What we wish we knew before visiting Monument Valley
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- Опубликовано: 31 май 2024
- Monument Valley is located in a pretty remote area by the Utah-Arizona state line, near the four corners area. We wished we knew more before we visited. In this video, we share with you things we learned about food, tours, and other general information.
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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:38 Food
2:11 Lodging
6:20 One road & two hikes
8:00 Tours
9:34 Pros of tours
13:59 Cons of tours
15:50 Other helpful tips
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Развлечения
Monument Valley is in no way a National Park. This is sacred Navajo land. They have the hotel and promote local tour guides for income to live. The tours are reasonable. They have wear and tear on their vehicles, the tours are out for extended time and bring you to places you are either not allowed to go with your car or unable to navigate the terrain with your car. They are not there to hold tourist's hands. I would not want to see a million signs warning people to take care of themselves. It is the high desert. There is cold, there is snow in the winter. On the food situation. The View does have the restaurant for lunch or dinner. It is a little pricey but the food was very good. The View also provides a great complimentary continental breakfast. Linda's off site does deliver meals for dinner (order ahead) to a central pickup point for View guests. (order form in rooms) Every room has a refrigerator and microwave as well as coffee maker. There is a grocery store at Goulding's a few miles straight out of Monument Valley. (just past the gas station at Gouldings) Hiking is not really the point of this area. It is stunningly beautiful rock formations. To see them you really need a higher car/suv or take one of many many different tours by many many different companies. Oh boy ok that is it for me. Just do your research. Oh just one more thing. The town of Kayenta on the way from the south (south of the valley) has a Burger King with a wonderful exhibit of the WWII Navajo Code Talkers. These men used the Navajo unwritten language to make an unbreakable code which was instrumental in winning Iwo Jima. Def worthwhile seeing.
Thank you for sharing, Janet.
give me a break....if they organised the place it would be a lot better...
As far as food, there are other places to eat nearby in Kayenta which is a small community on Navajo land. I am Dineh/Navajo & I like to eat in Kayenta. They have small restaurants, cafe. So, the View is not the only place to eat. I am still wowed by Monument Valley no matter how many times I go there. It is a special place for my people especially those who live there.
Thanks so much for sharing! You live in a beautiful place.
Stay im Kayenta,AZ Very nice motels/hotel's & places to eat.. & not that far to drive back to Monument Valley either.
Thanks for the tips!
When my son and I were there a year ago, we were pelted by the wind and sand but we were still glad to be there
Ouch! Makes for a great memory though. Glad you were still able to go.
We took the Sunset Tour, and were very impressed. Besides the incredible scenery, we heard about and were shown Navajo life direct from our guide. It wasn’t the ‘sunset’ aspects as much as the landscape and culture. Two thumbs up, highly recommend.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you SO much for this! We are staying in The View cabins in September, traveling from Liverpool UK, the info you have provided is invaluable!! THANK YOU X
Glad it was helpful! Have a great time.
This is a very nice video I have been there many times.❤ 19:30
First off....my wife and I are big fans of your site. We just retired and are going to be spending a lot of time traveling around the western side of the US including of course the Rockies. We are just now completing a 2 week trip from Phx up through Durango, Denver, Arches, Monument Valley and back to Phx and referenced your site along they way. (BTW.....Winter Park and Red Rocks Amphitheater concerts were amazing.) We're certainly not "foodies" either but we were actually pleasantly surprised (after listening to your not-so-favorable observations) with the quality of the food and the service at the Goulding's Stagecoach restaurant. We were close to driving down the road, but decided to give the Goulding site a try. We did both breakfast and dinner and were very happy with what we got. Other than one couple that sent back their biscuits and gravy (it didn't look too good to us either) everyone else seemed to also be happy with their meals. So, to folks that don't want to cook their own food or drive 30 mins down the road, we'd say that you might want to give the Goulding's restaurant a try. Keep up the great vids. We're looking for more great places in the Rockies to check out.
Thanks for watching and for sharing your experience.
I’ve seen a few of your videos. Not many, but I love how you are like the rest of us everyday folks… you don’t praise absolutely everything and give us false hope. You sugar coat the inconveniences and that’s what makes your videos great. Thank you.
I appreciate that and thank you. Thanks for watching.
