435-727-5870 • navajonationparks.org

Located in southeast Utah and the northern border of Arizona lies the sandstone buttes of Monument Valley that are distinctly familiar thanks to Hollywood’s long love affair with this land. You will recognize the amazing buttes set against the dramatic desert landscape that have been used in many films, particularly the John Wayne/John Ford Western movies or more recently Forrest Gump, Back to the Future III, the 2013 Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp, and Transformers.

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. The valley is accessible where it sits off US Hwy 163, just east of Goulding’s Lodge.

Many of the buttes can be seen right from US Hwy 163, but to really see the formations, drive the 17-mile dirt road which has eleven designated stops (allow two to four hours).

Many of the formations have been named by the Navajo for spiritual references, or by early settlers of the area.

Unlike a U.S. national park or monument, this park is managed by the Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation. Rules for use of this park are different than national parks. Please be very respectful. There are occupancy limits at all tribal park locations. Restrictions can change unexpectedly so call or check their website for updates.

The park has a visitor center, restaurant, campground, and gift shop. Various tours are available including horseback tours and vehicle tours, ranging from two to three hours, or all-day tours which also visit adjacent Mystery Valley. All tours are led by local Navajo guides and are a great way to learn about the history and culture of the area.

For your planning purposes, it is a three-hour drive from Moab to the visitor center. Bluff is only 54 miles away, making a great basecamp.