The Monument Valley lies in the Navajo Nation, an independent Indian reservation in the southwestern United States. It's mostly in Arizona, even if the entrance to Monument Valley is in Utah lies. The full name is: Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park or in Navajo language: Tse 'Bill' Ndzisgali
background
Stones eroded from the early Rocky Mountains, were deposited here and integrated into the sandstone. The soft parts were removed by wind and water erosion. Later, the earth rose due to the tectonic pressure of the tectonic plate shifts. The surface swelled, cracked, and created the canyons. Erosion is still continuing and slowly changing the landscape, making it difficult for people to live in this hot and arid landscape. Even so, around 100 Anasazi Ruins from before 1300 found. There is no year-round flowing river in Monument Valley. But the Indians planted corn in the sand dunes, which always store some water. The Navajos came here sometime after 1300. They tend their flocks of sheep and plant small amounts of maize. Monument Valley is on the great Navajo Reservation. There are now 300,000 Navajo people living in the entire reserve.
landscape
| location | ||
| ||
The park is not in one Valley (Valley) but on a plateau in a desert about 1690 m above sea level. It consists of mesas (Table mountains), buttes (isolated hills with steep, often vertical slopes), canyons (Gorges) and other interesting sandstone formations.
Flora and fauna
climate
In winter the temperatures are between -4 and 5 degrees C. In spring and autumn between 5 and 20 degrees C and in summer between 17 and 32 degrees C.
getting there
- Of Flagstaff or that Grand Canyon National Park you drive on the highway
above Tuba City and Kayenta to Monument Valley. - From Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado or from Cortez you drive on the highway
south and at Chimney Rock on the highway to the west and via Bluff to Monument Valley.
Fees / permits and opening times
Monument Valley is administered by the Navajo Indians. As of April 1, 2014, a car park entry fee of $ 20.00 per car has been charged (up to 4 vehicle occupants are included in this price; each additional person costs $ 10.00 extra). The National Park Pass is not accepted. Some of the routes in the park may only be ridden with a local guide who has to be paid for separately, which is in winter (Oct-Apr) Scenic Drive Open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and in summer (May-Sept) from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Visitors Center is open in winter (Oct-Apr) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and in summer from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. On Thanksgivings Day from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
mobility
Dynamic cardsYou can explore the valley either in a guided group or with your own car. (In November 19, 85 euros per person is required for a 1-hour jeep tour.) The Scenic Drive is not paved, very uneven and very dusty. Therefore you should keep all windows closed while driving. To test whether you really want to drive this complete circuit, you can first drive only the first 4 points of the route that allow you to turn around. After that, the route is only one-way. Some rental car companies prohibit driving on unpaved roads, but for most of them this is not the reason to forego the unique drive through the valley.
Tourist Attractions
On the unpaved Scenic Drive through Monument Valley one drives to several interesting viewpoints. This 27 km long dirt road starts at the Visitors Center. The dirt road is partly good and allows 30 mph (48 km / h), then it is very bumpy again and you can only drive 3-4 mph (5 km / h). The first somewhat steep section is particularly bumpy. The prospects are terrific. The scenes at Mitten Butte, John Fords Point, Three Sisters, Totem Pole, Artists Point and North Windows are particularly beautiful. It takes 1.5 - 2 hours including photo stops. You should drive in the morning, because then you are still almost alone. The cars throw up a lot of dust, especially when it's windy, which is uncomfortable. Monument Valley got through the movie Stagecoach made fame by John Ford in 1938. Several feature films and commercials were later shot for Marlboro, among others. The name of John Wayne is closely associated with the national park.
activities
- Hike the Wildcat Trail (5 km), a circular route that circles the West Mitten Butte.
- Guided jeep tours. You drive into the parking segments in which you are not allowed to drive with a private car. The Visitors Center has a full list of the tours available. Gouldings Lodge offers trips to Monument Valley for $ 40.00 (2.5 hours, including park admission) or $ 90.00 (full day including lunch and park admission).
shop
There is one Gift Shop at the Visitors Center and in the hotel The View
kitchen
- "The View" has a large restaurant that also serves traditional Navajo dishes.
- in the Stagecoach Dining Room the Gouldings Lodge directly at Monument Valley you can eat well. The restaurant is above the lodge. You can have breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Navajo dishes predominate, but there are also vegetarian dishes, salads and good steaks at fair prices.
- Restaurant in Hamptons Inn There are, among other things, Mexican fajitas with vegetables or with vegetables and beef, which taste good.
- Blue Coffee Pott Restaurant next to the Hamptons Inn in Kayenta offers reasonably priced breakfast, lunch or dinner, including 2 blueberry pancakes with syrup and butter for $ 5.75 (May 2008). Outstanding!
- Alcohol is prohibited on Navajo Reservations. There is a non-alcoholic Chardonnay that tastes like grape juice or non-alcoholic beer and of course all non-alcoholic drinks from cola to water.
accommodation
There is only one hotel in the park, "The View". The Gouldings Lodge is not in the Tribal Park, but directly opposite. There are several hotels in the nearest town of Kayenta.
Hotels and hostels
- The View Completed in 2009, operated by the Navajos and located in Tribal Park. All balconies are oriented towards the most famous mesas of Monument Valley, so you can comfortably enjoy the sunrise from your own room.
- The Gouldings Lodge is located directly on Monument Valley and offers a magnificent view of the red sandstone cliffs from the balconies of the rooms. You can experience sunrise and sunset from the room. The rooms are clean, the beds are good. The lodge offers tours with its own vehicles in Monument Valley. A timely reservation is necessary. A double room costs $ 180 10.15% tax per night from May 1st to October 1st.
- The Hamptons Inn is still relatively new and has comfortable and large rooms. It should be chosen when the Gouldings Lodge is occupied. Double rooms cost $ 73-137.
Next door is a Navajo Cultural Center showing various Navajo adobe houses. There are male and female Hogans. The females are round and the males oval and pointed at the top. The entrances are always in the east. In the past they were used for ceremonial purposes, today people also live in them. The Navajos built saunas in the desert to clean themselves in a water-saving way. The stones were heated by wood fire and then water was poured on the stones.
- Holiday Inn Express in the center of Kayenta. Often group travelers stay here. The rooms are large and clean, but the whole thing makes an impression in need of an update.
- Wetherill Inn
camping
- Mitten View Campground in the park.
- Gouldings Campground at the Gouldings Lodge
Practical advice
security
trips
- El Capitano rocks on the road from Monument Valley to Kayenta. It is a rock of volcanic origin.
- Baby rocks east of Kayenta on US-160. These red sandstone cliffs formed special figures, such as the Elephant Feet (Elephant feet).
