Monument Valley Travel Guide.

 Monument Valley 

Monument Valley boasts sandstone masterpieces that tower at heights of 400 to 1,000 ft., 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. Miles of mesas and buttes, shrubs, trees, and windblown sand, all comprising the magnificent colors of the valley, surround the fragile pinnacles of rock. All of this harmoniously combines to make Monument Valley a truly wondrous experience.

·        Location from Monticello is 91.6 miles along Hwy 191 which changes to Hwy 163 after leaving the Bluff area.  At the crossroads within Monument Valley, make a left to access the Tribal Park; it is 5.8 miles to the Visitor Center.  

Gouldings Lodge is a right hand turn at the crossroads; featuring lodging, campground, John Wayne Museum, Gouldings Home/Trading Post Museum/Stagecoach Dining Room/Tours and much more.

Monument Valley Tribal Park

Rates

Per Vehicle Pass: $20 per non-commercial vehicle up to 4 people ($6 each additional passenger)

Per Individual Pass: $10 per walk-in, bicycle, or motorcycle

Commercial Pass: (based on capacity of vehicle)

1-4 Passengers: $35 (additional $6 each)

5-15 Passengers: $100

15-25 Passengers: $125

26+ Passengers: $300

*General Admission Passes do not include Backcountry Permits. If you wish to hike and/or camp beyond the park, you must purchase a permit before entering. Backcountry Permits are for hiking and camping on designated trails and campgrounds. If you are caught hiking or camping without a Backcountry Permit, or in unauthorized territory, additional fees will apply.

Visitor Center Hours of Operation

April 1 – September 30 (Peak Season): 6 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days a week

October 1 – March 30 (Off Season): 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., 7 days a week

CLOSED: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day

*Navajo Nation honors Daylight Savings Time, DST

Please abide by all Navajo Nation Laws

All areas on the Navajo Nation are closed to non-Navajos unless you have a valid pass or permit issued by the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department or other delegated tribal authority. Failure to have a permit is considered trespassing on a Federal Indian Reservation.

DO NOT desecrate Navajo lands and violate the trust of the Navajo people by discarding cremated human remains on tribal lands. Please respect our tribal beliefs.

NO ROCK CLIMBING on Navajo Land. Please abide by the humble religious requests of the Navajo people and do not climb the Monuments. “Navajo law will be strictly enforced on this issue,” Parks Department Manager. 

NO DRONES ALLOWED on Navajo Land.

Our Mission is to protect, preserve and manage tribal parks, monuments and recreation areas for the perpetual enjoyment and benefit of the Navajo Nation – the spectacular landscapes, buttes, canyons, clean air, diversity of plants and wildlife, and areas of beauty and solitude.

Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation

Land Department/Parks & Recreation

48 West Taylor Rd., Bldg. #8966, Hwy 264

St. Michaels, Arizona 86515

Phone: (928) 871-6647

Email: ltsinijinnie@navajonationpark.org

Website: https://navajonationparks.org/

Monument Valley is the mecca for Hollywood films, commercials, television series scenes.  Once you experience this wondrous area of the 4 Corners region, you will never forget it.

Mary Cokenour

Late Fall at Nine Mile Canyon - Part Three.

Late fall, early December, and here we were making our way through Nine Mile Canyon once again. When we were there in October, there were many vehicles around full of tourists visiting the sites on the pamphlet map. Today, we were waved at by local ranchers, or oil workers, driving by; nice to know we were remembered (my blog advertising magnets on the doors of the SUV told them who we were).

I made sure to take a few photos of the exact places we stopped the first time, landscape wise, so you can see the differences the weather can make on the area. The panorama was taken at mile mark 10.7; go to Part One to see how the landscape changed in just over one month.

The first 30 miles or so were a scenic winter wonderland; then the scenery changed completely.  It was as if someone had drawn a line through the area and said, "Ok snow, you stay on that side only!"




We had already made plans to drive slowly along the roadway and take photos of all we could see.  There are many abandoned homes dating back to the pioneers; take note of the differences in building materials and styles.

 

While we can only take one day trips, you might wonder if there is camping available in Nine Mile Canyon, and the answer is yes.  At 24.0 miles, Nine Mile Ranch and Campgrounds would be your haven; it's closed for the winter season, but I did notice that the cabins do have picnic tables and barbecues for anyone renting them out.

 

Here comes some exciting photos for those who appreciate Rock Art; the road to Harmon Canyon is at 33.6 miles.  We didn't travel to the canyon area, that's for another day; park and look across at the low rock walls across from the canyon road...panels of rock art!  One of the panels definitely has Elk, however, with the snowy scenery; we decided to pretend they were reindeer.  What?   Did you think that Santa and his reindeer didn't visit Nine Mile Canyon; well here's proof that he did and the ancient people of this area noticed!

