Monument Valley

An iconic symbol of the American West and the heart of the Navajo Nation, Monument Valley is still as raw, natural and unspoiled as it was hundreds of years ago. The valley hosts towering sandstone rock formations – affectionately known as the Merrick and Mitten Buttes – that soar 400 to 1,000 feet above the valley floor. Couple this with surrounding mesas and vast desert expanse, and the sheer grandeur of the place is breathtaking.

Used time and again as a film set by Hollywood, Monument Valley is surprisingly little affected by tourism, demonstrating the reverence Arizona’s tribal communities have for the land, and making a visit here a highlight of any trip to the American West. Hike around the 4-mile Wildcat Trail to see the most scenic areas Monument Valley has to offer. Take a Navajo-guided Jeep tour for up-close views of ancient cliff dwellings, Ancestral Puebloan ruins and native rock art panels. And don’t miss out on getting a sense of what it was like to be a cowboy or pioneer travelling through the valley with a horse riding trip through the endless expanse. Even a quick panoramic drive through Monument Valley will be well worth your while.