Monument Valley, a place known for its butte formations hovering over the landscape, is a popular spot to explore in northeastern Arizona. Not only is it an iconic movie scene, where Forrest Gump finishes his run, it’s also an amazing way to experience the land that is sacred by the Native American tribe, Navajo Nation. Whether you are coming from Grand Canyon National Park (south rim) or are on your way to Arches National Park, here is everything you need to know about visiting the Monument Valley on your west coast adventure.

Know Before You Go

Just north of the Arizona-Utah border, Monument Valley Tribal Park is maintained and protected by Navajo National Parks & Recreation. It is important to respect this sacred landscape while visiting the park. It costs $8 per person, per day to enter the park and visitors are allowed to enter and exit the park as much as they’d like on the day that they buy a pass. It is best to visit the park earlier in the day to avoid the heat and crowds.

RVs and motorcycles are not permitted on Valley Drive. Therefore, you will need to book a driving tour if you plan on visiting the park by RV. Exploring the park with a guide is common and recommended by many travelers. The road in the park is very bumpy and dusty and may not be drivable during rainstorms. Therefore, you should try to visit the park on a nice day.

Ways to Explore

The beauty of Monument Valley can be explored in multiple ways. You can go on a guided tour, stop at different viewpoints, and check out some famous spots. Here are some of the best ways to experience Monument Valley.

Hike Wildcat Trail

As the only public hike in the valley, Wildcat Trail is a very popular hike in Monument Valley Tribal Park. This easy, 3.9-mile hike takes hikers around both the West and East Mitten Buttes, which are some of the most famous landmarks in the American West desert. With the wide-open space and surreal scenery, hikers will get a real Wild West experience on this trail. To avoid both the heat and crowds, you should aim to arrive at the park and complete this hike earlier in the day.

Cruise Down Valley Drive

Open to the public, the 17-mile Valley Drive offers breathtaking views of the wide-open desert landscape. Stop at several different viewpoints along the way, such as John Ford’s Point, which offers 360 views from the West Mitten Butte. Other spots worth noting are, of course, Forrest Gump Point, which is only 20 minutes from the visitor center, and Teardrop Arch, a giant vertical crack that offers a picturesque view of the valley.

Go On a Guided Tour

Since the road on Valley Drive is often inaccessible or difficult to drive down, going with a guide is recommended. Going on a half or full-day Jeep tour with a Navajo guide is a fun way to explore the cliffs and arches in off-road areas. There are several other tours offered that you can choose from, such as the Mystery Valley Guided Tour that takes you to see Anasazi sites and petroglyphs or the Lower Monument Valley Tour which allows visitors to view the Totem Pole and other rock structures up close.

Where to Stay

• Goulding’s Resort RV & Campground is located just outside of Monument Valley and has full hookups
• The View Campground has amazing sunset views and has no hookups
• Monument Valley KOA Journey offers several amenities and has full hookups 
• Arrowhead Campground offers a remote experience and has no hookups

With its Native American history, towering rock structures, and surreal sunsets, Monument Valley is a must-visit place in the American West. We hope that this guide helped you figure out how you want to explore this amazing park. In addition to Monument Valley, here are some other desert landscapes in the U.S. worth exploring.

See you on the road!