Visiting Monument Valley
For many travelers, the United States starts in the wild West. Think arid red earth baked by the sun stretching as far as the eye can see. That is Monument Valley.
A majestic landscape
This surreal 371km² spot on the Colorado Plateau was shaped by the elements over 50 million years. While the terrain might appear relatively flat, the average altitude at the base of the rock spires is 1650 metres. That sits higher than the average elevation of French ski resorts. Yet do not expect snow, and even when some does fall, it completely disappears within 2 days.
Temperatures tend to run hot, climbing up to 42° in the summer and only dropping below 5° at night. Keep in mind that on certain December nights, the temperature can plunge below -20°. These conditions foster a sparse landscape. Add in average precipitation of 115 mm, compared to 650 mm in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, which is the driest part of France, and the landscape starts to make sense.
The Monument Valley park
Even though the park entrance sits in Utah, two thirds of it are in Arizona. Officially, the park is managed by the southern Utah Navajo reservation. Inside the park, the only shops you will encounter are run by the Navajo, offering everything from food to crafts, giving you a real look at tribal production.
Numerous rock formations were named by this tribe and merit a close look. Totem Pole, North Window, The Thumb, Three Sisters, Elephant Butte and many others have been posing for millennia.
A cinematic backdrop made famous by blockbuster films
This park has served as the set for numerous movies, from Stagecoach by John Ford to Transformers: Age of Extinction, not to mention Thelma & Louise, Forrest Gump, Back to the Future Part III, and Easy Rider. It forms an integral part of American film history.
Opening hours
*Information subject to change
The sublime setting of iconic westerns! From the visitor center, the tour is done via a car loop of about two hours. Make sure you have a good vehicle, because the rugged dirt roads are uneven and shake you up a lot. This is far from the pavement of the Grand Canyon. Hiking is possible, but I did not venture out there with the heat. The trails are actually closed during the summer months.
The car route allows you to make stops near the most beautiful viewpoints, notably the East and West Mitten Buttes and The Three Sisters. My favorite is still John Ford's Point, with its famous promontory that offers a remarkable panorama of the valley.
I finished the day with a horseback ride (DD MTA Horses) alongside the Navajos. It is not the best way to see the scenery, but it is very pleasant if you like to ride. To enjoy the sunrise, I stayed at The View, the only hotel located inside the park, right on the cliffside. I really recommend spending a night there.