Jeep Tours
Butte after butte and mesas upon mesas are calling your name. Guided jeep tours of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park are a great way to take in the iconic landscape. It is just as much fun for kids as adults, and a great morning or afternoon activity for families.
Goulding's Lodge is tucked under soaring rimrock cliffs two miles west of the Monument Valley.
Photo: Austen Diamond
Order up! Diners rave about the Navajo flatbread tacos from Goulding's Lodge. Delight in Southwestern and Navajo cuisine throughout Monument Valley.
Where to Stay: Hotels, Lodging and Camping
Find 4-star hotels, bed and breakfasts, roadside motels and campgrounds for tents and RVs — pet-friendly and family-friendly, too.
Goulding's Lodge: Villas, RV Parks, Cabins
Goulding's Lodge, in Oljato-Monument Valley, offers villas with views, apartments with kitchenettes, a trading post, an indoor pool, and an on-site restaurant serving authentic Southwestern and native Navajo cuisine. Tucked under soaring rimrock cliffs two miles west of the Monument Valley, Gouldings also boasts a campground with RV hookups, a pool and separate cabins. Explore their guided tour opportunities as well.
The View Hotel: Modern Cabins in Monument Valley
The View Hotel is the only lodging within Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Make reservations well in advance to score premium modern cabins with sensational Monument Valley views.
Sleep in Mexican Hat: The Nearest Town to Monument Valley
Mexican Hat is a short 20-mile drive from visitor center. Go northeast on U.S. 163 where guests stay at Hat Rock Inn, Mexican Hat Lodge or San Juan Inn and Trading Post. Stop for a bite to eat at Hat Rock Café, Singin’ Steaks or Old Bridge Grill Cafe.
Camp at Goosenecks State Park
Prefer to camp? Goosenecks State Park (32 miles from Monument Valley Visitor Center) offers campsites to travelers en route to Monument Valley.
Drive 52 minutes north to Bluff, where Bluff Dwellings Resort & Spa pampers road trippers to a desert oasis built into sandstone cliffs. Find additional accommodations to the south in Kayenta, Arizona.
Photo: Michael Kunde
Photo: Austen Diamond
Where is Monument Valley?
Monument Valley Tribal Park spans over 90,000 miles across southeastern Utah and northern Arizona. It’s vast and remote, deserving plenty of time to explore. From the north, the Utah towns of Mexican Hat, Bluff, Blanding and Monticello provide gateway town amenities for lodging, dining, outfitters, gas and groceries. Kayenta is the closest Arizona town to Monument Valley’s south.
Getting to Monument Valley
The Monument Valley Tribal Park Visitor Center sits about 7 hours from the Salt Lake International Airport, 7 hours from the Las Vegas airport, 5 hours from the Phoenix airport and 5 hours from the St. George airport.
Roadtrippers often extend their Monument Valley trek with adventures in other parks. The visitor center is under an hour from Goosenecks State Park, under 2 hours from Bears Ears National Monument and Valley of the Gods, and under 2 hours from Four Corners National Monument. Lake Powell’s Wahweap Marina and Arches National Park sit just over 2 hours aways from the visitor center. Plan on a 4-hour car ride from Zion National Park and 4.5 hours from Bryce Canyon National Park.
How Long Does It Take to Drive the Loop?
Most people spend about 3 hours driving Monument Valley’s 17-mile loop road. Don’t forget to factor in these five scenic stops along the way.
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