We had the Navajo dinners made by Linda delivered to the View Hotel. Home cooking, delicious. We did the loop trail in a Toyota Rav4 AWD with no issues at all. Don't forget the iconic photo from Forrest Gump Point just up the road.
That is awesome!
Great video giving specific little details that makes a big difference in a visit there. Thank you!
Our pleasure!
Your video and tips are so very helpful! Thank you! We are traveling to Monument Valley in two weeks and enjoyed the information you provided.
Our pleasure!
Yes thanks for this. Quite thorough. If something is a bad deal, it's OK to say it's bad. Like taking the open air loop tour, It is an extremely miserable experience. If there is other traffic you will be eating a lot of dust thrown up from the sandy road. You will probably be sweating a lot from the open air heat and it is hard to believe how bad the road is.
My friend and I went in his Jeep and we were worried about wrecking his suspension (Jeep)
I live in Arizona and your right, your pretty much on your own in Indigenous parks.
I have a suggestion, a better experience is driving 163 from Kayenta one end of the Valley to Mexican Hat, the other end. IMO you'l see amazing things right off the road, including Forrest Gump look out. One of America's iconic views and you will only get out of your air conditioned car to take a picture
Thanks for watching!
This is your 2nd video I’ve watched. Nice reporting. Good resource for us to have. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
Guys, Thanks very much for an excellent VLOG. My wife and I are due for a road trip starting in September and so we have been trawling all the you tube reviews. We both love yours! We are starting in Phoenix then Tombstone, Roswell, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Four Corners, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Vegas and Death Valley. Its all a bit different from our home in the UK and we really appreciated your no bullshit, honest (not sponsored!) information. Great, thanks again.
We're so glad you've found our videos helpful! Have a wonderful trip...you have an amazing one planned!
I agree on the honest reviews! I appreciate it a lot.
I drove there , beautiful !! And stayed close to Moab
Hi guys, great video, very informative. I visited Monument Valley just before you in August last year, after I'd been to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks as well as Antelope Canyon. I'd previously left a comment on a video you did regarding Angels Landing, and in regard to that I am pleased to say I was successful in climbing it! Getting back to Monument Valley, I agree with you that it is expensive, however you go there for the experience, and in my view, it is definitely worth it. I stayed at the View Hotel for 1 night, went on a Sunset tour which went off the loop road to areas only allowed by the authorized tour operators, and had dinner at the View Hotel. The total cost for my 1 night experience was well over Australian $700.00 (over USD500.00), and I was there for less than 14 hours. Whilst it was expensive for me (I was traveling by myself), I treated it as a "one-off" (as I was visiting from Australia) and therefore I was prepared to pay for the experience. Yes, there are cheaper options, however as you know, the views from the View Hotel of sunset and sunrise were "priceless". For anyone thinking of visiting Monument Valley, DO IT!!
Thanks for your continued support! And congratulations on Angels Landing!
I just asked this question about whether it's worth the price or to stay come one less expensive in the 2 other cities further away.
you say it's worth the price.
Thanks for that, Steve, New Zealand
We pulled our trailer and stayed at Gouldings RV, and our parents stayed in a cabin. Kids loved the pool and the wife enjoyed the attached laundry. We were glad we had our camper with our own food. For sure not a food destination. However, make sure you buy the Blue-Bird flower. It makes the best fry bread, and we are going to try it for pizza also. We were there in late March and the temps were perfect. If you are coming from Grand Canyon, the Cameron Trading Post has really good food.
I love your honest, reality approach to your travel videos.
This was needed. Thank you
They have restaurants in Kayenta.
Thanks heaps. You guys are so great, you're sweet! Your comments on sunset & sunrise helped a lot as I am trying to plan which time to do the tour. I will now visit the Navajo national Monument! Brillaint. Thanks so much.
Our pleasure!
I love your videos they are always filled with info many others don’t include. We tried 3 yrs ago to Monument valley and there was a bad winter storm moving in with lots of snow so we didn’t go. Headed south. Then the C came along and the park was closed and surrounding things on the Rez and lockdowns. The Navaho President just recently told the people to take off the masks and let’s get things all open again. The tribe had to endure the stores closing really early. Gas stations closed up and you could only get fuel if you had a credit card after hours as they left the pumps on. This was really sad for the kids in school and all the sporting events got cancelled. By the way there’s a few things one should see in Chinle. There’s a visitors center there and a gorgeous Canyon too see and you drive it yourself and there’s lots of pullovers to stop and see the views and some story boards here and there. So again, thank you for the inside info and prayerfully I will make it to Monument Valley and four corners this year!
