Travel the Trails

Trip 11: US-163 North: Kayenta to Monument Valley & the San Juan River

26 miles (42 km) from Kayenta to Monument Valley

Disclaimer: NANACT trip guides are based on information from Native Roads: The Complete Motoring Guide to the Navajo & Hopi Nations, 2nd Edition by Fran Kosik (Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2005). Some information may have changed since the publication of the book. While NANACT will attempt to maintain current information, consider verifying the current operation/existence of businesses, accommodations, dining and similar interests before planning your trip.

Scenic & Historic:

Mile Marker 402 Agathla Peak

To the east is Agathla Peak, considered the center of the Navajo volcano field. An underground explosion formed this volcanic neck millions of years ago.

Mile 402.5 Owl Rock

Seen from the right angle, this incredible monolith west of the highway looks just like an owl surveying the valley below. It is 6,547 feet (1,996 m) in elevation and is composed primarily of Wingate Sandstone.

MM 416 Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Visitors Center

Turn east and travel three miles (4.8 km) to the Monument Valley Tribal Park Visitors Center. Halfway, there will be a place to pay an entrance fee. National Park Service passes are not accepted at any tribal park. Park hours: April through September, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; October through May, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Christmas, New Year’s, and Thanksgiving Day. During the summer, the visitors center offers Indian dances on the patio from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Check at the desk to confirm the day and time for the performance. (435) 727-3353. From the visitors center, you can get a good view of the formations known as the Right and Left Mittens.

The Navajos view the whole of Monument Valley as a huge hogan. Its door, facing east, is near the visitors center. The fireplace, or the center of the hogan, is the butte behind Goulding’s Trading Post.

You can hire a tour guide at the visitors center to take you through the valley or you can drive your own car. The road is unpaved and changes condition after each rainstorm. Sand traps and high road centers can cause problems for low-clearance vehicles. The self-guided tour is seventeen miles (27 km) along the valley floor. There are information signs that correspond to a map you can purchase in the visitors center for $1.

Goulding's Trading Post Museum

After leaving the visitors center, continue across Highway 163 and follow the signs. The museum is open from late March through October from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (MDT); closed in winter. No admission fee but donations are welcomed. The lodge and restaurant are open year-round.

Services at Goulding's

Lodge: A 62-room motel with each room facing Monument Valley. It also has an indoor swimming pool. Reservations: Goulding’s Lodge, Box 360001, Monument Valley, Utah 84536, (435) 727-3231; (435) 727-3344. Stagecoach Restaurant: Navajo-American, open 6:30 a.m.–9 p.m. (MDT). (435) 727-3231, ext. 404. Limited hours in winter, but breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. Evening Entertainment: Earth Spirit: A Celebration of Monument Valley is a slide presentation of Monument Valley by photographer Ric Ergenbright. Tickets are complimentary with purchase of a Gouldings Monument Valley Tour.

Accommodations (Hotels/Camping/RV Parks):

Monument Valley - Lodging

Goulding’s Lodge

A 62-room motel with each room facing Monument Valley. It also has an indoor swimming pool. Reservations: Goulding’s Lodge, Box 360001, Monument Valley, Utah 84536, (435) 727-3231; (435) 727-3344.

Mexican Hat - Lodging

Burch’s Motel and Trading Company Canyonlands Motel (435) 683-2230

Mexican Hat Lodge (435) 683-2222

The San Juan Inn (800) 447-2022

Valley of the Gods Bed and Breakfast (970) 749-1164

Camping

Mitten View Campground

Register at the visitors center. The campground is across the street. There are ninety-nine sites, thirty-seven tent spaces, thirty-six RV sites, nine pull-throughs, and nine day-use picnic areas. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground has men’s and women’s bathrooms and coin-operated showers, but no phones or hookups for RVs. There is a filling/dump station. A metal awning at each campsite provides the only shade. Summer temperatures at Monument Valley are usually over 100 degrees F (38º C). (435) 727-7870.

Goulding's Monument Valley Campground

Open year-round. Located in Rock Door Canyon, this 66-site campground offers a grocery store, gift shop, laundry facilities, and barbecues, plus an indoor pool. Full hookups: water, sewer, electricity. (435) 727-3231 or 3235.

RV

Valle Trailer Park

31 RV sites, full hookups, shower, restrooms, and dump station.

Tours:

Monument Valley Tour Operators

The superintendent of the park controls all of the tour guide fees. Occasionally some prices will be lower but are not allowed to go any higher than the prices advertised. Most of the tour companies are Navajo-owned.

