We decided we would be remiss driving towards Utah from the Grand Canyon and skipping Monument Valley. Our campground had incredible views and I watched the sun set over a butte through my sliding glass door (it was a bit chilly). In the morning, the campground allowed us to park our trailer across the street as we visited Monument Valley.
Monument Valley is on tribal land, so there was a small ($8/pp) entrance fee. The dogs came with us but were required to stay in the truck. The dirt driving trail feels like an off road excursion and was one of the more challenging activities of our trip on my back. Despite the pain, the views were worth it!
We spent about two hours driving the 17-mile loop, getting out at some of the lookouts. There were several Navajo dogs looking for food from visitors, but we told the kids that one injured rescue was all we could currently take on.
There were a few Navajo vendors, but most stands were empty during off-season. We also saw booths for jeep tours and a small ranch where visitors could take horseback tours of the valley.
History of the formations
During the Permian age, the land that Monument Valley sits on was all under water. Sediment was deposited and cemented while pressure from the water also shaped the rock. Eventually, the area became a plateau. Over 50 million years, water and wind lovingly wore down areas of rock, revealing the layers beneath.
Here’s a brief overview of the rock formations in order of eroded rock:
1. Plateau: Large, raised flat surface area
2. Mesa: Big, flat-topped mountains with at least one steep side.
3. Buttes (pronounce be-you-t): These are the smaller, flat topped mountains or hills. They have very steep slopes on each side and typically have a hard type of rock at the very top.
4. Spires or Needles: a butte that has eroded to create a skinny, isolated column of rock.
It was a quick stop, but well worth it!