You're welcome! Thanks for your comment.
thank you so much!
Thanks you for this awesome video and all the tips 🙂
You're welcome. Thanks for watching.
Great video guys of this great place. Thanks!
Our pleasure!
Your videos are so nice with so much to know and learn from you guys, thanks.❤
Our pleasure!
You are on Navajo land not a national park and the frybread are delicious 😋 i went here 2 times and everytime i was amazed this is a place magical for many reasons i can't to explain . there are frybread trailers the long of tge road we came from.Chinle. we could to make a stop and enjoy a mouton stew a navajo frybread burger .☺ for 12 $
Lol, I really love and appreciate your honesty. 👍
Always!
Thanks for the tips. I hope to visit Monument Valley this spring and this was very helpful. 👍
Any time!
Thank you, great job. Good info & photos. Im planning on my 1st visit soon. From FL.
Have a great time.
Thanks for all information 🙌🏼
Our pleasure!
Thank you! Great, informative, video. We plan to go there in January 2024.
Thanks for this, we are planning to visit Monument Valley in June so this was really useful information
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for this helpful video!
You're welcome!
Enjoyed the video. Good information for those thinking about traveling to the area. Two things. First, I drove 6 hours to do the hike, and my girlfriend just giggled when we finished. It was beautiful for sure but not what I was expecting. Second, I could eat Navajo tacos every day. Of course, I wouldn't be able to hike much because I would be to overweight 😉
Haha! Thanks for watching.
Navajo tacos. My mind went full cannibal 😂. No thanks
Thank you very much for making this video. It was very helpful in my planning of visit to MV in a month.
Have a great trip.
Awesome info guys, I'll be spending 2 nights at the View this June, travelling from BC Canada on my motorcycle so will definately be booking a tour ride around the loop. Guess I'll pack some food to . thanks
As always a great video this is the best review of monument valley I have seen, we are going there in September will be rewatching all your videos in the up coming months xxx
You’re finally making it here!?!?
@We're in the Rockies yes we fly to denver on the 6th of September 19 night s ending in denver.
We booked it 2020 moved it to 2021. Then rebooted it just before Christmas. It will be extra special it my husband s 60th birthday on the 4th of September.. my daughter is getting married in a couple of weeks and my son is getting married in July so that's are first available time xxx
We have another video about Monument Valley coming out in the next few weeks. Keep watching!
Great video! When we were in Monument Valley, my husband and I took a tour with a Navajo in his Jeep. It was just the two of us, so that was great. Alas, we didn't get to go inside a Hogan.
Great tips, Matt and Cheryl. We visited Monument Valley many years ago and stayed at Gouldings which was great. In addition to the gorgeous views, the thing I most remember is that we were SO glad that we didn’t drive the road on our own with the car we drove from the east coast (Ford Escort, remember them!) We took a tour from Gouldings and it was the 17-mile drive and loved it. I’d like to visit the park again.
Thanks for watching. And thanks for sharing!
Interesting, enjoyed it fully.
Glad to hear!
Appreciate the tips👌
Any time!
Avoid MV tribal park on super, windy days. Call ahead and make certain it isn't windy.
Thanks for sharing!
We were there in September as well, but in our RV at the KOA. We thought it was a very worthwhile destination on our grand loop of the Utah Mighty 5. It was also a great base for the other destinations in the area, including Goosenecks State Park, Valley of the God's, the Moki Dugway, and Natural Briges National Monument. Our toad is a jeep and as you indicated, we highly recommend a high clearance vehicle. Thanks...
Thanks for sharing!
Great review. We are visiting in april/May 2024 with a RV.
Thank You
You're welcome.
Thank you. I found this very helpful. Am planning to be there in late April 2024.
Glad it was helpful!
Nice video! Very true too. Food at the Hampton is better. Definitely take the 4:30pm trek through the valley though to catch all the sunset beauty. The morning trek is not near as spectacular...
Thanks for watching and for sharing.
Excellent video….we are going there this summer. Looking forward to this fabulous area. Any rv sites.
That's a good question that I'm not sure the answer to. We haven't stayed in an RV in this area before.
It will be my third trip to Monument and second as a couple and first as a family 🤗 However isn’t Arches too much after Zion and Monument valley? Thanks dears
Thanks for the information. I’m planning to go between June -August and this video really is informative.
