Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
117
Moments
Monumental Sunsets
Be sure to save some storage space on the memory card of your digital camera (or
keep plenty of film in your camera) for sunset at Monument Valley. Sure, these
rocks are impressive at noon, but as the sun sets and the shadows lengthen, they
are positively enchanting—definitely one of the most spectacular sites in America.
686-2848
or 435/727-3362; www.trailhandlertours.com), another reliable company to
try, charges $62 to $86 for a 2
1
/
2
-hour tour ($31 for children 6-12).
Sacred Monument
Tours
(
&
435/727-3218
or 928/380-4527; www.monumentvalley.net) charges $73 for
a 2
1
/
2
-hour Jeep tour ($58 for children 11 and under). A variety of other tours are also
available.
The traditional way to explore this quintessentially Wild West landscape, however, is
from the back of a horse, a la John Wayne. We recommend going out with
Dineh Trail
Rides
(
&
435/419-0135
), which starts its rides from John Ford's Point, about halfway
around Valley Drive. Trail rides range in price from $35 to $45 for a half-hour ride to
$125 for a 6-hour ride. Alternatively, try
Sacred Monument Tours
(
&
435/727-3218
or 928/380-4527; www.monumentvalley.net), which charges from $68 for a 1-hour
horseback ride up to $286 for an all-day ride.
Because the Jeep and van tours are such a big business here, there's a steady stream of
the vehicles on Valley Drive throughout the day. One way to get away from the rumble
of engines is to go out on a guided hike. These are offered by
Sacred Monument Tours
(
&
435/727-3218
or 928/380-4527; www.monumentvalley.net), which charges
between $57 and $166 per person for hikes of different lengths.
Kéyah Hózhóní Tours
(
&
928/309-7440;
www.monumentvalley.com) also offers hiking tours ($100 per per-
son) and overnight camping trips ($300 for 1 or 2 people). Keep in mind that summers
can be very hot here.
There are two exceptions to the no-traveling-off-road rule. The 3.3-mile
Wildcat
Trail
is a loop trail that circles West Mitten Butte and provides the only opportunity
to get close to this picturesque butte. As you circle the butte, you'll get all kinds of dif-
ferent perspectives, even one that completely eliminates the “thumb.” Because this is the
park's only option for unguided hiking, it's a not-to-be-missed excursion and one of the
most memorable hikes in the state. In summer, be sure to carry plenty of water. The other
trail open without a guide is the Mesa Rim Trail, a .5-mile trail along the mesa above the
View Hotel.
6
ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE PARK
Before leaving the area, you might want to visit
Goulding's Museum & Trading Post,
at Goulding's Lodge (see “Where to Stay & Dine,” below). This old trading post was the
home of the Gouldings for many years and is set up as they had it back in the 1920s and
1930s. There are also displays about the many movies that have been shot here. The
trading post hours vary with the seasons; admission is by donation.
Inside Kayenta's Burger King, which is next door to the Hampton Inn, there's an
interesting exhibit on the Navajo code talkers of World War II. The code talkers were
Navajo soldiers who used their own language to transmit military messages, primarily in
the South Pacific.