 

 

We discovered another clue to finding, not just rock art, but ruin sites...follow the mud swallows.   At many of the sites we found, not on the pamphlet map, there were mud swallow nests tucked into the wall crevices nearby.  At mile mark 37.8, we first noticed the nests high up on the walls, but down below were inscriptions from 1818.

Across from this site, I was able to make a new friend; in a pasture was a bull.  Going across the road, I softly spoke to him and he began to make his way closer to the fence.  I continually made soothing noises at him, and told him how handsome he was...he began to pose.  At one point, he lowered his head and made a soft lowing sound (not a moo and not a bellow); to me it was as if he was saying, "Ah shucks ma'am".  I bid him goodbye, and he walked away to do, well whatever bulls do; but he was a bit of a sweetheart.

The sun decided to make an appearance; rays of light plus shadows from clouds made the landscape pop!

I like to make believe these are castle towers. 

Mile mark 38.1 brings you to an abandoned stone house with a corral nearby; check out the walls behind the corral to see an "Indian wall" with timbers still holding up a portion of stone roof.

At mile mark 38.6, another road leads northward to Gate Canyon, Summit Vista, Smith's Well, and eventually ends at Route 40 to either Myton or Duchesne.  Nope, didn't go this way yet, but this is where I'm stopping this part of our story.  Part Four you'll see what other goodies we found as we continue up to mile mark 50 on the main road.  I will leave you with a few interesting sites and more wildlife.



Featured in Part One; looks starker in the wintery sky.

Ooooo, Bunny!



Mary Cokenour

Abundant Campsites in the Abajo Mountains.

Four years ago hubby and I noticed a couple of signs indicating the locations of Indian ruins.  However, the roads leading to them were very unsuitable for a car; so we kept saying that we would make more of an effort once we got a Jeep or SUV.  Two years later we finally purchased a used SUV and made the trip back up North Creek Road (aka Abajo Mountain Loop Drive, Abajo Drive) to visit those elusive ruins.  The signs were no longer on the roadway; there are so many dirt roads leading to who knows where and we couldn't remember. 



Jenna
 

Mule Deer
 

Yesterday I decided to take the ride back up the mountain road, and took my dog Jenna with me.  She had a great time running through grassy fields, and surprisingly didn't bark at, or chase, any of the mule deer in the area.  We investigated a few of the dirt roads by parking my car safely off the main road, and walking through to see what we could see.  I did see a male wild turkey, but they can walk faster than I thought; by the time I had the camera ready, it was already into the brush.

I didn't find any ruins, just too many dirt roads to investigate; however, there are so many places to go camping up there!  Many sites are visible from the roadway, many you have to drive a little way to.  There are two campgrounds up in the Abajos that are run by the Forestry service, Dalton Springs and Buckboard.  They can accommodate RVs, but have no hookups; there are toilets of a sort, and no electricity to charge your cellphones, Ipads or laptops.  The camp sites around the three lakes can accommodate small camping trailers, but no mansions on wheels.

Guess I better tell you how to get to a few places; at the corner of 200 South and Main Street in Monticello, Utah is the Welcome Center.  Take 200 South west and follow the street as it curves to the left; keep following this curvy street and you'll finally see the beginning of the road up into the mountains.  As you travel the road, be careful of the deer, they're out any time they want to be; you're the visitor, not them.  The first place I investigated was at the 4.5 mile mark, a dirt road off to the right side of the road; there are camp sites and the most beautiful view of the valley, Monticello and the road (Route 491) going off towards Colorado.  Small trailers can get through, huge motor homes...not; continue up the mountain road and you'll see the signs for Dalton Springs and Buckboard to accommodate those.

View of valley and the La Sal Mountains
 

You'll have to travel about 10 miles before you get to a fork in the road; to the left leads to Foy Lake, to the right leads to Harts Draw Road and finally to Route 211.  All along the way you'll see breath taking scenery of the mountains.








Now if you only travel about 9 miles, you're going to see a graded road on the right which leads to a 3-way crossroads after curving up the hill.  If you take the road going straight, that is Spring Creek Road; it is bumpy here and there, but a car can traverse the entire road until it comes out on Route 191 (8.5 mile drive).  All along the road are dirt roads where many camp sites are visible via the road, and some you have to drive a little way to.  The speed limit is marked as 35, but I did 20 with my car; many a squirrel and chipmunk crossing the road were thankful for that.



If you want to go directly onto Spring Creek Road from Route 191, there are no signs indicating it by name, no mile markers nearby, just a simple white marker with the number 103 on it.  I can tell you though that it is 4 miles north from the town of Monticello; and the photo gives you a hint of what the entrance looks like currently.  There are many ranches along Spring Creek Road, so if you see "Private Property" and/or "No Trespassing" signs, YES!  they are meant for you.


Basically, if you are looking to camp outdoors and leave all the modern conveniences of the world; the Abajo Mountains is your mecca.  It is peaceful, quiet, serene; you can commune with nature and forget about stresses in your life.  Just enjoy.

Mary Cokenour