Glad it was helpful! Have fun!
This is an Indian Reservation, not a theme park. Just enjoy that it's still natural. I think the Vermillion Cliffs are more beautiful than the Grand Canyon NR. My motherinlaw lives in Fredonia, AZ., so we go visit her and go everywhere!
very helpful! going here for first time in May. Starting to fear I tried to pack in too much and might need more time at each location but kind of locked in now. Staying in the cabins as well.
If you can't fit it all in, you'll just have to come back. 😉
Re: Food. You can go down to Kayenta. They have some good traditional Navajo Food.
thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much! Do you think we need to book the tours weeks in advance? We'll be there end of May.
I would book them as soon as you can, if it's something you know you want to do. I don't know if they always sell out it's but better to be safe than sorry.
Thank you guys, I appreciate all the information! Your videos are great! A question, the tour you went on - can you drive that in your personal vehicle or no?
No. You can drive the 17-mile loop in your own vehicle but to get off the beaten path, you'd need to do a tour.
thank you!
@@WereintheRockies
The only place to eat that I can recommend from our travels in the West is T-Joes Steakhouse in Cheyenne, Wyoming!
What about the movies filmed there, John Wayne and "Stagecoach" and the others aren't they part of some tour's?
We're not sure about that. Thanks for watching.
You guys are too cute, thank you.
Hey guys thanks for the videos!!! We are doing a trip out west in June and they have been extremely helpful in our planning. Question for you though, have you ever done the drive down Cottonwood Canyon Road? Im interested in driving it instead of highway on our way from Bryce to Monument Valley and would love your opinion if you have done it.
Holy cow, it's crazy you asked that because literally this morning I had the map of Cottonwood Canyon open and I was plotting out a trip there! Haven't done it yet, but hope to this year.
@@WereintheRockies If you go in June let me know we'll shoot some of your video!
Had reservations there for March 2020, Covid happened and I had to cancel. Looking forward to going back this fall. Thanks for the tips.
Our pleasure! Have fun!
Thanx for good info Love this videos And that u tell usthe distanse from plase to plase its fine And what food Thank from norwegia🇳🇴
It's my pleasure. Thanks for watching!
Have a trip planned the end of April. Doing the Rocky mountaineer from Denver to Moab with my best friend 💛 only going to be in moab a short time so trying to make the most of it. The first 1/2 day I was planning deadhorse point to see sunset and stars. Should we skip that and go to canyonlands instead? Was planning on Arches one day and canyonlands the other. Only have 2 1/2 days
One day at Arches, one day at Canyonlands, and a 1/2 day at Deadhorse Point will work just fine. Have fun.
Thank you for sharing your experience! Can I use a sedan in taking the scenic drive? I am contemplating whether I will rent an SUV or sedan on my trip there in the west this coming May. Thanks!
We recommend an SUV.
@@WereintheRockies Thanks!
Yes in summer but in winter a possible no
What is the name of the tour and company when lady play flute? What is the name of the Gide? I need book it.
It was the Dineh Bekeyah Tour.
Loved this video! You mention that it's a Navajo national park which I assume makes a difference. I'm from and live in Wales in the UK, and I'd really like to walk between those massive rocks and camp out despite them looking like they're miles apart. Is that an option? Would I be able to wander around freely or is it restricted?
It’s restricted. Only one driving road and one or two main trails.
Ah that's a shame! Would love to camp out there. Then again the temperature would probably kill me off haha @@WereintheRockies
@@steffren lol. Well they have a campground ⛺️ near the cabins. Camping in the desert is cool!
@@WereintheRockies Gotta be better than camping in the belting down rain like here in Wales :P I'll take my chances
Consider Chinle as a further stop
Thanks!
Hi Cheryl and Matt,
Thank you for sharing this video. I am going to be there at the end of August. You are very knowledgeable. I am very impressed by all your videos and posts. I have one question. From Monument Valley( I will be staying 1 night in the View Hotel) I will be driving to North Rim. Do you have a recommendation on which route I should take? Google Maps give 3 options:
via AZ -98 W
via US-160 W
via US -89
Please advise. Thank you.
Any route would be fine but if you went on the 98 and 89, you'd pass through Page, Arizona and Kanab, Utah, which are some cool towns. Here is some information on the two. Have a great trip!
