One Day at Monument Valley

By Ofelia Montelongo

Thursday, July 14, 2016 at 10:59 a.m.

Ofelia Montelongo The scenic drive to Monument Valley. 1/47

Ofelia Montelongo The scenic drive to Monument Valley. 2/47

Ofelia Montelongo Monument Valley is located on the Arizona-Utah border. 3/47

Ofelia Montelongo The first glimpse of Monument Valley. 4/47

Ofelia Montelongo The Mittens and Merrick Butte. 5/47

Ofelia Montelongo Monument Valley. 6/47

Ofelia Montelongo One of the Mittens. 7/47

Ofelia Montelongo One of the Mittens. 8/47

Ofelia Montelongo John Wayne's favorite spot in Monument Valley. 9/47

Ofelia Montelongo Old Western movie posters in the gift store. 10/47

Ofelia Montelongo Monument Valley and the View Hotel. 11/47

Ofelia Montelongo The view from Utah. 12/47

Ofelia Montelongo The view from Utah. 13/47

Ofelia Montelongo Forrest Gump stopped running at this spot. 14/47

Ofelia Montelongo This is near the start of the guided tour. 15/47

Ofelia Montelongo During the guided tours, you can admire the Valley in open-air vehicles. 16/47

Ofelia Montelongo Selfie sticks are allowed. 17/47

Ofelia Montelongo One of the Mittens. 18/47

Ofelia Montelongo One of the roads in the Valley. 19/47

Ofelia Montelongo One of the stops in the Valley. 20/47

Ofelia Montelongo There are also self-guided options if you want to take your own car. 21/47

Ofelia Montelongo One of the Mittens. 22/47

Ofelia Montelongo The Three Sisters. 23/47

Ofelia Montelongo The Valley is more than the Mittens. These masterpieces can be from 400 to 1,000 feet tall. 24/47

Ofelia Montelongo The Valley is more than the Mittens. These masterpieces can be from 400 to 1,000 feet tall. 25/47

Ofelia Montelongo The Valley is more than the Mittens. These masterpieces can be from 400 to 1,000 feet tall. 26/47

Ofelia Montelongo The Valley is more than the Mittens. These masterpieces can be from 400 to 1,000 feet tall. 27/47

Ofelia Montelongo This is the Big Hogan, one of the stops you can only reach on a guided tour. 28/47

Ofelia Montelongo This is the Big Hogan, one of the stops you can only reach on a guided tour. 29/47

Ofelia Montelongo In this area, you can listen to Navajo music. 30/47

Ofelia Montelongo This is one of the stops you can only reach on a guided tour. 31/47

Ofelia Montelongo This is one of the stops you can only reach on a guided tour. 32/47

Ofelia Montelongo The Valley is more than the Mittens. These masterpieces can be from 400 to 1,000 feet tall. 33/47

Ofelia Montelongo This is one of the stops you can only reach on a guided tour. 34/47

Ofelia Montelongo Livestock in the Valley. 35/47

Ofelia Montelongo You can try different poses for your pictures during the tour stops. 36/47

Ofelia Montelongo The Valley is more than the Mittens. These masterpieces can be from 400 to 1,000 feet tall. 37/47

Ofelia Montelongo This is one of the stops you can only reach on a guided tour. This hole is called “Ear of the Wind." 38/47

Ofelia Montelongo This is one of the stops you can only reach on a guided tour. 39/47

Ofelia Montelongo Totem Pole view. 40/47

Ofelia Montelongo The Valley drive is a rough dirt road. 41/47

Ofelia Montelongo The Three Sisters. 42/47

Ofelia Montelongo You can get your picture taken with a horse at the John Wayne Spirit stop. 43/47

Ofelia Montelongo Monument Valley sunset. 44/47

Ofelia Montelongo Monument Valley sunset at the Artist's Point. 45/47

Ofelia Montelongo Monument Valley sunset at the Artist's Point. 46/47

Ofelia Montelongo Monument Valley sunset at the Artist's Point. 47/47

One Day at Monument Valley

You have probably seen Monument Valley in old Western movies and wondered if those astonishing red-looking mountains were real or just a Hollywood movie set. Well, they are real! And they are located on the Arizona-Utah border, approximately 320 miles away from Phoenix. The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park has a total of 29,817 acres of desert landscapes and sandstone buttes. The entrance fee is $20 per vehicle with up to four people. You can take a 17-mile self-guided drive in your own car, or book a guided tour in an open-air Jeep or truck. The guided tours are operated by Navajo guides and take you farther into the Valley than you can go in your self-guided vehicle. Some tips: Book your hotel room in advance; there are only a handful of hotels nearby. The Valley drive is on a bumpy dirt road, so be extra careful driving around.

ALL PHOTOS BY OFELIA MONTELONGO

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