Entrance fees and opening hours
- 8$/person/day
- May - September from 6-20.30h, October - April from 8-16.30h.
Our visits: So far 5 visits in August 1992, August 1994, April 1997, September 1999, October 2014 - We have also driven past Monument Valley countless times and enjoyed the view from Forrest Gump Point.
Monument Valley - From a distance
Description: If you drive into Monument Valley from the north on Highway 163, you will see the following picture a few miles after Mexican Hat. You can't miss this great scenery. On the one hand, you have the view directly in front of you and on the other hand, there are cars parked on the side of the road and people standing on the road to take this picture. What's easier to miss is the Forest Gump sign that marks the place where Tom Hanks started the return leg of his endurance run in the movie of the same name. Since we already drove by the place a few times without finding the sign, here are the Coordinates: Latitude 37.10284, Longitude -109.989225.
Our rating: This is a MUST stop not only because pictures don't even come close to doing this monumental landscape justice, but because it's almost like you've landed in an old western movie.
Monument Valley - Up close
Description: Monument Valley is located directly on the border between Utah and Arizona on the territory of the Navajo Nation. Monument Valley is known from numerous western movies, for which the great mesas have often served as backdrops.
Description of how to get there: The road is paved up to the parking lot. If you want to enjoy more than the view from the top, you can either drive the dirt road through the valley with your own car, or join a guided tour. The road into the Valley is not always in good condition. A high ground clearance is an advantage. We did not need a 4-wheel drive during our visits.
Our rating: For anyone visiting the Southwest, this is a must see location. Everyone knows this landscape from countless western movies and feature films. On my first visit to the Southwest (1992), I took a guided tour with my parents. In doing so, you see a little more, because you also drive over roads that are closed to general traffic. No matter which way you choose, Monument Valley is simply worth it.
The View
Description: The facility of The View was opened in December 2008. In addition to a hotel, it offers a restaurant and a trading post, where traditional Native American art is offered. Built directly on the Rim, the balconies offer magnificent views of the striking mesas of Monument Valley. The hotel has three floors. All rooms have balconies. Both the sunrise and the sunset are really worth seeing.
Even though the prices here are really very sporty, the hotel is well booked almost all year round. If you want to have a room on a certain date, you should book it well in advance.
Our rating: We treated ourselves to a night at The View Hotel in October 2014. We liked the stay here very much. The view is magnificent and worth every penny. It was great to sit on the balcony in our pajamas and wait for the sun to rise.
The rooms were large, nicely furnished and most importantly, clean.
The restaurant was just mediocre, but with the great view from the dining room featuring huge picture windows, the food really isn't that important.
We can definitely recommend an overnight stay here.
