Monument Valley Day Trips: Top 5 Adventures
Monument Valley, just a place filled with dramatic sandstone buttes that rise up from the desert floor, it is really an iconic symbol of the American West. Many times people ask us, how do you experience it best? Sure, just spending time within the park itself is remarkable. Yet, did you know that surrounding area, well it is brimming with just unreal destinations that can totally turn your visit into, like, a truly unforgettable exploration? Here, we’ll suggest five cool day trips which showcase just some variety, taking you past the usual postcards. Ready? Here we go!
1. Mystery Valley: An Unforgettable Tour
Mystery Valley, so called because it’s so secluded and sort of holds all kinds of archaeological mysteries, really is more than just a sightseeing destination. That location actually lets you step back into history. Hidden a little ways off the beaten track, like it’s almost beckoning travelers with a heart that longs to uncover secrets from ages way, way back, it presents the ideal opportunity to witness not only some gorgeous desert but also, frankly, ancient ruins of the Anasazi peoples.
To actually visit Mystery Valley, people really should make arrangements to link up with local Navajo guides. You know, they are storytellers, armed with tales and data about nearly every stone, every glyph there. They really can, so in a way, offer more depth than you can dig out of a book.
Picture yourself now. Cruising with a guide in an open-air vehicle; feel that warm wind as you go, that’s painting vivid strokes across some monumental canvas – a tour. The stops could actually showcase a broad array of ancient sites. Expect cool things. Imagine the intrigue you feel around a cave-home carved neatly by past dwellers – so many whispers lingering still within those hallowed cracks of sandstone.
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Mystery Valley Tour)
Plus, Mystery Valley, which is nearly free from big throngs of visitors you deal with over there at the central valley. So you’re very likely gonna get plenty of serene moments, with the possibility, just sometimes, for contemplation surrounded mostly by majestic scenery, making, it turns out, for photographers especially, the kind of location where the views you take will truly impress. To actually experience it fully is to actually invest time, since it just has so much more richness below only superficial looks. Read our full review: Mystery Valley Tour Full Review and Details.
2. Goulding’s Trading Post Museum: Stories and Artifacts
To truly immerse yourself within the spirit of the Wild West as seen by the Navajo plus Hollywood’s perspective of it, spending part of a day, oh, a couple hours, maybe, over there by Goulding’s Trading Post, that totally makes great sense. To get there from inside Monument Valley Park takes maybe only 10 minutes by automobile. Not bad. A key factor over there at Goulding’s goes past mere trading hub: this location contains like its own great piece of history. So many stories about how Harry Goulding then his lady really went, so to say, above their limits securing the film crew on-site over the ’30s goes a very, very long way showing perseverance as it pays out quite big.
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Goulding’s Trading Post Museum)
Right over there on display lies a fantastic range filled greatly just mostly by Navajo crafts and then historic relics–everything does point something back over there around moments critical not just from Harry’s existence, nevertheless from those Navajo people they supported with commitment even amid serious challenges. I mean just think: to actually meander here would actually mean engaging greatly inside scenes directly plucked out maybe some traditional western movie – some seriously surreal encounter quite, frankly. The whole setup captures feelings reminiscent perhaps from that film atmosphere; this might give everyone that awesome feeling right away. Read our full review: Goulding’s Trading Post Museum Full Review and Details.
3. Valley of the Gods: Scenic Drive
Oh, want something remote or even better majestic at once without, frankly, fighting against major waves full packed tourism? Very likely give much deserved attention towards “Valley of those Gods,” not some obvious substitute anyway, nevertheless an incredible choice exhibiting many formations echoing what we witness, say, within M. Valley–only lacking nearly whatever crowds at just about hardly anything anywhere that matters round such zones over M. Valley. You are actually gaining quiet serenity which means plenty freedom mostly near whichever vantage fits yourself; expect the photographic output too because whoah! is something that will just seriously capture imaginations!.
That travel, it feels just really amazing. Consider actually traveling along unpaved stretches that ask often regarding higher four-wheel clearances mostly onto transports chosen for coping really bumpy rides. However just picture just so many panoramas constantly just moving out, each offering maybe an amazing outlook full along buttes shaped dramatically onto the distance—quite magnificent spectacle especially given daytime whenever lighting accentuates textures thus contributing depths into sights you see.
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Valley of the Gods Scenic Drive)
Visiting requires giving 3 – maybe 4 hrs dedicated carefully entirely into it so there aren’t simply many views along highways mostly over here mostly across all that makes such locations really popular however too opportunities just keep appearing providing possibilities perhaps getting even near some isolated points quite perfect actually during contemplation just near mother’s artistic handwork. As someone looking possibly for pure natural majesty from an untamed area, then something this certainly won’t, and possibly must not either for whatever reason at point get bypassed anyway whatsoever! Read our full review: Valley of the Gods Scenic Drive Full Review and Details.
4. Mexican Hat: A Quirky Town Visit
Mexican Hat could well act more unlike usual “break from grand monuments ” however very like place really showcasing, such its almost human atmosphere coupled with geological peculiarity–namely there really that bizarre stone structured in an amazing looking sombrero form for which its area receives said curious description almost. Mexican Hat’s nearly quirky spirit gets mirrored really on various nearby opportunities which just invite tourist engagements plus even provide photo shots featuring an incredibly interesting geographical backdrop as an attraction on whatever is just getting scheduled next after that big Monumental escapade, right?
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Mexican Hat Town)
Give those tourist shots near “Mexican hat”. The balancing artwork on sandstone has created actually great images across many trips taken into desert southwest. While driving along roads around town itself there’re scenic points revealing sweeping vista towards river cutting path between arid regions and revealing too different geological features forming this memorable site; a totally impressive set of sights it must appear by itself that way right? Read our full review: Mexican Hat Town Full Review and Details.
5. Four Corners Monument: Stand in Four States
OK, just you picture actually straddling corners spanning Arizona, Utah Colorado New Mexico even. A location such this surely isn’t merely arbitrary but also one truly symbolizing shared links across this vastness around Western parts as it brings people together frequently around photo events right near a centerpiece landmark, I think.
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Four Corners Monument)
The location gets heavily occupied frequently even from people queuing simply to claim that snap inside whatever spots bring forth shared corner boundaries really mostly throughout daytime time frames usually, however it does remain indeed kind quite quirky occurrence thus giving perhaps good perspective along larger dimensions involving US geographics. Giving those times it truly takes understanding everything thus enriching perspectives for people exploring southwest especially – thus its totally important here also so, I think. Read our full review: Four Corners Monument Full Review and Details.