Things to do in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Embark on a tour of Monument Valley and discover the breathtaking monuments you’ve seen in photos and western movies. See the famous West and East Mitten Buttes, John Ford Point, the Three Sisters, Moccasin Arch, the Totem Pole, and more. Travel by safari-style open-air vehicle in the warmer weather or by an enclosed van in colder months. Your guide will share with you a lot of interesting facts about Monument Valley. You will even visit the backcountry of the valley, which you can’t visit on your own without a Navajo guide. Learn many interesting facts about Navajo culture and visit a Navajo Hogan, a traditional Navajo home with a bonus opportunity to watch a rug weaving demonstration (dependent on weather and other circumstances) and to enjoy a ceremonial musical performance by your guide.

See all the sights of Monument Valley on a small group tour led by a local guide. Enjoy an exclusive visit to the valley’s backcountry, which is only accessible with a Navajo guide. Visit sandstone arches and famous monuments such as the 3 sisters, John Ford Point, and Moccasin Arch. Marvel at famous sights like the Totem Pole, the Big Hogan, Sun’s Eye, North Window, and Sleeping Dragon. Stop by West and East Mitten Buttes and capture the perfect picture of this iconic landmark. Marvel at spectacular panoramas. Admire natural structures that will leave you speechless. Immerse yourself in Navajo culture. Learn about the history of this incredible place. Visit a Navajo Hogan, a traditional Navajo home. Watch a bonus rug weaving demonstration and enjoy a ceremonial music performance performed by your guide.

Enter the backcountry of Monument Valley to visit the popular arches, dwellings, and petroglyphs made by the ancient Anasazi people. Stop first to admire the Sleeping Dragon with clouds above, followed by the Chief’s Head with its bonnet of feathers.  Moving on, explore the traditional dwelling of the Navajo people known as hogans. Admire the round, cone-shaped, and multi-sided structures. With or without internal posts, they were built with timber or stonewall and packed with earth or bark. For a summerhouse, the door faces east to welcome the rising sun for wealth and good fortune. Your guide will provide information and a short demonstration of the Navajo people and their lifestyles.  Save the best for last and marvel at an arch that replicates a traditional hogan with an eagle eye looking upon you. Take a panoramic view of the Eye of the Sun, a beautifully shaped eye with sun rays beaming through it. Last will be the Ear of the Wind, standing against a steep sand dune that, if you walk up to it, you're most likely to bring home Monument Valley's souvenir: sand in your shoes.

Treat yourself to a 3.5 hour tour of Monument Valley with plenty of time at each stop to take the perfect picture and enjoy the views. This tour is ideal for photographers and visitors who want extra time to explore and learn more about the area. In addition to main monuments such as Mitten View, Three Sisters, John Ford Point, Sleeping Dragon, Traditional Hogan, The Big Hogan, Moccasin Arch, Sun's Eye, Totem Pole, North Window, Artist Point, see the scenic Ear of the Wind arch and Anasazi Ruins. The views of the sights on this tour will leave you speechless. At the end of your tour, enjoy a musical performance from your guide and a visit to a Navajo Hogan, a traditional Navajo home, where you can learn a lot about the history of this incredible place.

Experience Monument Valley and Mystery Valley in one day with a local Navajo guide. Discover iconic monuments, learn about the history and traditions of Navajo Nation, see the Anasazi ruins, and enjoy plenty of photo opportunities. See famous monuments at the Monument Valley such as the Three Sisters, John Ford Point, Moccasin Arch, the Totem Pole, the Big Hogan, Sun’s Eye, North Window, and the Sleeping Dragon as well as the West and East Mitten Buttes. Additionally, enjoy an exclusive visit to the valley’s backcountry, which is only accessible with a Navajo guide. Continue to Mystery Valley, where you can learn a lot about generations of Navajo people and their culture. Visit a Navajo Hogan, a traditional Navajo home. Watch a rug weaving demonstration and enjoy a ceremonial music performance performed by your guide. Lastly, Explore the Anasazi ruins and the petroglyphs and be amazed by stunning 360-views of the area.

Make the most of your trip and experience an unforgettable visual spectacle that you will remember for the rest of your life. Upon arrival at Monument Valley, follow your guide to a nearby vantage point where the sun rises directly from the center of the iconic Totem Pole. Admire the sun as it rises across the vibrant landscape, and marvel as the combination of colors dances across the sky, changing the shape of famous rock formations and arches. After a breathtaking sunrise, enjoy a tour of the valley with plenty of stops along the way to take photos. See the famous West and East Mitten Buttes, John Ford Point, the Three Sisters, Moccasin Arch, the Totem Pole, The Big Hogan, Sun’s Eye, North Window, and Sleeping Dragon. Next, follow your guide into the restricted back country part of the valley that you can only visit in the company of a Navajo guide. Throughout the tour, listen to your guide share fascinating insights and anecdotes, and learn about Monument Valley and Navajo culture. Finally, visit a Navajo Hogan, a traditional Navajo home, to watch a bonus rug weaving demonstration as well as a ceremonial musical performance.