Bennett Tours Monument Valley, Utah, (435) 727-3283

Crawley’s Tour Kayenta, Arizona

Daniel’s Guided Tours Monument Valley, Utah, (435) 727-3227

Far Out Expeditions Bluff, Utah

Gouldings Tours Monument Valley, Utah, (435) 727-3231

Jackson Tour Monument Valley, Utah

Keyah Hozhoni Monument Valley Tours Kayenta, Arizona

Roland’s Navajoland Tours Kayenta, Arizona

Simpson’s Tours Monument Valley, Utah, www.trailhandlerstours.com; 928-435-727-3362

Sisco’s Custom Monument Valley Tours Kayenta, Arizona

Totem Pole Guided Tours Monument Valley, Utah, (435) 727-3313 or 800-345-8687

Tsebiinizghai Tours Monument Valley, Utah, (800) 874-0902; (435) 727-3231

Bigman’s Horseback Tours Monument Valley, Utah

Ed Black Monument Valley Horseback Trail Rides Mexican Hat, Utah

Homeland Horse and Van Tours Monument Valley, Utah

Monument Valley Horseback Tours Monument Valley, Utah

Navajo Country Trail Rides Monument Valley, Utah

Sacred Monument Trail Rides Monument Valley, Utah, 435-727-3218

www.monumentavalley.net

Dineh Trails Rides

Mexican Hat / San Juan River Tour Companies

Note: This is the takeout point for many San Juan River trips that start at Sand Island Recreation Area near Bluff, Utah, and travel about twenty-six miles (42 km) to Mexican Hat. Because of the popularity of this river, you must obtain a permit based on a lottery system to float the San Juan privately, but many commercial companies offer trips as well.

Adrift Adventures (800) 874-4483

Arizona Raft Adventures, Inc. (800) 786-7238 or (928) 526-8200

Four Corners School of Outdoor Education (435) 587-2156; (800) 525-4456

O.A.R.S. (800) 346-6277 or (209) 736-4677

Sunrise Expeditions (800) 748-3730 or (207) 942-9300

Wild Adventures (800) RIO-MOAB

Wild River Expeditions (800) 422-7654

Food & Dining:

Goulding’s Stagecoach Restaurant

Navajo-American, open 6:30 a.m.–9 p.m. (MDT). (435) 727-3231, ext. 404. Limited hours in winter, but breakfast, lunch and dinner are served.

Services (Auto/Gas/Repair/Emergency):

Monument Valley Health Center (formerly Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital)

No longer a Seventh-Day Adventist hospital, it is now a privately owned health clinic, open 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 8:30 a.m.–noon Friday. Walk-ins welcome; health insurance accepted. (435) 727-3241.

Art & Culture (Galleries/Trading Posts/Museums):

MM 416 Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Visitors Center

Turn east and travel three miles (4.8 km) to the Monument Valley Tribal Park Visitors Center. Halfway, there will be a place to pay an entrance fee. National Park Service passes are not accepted at any tribal park. Parkhours: April through September, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; October through May, 8a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Christmas, New Year’s, and Thanksgiving Day. During the summer, the visitors center offers Indian dances on the patio from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Check at the desk to confirm the day and time for the performance. From the visitors center, you can get a good view of the formations known as the Right and Left Mittens.  www.navajonationparks.org 

Goulding's Trading Post Museum

After leaving the visitors center, continue across Highway 163 and follow the signs. The museum is open from late March through October from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (MDT); closed in winter. No admission fee but donations are welcomed. The lodge and restaurant are open year-round.

Permissions

• Trip information is condensed with permission from Native Roads: The Complete Motoring Guide to the Navajo and Hopi Nations, by Fran Kosik, Rio Nuevo Publishers, Tucson, Arizona, 2005. Trip numbers generally coincide with chapter number in the book. Fran's full book contains much more wonderful information on traveling our Native roads. For more detailed information, the book can be purchased from:

  Museum of Northern Arizona bookstore, 3101 N. Ft. Valley Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86001; phone #: 928-774-5213 or direct 928-774-5211 + Ext 261. Or, contact the publisher, Rio Nuevo Publishers, PO Box 5250, Tucson, Arizona 85703; phone #: 520-623-9558 or 800-969-9558. Trip numbers generally correspond to chapter numbers.