Monument Valley is one of those must-do trips for anyone venturing the Southwest. It looks like a lot of tourists make this a stop as they’re doing a National Park loop.
Amazing formations, mesas and buttes, and after you pay your $20 entrance fee you can drive to see most of them. There are several other loops that are closed to private vehicles, but we didn’t see the value in paying to ride on one of their crowded buses to see a few extra sights.
Merrick Butte
Merrick Butte in Monument Valley
Back. Country.
There is a lot of NOTHING out here, except for amazing buttes and mesas and formations, and a few dirt roads tying the good parts together.
Soaking It Up
Colette gazes out at Merrick Butte and The Mittens from John Ford Point. There’s an Indian with his horse photo-op here if you’re willing to part with the five bucks – but I brought my photo prop with me and saved the cash.
Under The Hand of God
The Jeep stand ready to go explore under a formation called The Hand of God.
Vast Utah Expanses
Monument Valley straddles the Arizona and Utah state lines, entirely encompasses within the Navajo Nation.
THE Classic Monument Valley Shot
This is THE classic Monument Valley shot, The Mittens and Merrick Butte over Taylor Rock. Easy to get to since it’s at the visitor’s center parking lot, I’d best half of visitors never make it past this point.