Explore Monument Valley from the comfort of an air-conditioned SUV on this guided tour from Oljato. Drive deep into the red-sand desert and stop for incredible views at look-out points. Choose from a private or a group tour experience.  Be picked up at the View Hotel in Oljato and begin the 1.5-hour drive down switch-back dirt roads. Stop at the Left and Right Mitten Butte rock formation and drive by the Merrick Butte and Elephant and Camel Butte rock formations. Admire the views at John Ford's Point, a beautiful spot named after the director who used this location to make many major western films. Ride through a beautiful landscape where many ancient natural medicines and remedies can be found.  See a 450-foot, slim-spiraled totem pole which stands before the Yeibichei Dancers kingdom. Finally, go past the North Window, where you can take in some of the best views of the day before returning to your meeting point. 

Start this popular tour with a narrated intro of the Lower Monument Valley and Back Country area focusing on Navajo culture, a deep recognition of Navajo history, and awesome geological facts. After several stops at popular areas/view points, enjoy a Hogan demonstration that displays the local lifestyle. Learn about the different ways native plants in Monument Valley are used, and take home a souvenir of the homeland inside your shoes. Intrigued yet? This fascinating tour ranges 28 miles and covers all major attracted areas and iconic overlook points. Back Country included.

Depart from The View Hotel and see the glow of the sunrise over Mittens and Merrick Butte. See the Totem Pole as the sunrises before heading to your next location. Hear about the geology and history of each monument you pass from your guide as you head to the next stop, John Ford Point. Named after the director that filmed Western movies at the location, John Ford Point is filled with sweeping views of the Arizona landscape. Head to the site where the ancient Anasazi petroglyphs are located. See some of the hundreds of pictographs scattered across the area. While at the location, enjoy views of the Santa Clara River. Spot wildlife along the way and see life thriving in the desert landscape.

Immerse yourself in the wilds of Monument Valley, Bryce, Zion, Lake Powell, and The Grand Canyon South Rim on a 3-day adventure that brings you deep into the heart of this magical land. From Navajo-guided jeep tours to a bird's eye view over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter, it's a non-stop adventure! This tour has guaranteed departures. During your stay, visit Zion and Bryce National Parks and enjoy the photographic wonders of this white, pink, and red sandstone park. Here, enjoy a fun BBQ with friends around the campfire while your guide tells you stories of the history and legends of this sacred Navajo land. Along the way, stop at Monument Valley for a 4x4 Jeep journey and fly high over the Grand Canyon for some truly breathtaking images of the natural beauty of this land. Day 1: Zion and Bryce National Park(Meals: Lunch) Depart from Las Vegas and travel by mini-bus to Zion and Bryce. Cut by the Virgin River, Zion Canyon is an impressive mix of white, pink, and red Navajo sandstone cliffs. Ancient petrified sand dunes towering over 2,000 feet above the canyon floor make for an impressive landscape and a photographer’s paradise. Stroll around Zion National Park's enchanting walks and hikes—suitable for every fitness level. Walk around the Emerald Pools trail, enjoy the Temple of Sinawava, the Great White Throne, Weeping Rock, and visit the interpretive Human History museum where you can listen an entertaining rangers talk on the patio. After a full afternoon in Zion, head to Bryce Canyon, a giant natural amphitheater created by erosion, along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Bryce is distinctive due to geological structures called hoodoos. These red, orange, and white spires provide spectacular views. The canyon is considered by many to be the most scenically diverse place in the world! Tuck into a BBQ and a fun evening around the campfire with your new friends. Then set up camp in a full-service campground with hot showers, a swimming pool, hot tub, and Wi-Fi. The lodging option is in Bryce Valley Inn or similar accommodation. Day 2 Monument Valley(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch) Wake up early and head past Lake Powell with an optional tour of Antelope Canyon. Later, head to Monument Valley for a 4x4 Jeep journey deep into the Navajo lands. Here, snap some photos of the most iconic Western landscapes. Then, camp along the rim of Monument Valley in another full-service campground with hot showers and Wi-Fi, casting your gaze up at the stars in the sky. Your lodging option is in the world-famous Historic Gouldings Lodge. Day 3 The Grand Canyon(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch) After a short visit to a traditional Navajo Trading Post, opt for an optional helicopter ride for a bird's eye view of the Grand Canyon. If this isn't for you, stroll along the rim or take a hike into the magnificent canyon. Listen to your guide's interesting details of this Natural Wonder of the World before enjoying plenty of time to relax and enjoy its beauty. Then, drive back to the bright lights of Las Vegas. Additional add-ons for this tour: Death Valley Day Tour (Friday and Sunday) Tour the heart of Death Valley National Park from Las Vegas, and visit the hottest, driest and lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. Enjoy an array of colors in an extreme desert environment. Wild West Ghost Town Explorer (Saturday)Spend a day in the Wild West exploring old ghost towns and ancient legends. Keep your eyes peeled for the poltergeist who still roams the streets, and soak up the atmosphere of a true western saloon before returning to Las Vegas.