Our video, The Best of Page, Arizona: wereintherockies.com/page-arizona-video/
Our article, Is Kanab, Utah Worth Visiting?: wereintherockies.com/kanab-utah/
@@WereintheRockies Thank you so much.
Ok so i live in MV and let me say, my feelings are hurt about what you said about our restraints but.. you right. Second, don't stay at Mexican hat, that's were people get there beer from, also its real geto. Next is, GET A TOUR, das it. Also sorry about the price for them but tourism is pretty much the entire economy so... man's gota eat. If anyone who happens to see this wants to know things about MV from the perspective of someone who lives there, I'm all ears baby. (Thank you for spreading information about my sweet little town)
Haha, love it! Hey, we’re always looking for locals to help us. Would you be interested?
@@WereintheRockies if you ever come back to town, I could share information or show you place that some don't normally see. Or if you just want some information, I could help.
Do you think you could drive an RV around the loop? Thanks!
From my understanding, you cannot drive an RV around the loop. You would have to take a tour to do that. However, you will be able to get to Monument Valley and the Visitor Center in your RV.
No. Not at all. I think they are banned. It wouldnt handle curves or bottoming out
Hello, did you drive on 163 from north to south or south to north? Which side is more scenic view ? Please advice
We went south. South provides the forest gump view as you drive. You can still stop at forest gump viewpoint and get out if you’re driving north, but approaching it southbound provides the views for a long time while driving.
@@WereintheRockies Thanks I will do same way
What did you think about the turquoise jewelry at the Visitor Center?
It's beautiful.
👍
It happens - F. Gump
Does anybody know the waiting time for the scenic drive? We are trying to visit in a Friday afternoon in the beginning of April.
I wish we knew! Maybe one of our other viewers will know?
Book night before or early morning. No issues.
Do you recommend the hotel if only for one day? or would you go with goulding ?
Go to the View Hotel 👍
I would ignore the cost for one night at The View. Enjoy sundown and sun rise. Dont sleep through it
Thanks for the tips. Had dinner at The View Hotel tonight and menu was plentiful and the Navajo Taco was awesome. Its basically a southwest taco with the yummy Indian bread comparable to plain Naan. Perhaps things have changed on the foodie front since your visit and video . Thanks again !
You need to do some research before you go there. It is an amazing place. Gorgeous sites to see. But you needed to do your homework. TOUR, not tore. Great photography!
So do they take debit for the tours and souvenirs?
I'm not positive but I believe so
Yes.
This is NOT a national park with rangers etc. You are in a “foreign” country, the Navajo Nation! If you are stopped, these are Navajo police not like the police in the USA. Be respectful. The reservation is run by Navajos and should be treated as such. Do not count on it being run like the federal government runs our national parks. You are in the desert, it is hot during the day. It is dry not the least bit humid therefore you do not sweat and you will loose water from your body by evaporation. You will hardly be aware that you are loosing fluids. Have water, lots of water, and drink it. Also because it is dry, night temperatures will drop as the heat leaves the atmosphere. Use your head, be respectful of the area and the people! As I said this is Navajo country not USA country! 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
Are you ok? You are using exclamation points and capital letters. Do you feel that you have been treated unfairly or exploited?
Actually the USA is foreign not the Navajo Nation.
@Carl Weezer totally agree, but she is correct that laws are completely different on a reservation. Absolutely not the same laws as US laws and handled completely differently
@Carl Weezer thanks for that insight, Carl. What a beautiful place and I am thankful for the chances to visit your beautiful land ❤️
I just read that posting social media from a national park without a permit will now be a federal offense? Is this true, or fake news?
They do require permits for things but it’s a lot more nuanced
Awesome vlog. All I hear is you complaining about prices for tourism and saying Navajo tacos are too much. Just say you were not prepared or misunderstand that your in a dessert with limited access to grocery stores to grab and make your own food. It’s a desert. I’m from the area, I’m Navajo and deeply offended on your take.
Thanks for watching. We're not complaining, however we like to help others be more prepared than us.😊
Monument Valley Tribal Park not National Park
Yes, thank you.
Omg, you got to see the Native Americans. Pls😊
Too pricey for me. 🫤
the park is $8... you can stay in Kayenta, 30 minutes away
The tours can be pricey but it's not expensive to get in. It's $8 per person and is a beautiful place, you should go if you can.