Monument Valley

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Today, we travelled from Page, AZ, to Monument Valley, UT. The trip this beautiful Sunday morning was easy and scenic. The first leg of the 140-mile route took us southeast on AZ-89 to Shonto where we redieseled the RV at an opportune Shell service station in the middle of nowhere. From there, we headed northeast on US-160 and US-163 into Monument Valley, UT. We checked-in and set up at Site 32 in the Monument Valley KOA Journey. We lost an hour of time today because unlike Arizonians, who do not save their daylight time, Utahans and the Navajo Nation do, and are on Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) now.

Our campground is across the highway from Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. At check-in, our Navajo hostess, Val, suggested options for visiting this park. We wanted to drive through on our own rather than with a tour group, and wisely decided to rent a Jeep from the campground to handle the park’s rough unpaved roads.

Around 2 pm, we picked up a bright red Jeep Wrangler parked by the office and Jane drove us to the Monument Valley park entrance. After learning how to roll down the windows (middle front console controls), we each paid the $8 entrance fee and proceeded to the parking lot.

We then walked  through the Visitor Center. There were nice vistas of some of the park’s stone monuments from an outdoor viewing area at the center which also had a gift shop selling Navajo and southwestern gifts. The museum area was rather small but traced the history of the Navajo Nation and another small room was devoted to the Navajo Code Talkers whose support was instrumental in the U.S. victory in the Pacific theatre during World War II. 

Welcome Sign

Visitor Center

Hotel & Restaurant

Mittens & Merrick Butte from Visitor Center

After the Visitor Center, we were ready for adventure. In Monument Valley Park, visitors drive around a 17-mile loop and observe eleven named monuments (rock formations) from the road and designated parking areas. Jane continued behind the wheel and maneuvered the rough unpaved road which was very jarring at times. At the beginning of the route, the road was crowded but as we progressed, the vehicles became more spaced out. 

Jane developed a fondness for driving the Jeep despite the fickleness of its power steering and the ineptness of its shocks. She drove us around the entire loop as we parked, got out of the Jeep, observed and photographed monuments, then climbed back in, and continued driving.

—— Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park ——

West Mitten

East Mitten

Merrick Butte

Elephant Butte

Three Sisters

Concession at John Ford’s Point

Camel Butte

Totem Pole

Spearhead Mesa

Having off-road Fun

North Window Overlook

Outback Janie

The Thumb

Outback Janie behind the Wheel

After our monument-spotting adventure, we drove on paved roads a few miles to Goulding Lodge where we topped off the gas tank (2.2 gals) and washed the dust off the Jeep. (I had to get quarters from the gas station and was able to find three from the Denver mint that I hadn’t found in currency back east.) 

We returned to the campground, turned in the Jeep, and relaxed in the motorhome. Jane switched roles from off-road adventure guide to gourmet cook and whipped up a delicious homemade meal. We overnighted with strong winds buffeting the RV.