As we drove west out of southern Colorado, we not only entered a new state, but also a new nation ... the Navajo Nation. This Native American territory covering portions of northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah is the largest land area governed by a Native American tribe in the United States.
Our first stop in this new ''nation'' may be considered one of those ''silly'' roadside stops, but it is something that I have always wanted to experience ever since I heard about it in US geography class many, many years ago ...
Four Corners Monument!
This point where four states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona) come together is officially located in the Navajo Nation. They maintain and operate this tribal park and as a result of ''silly'' visitors like me, they can collect greatly needed revenue through entrance fees and sales of Native American crafts.
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The $8 admission was worth the chance for this multi-tasker to be in four places at one time! It was also fun to see the many Navajo arts and crafts that were for sale and be able to talk with the artisan who personally handcrafted my new dream-catcher earrings.
Yes, there are certain ''souvenirs'' that I will happily manage to find room for!
As we continued down the road, the landscape began to take on a ''monumental'' form. We were approaching one of the most photographed areas in the United States and the heart of the Navajo Nation ...
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Monument Valley is a region known for its thousands of towering red sandstone mesas, buttes, and spires. This desert tribal park, equivalent to a national park, is a place full of ...
Geological Wonders
Towering sandstone monoliths by the thousands decorate this desert plateau. These iconic rock formations vary in height from 100 to 1500 feet. Many of these buttes have been named based on their perceived shape such as ...
Mitten Butte
Three Sisters
(makes me miss my two sisters)
The Queen's Throne
Ruins, Rock Art, and Ancestral Holy Places of the Ancient Pueblo People
After the Ancient Pueble people left the Mesa Verde area, there is evidence that some settled in this area. Remnants of housing structures, pottery, and other artifacts have been uncovered and studied. Because these buttes are considered holy places by the Navajo Nation, rock climbing and other recreational activities are prohibited. By limiting human intrusion, the Navajo Nation will be able to keep this sacred area pristine for future generations to enjoy.
An Active Navajo Culture and Community
Unlike national park lands, Monument Valley Tribal Park is still ''home'' to many Navajo families. Like their ancestors, they continue to live and work off the land ... and keep their Navajo culture alive for future generations.
Our tour guide, Henry has lived here his whole life and shared many Navajo stories with us as well as personal memories. It's so wonderful to feel the pride and love that he has for his native land.
Historic Film Locations
In the 1920's, Harry and Leone ''Mike'' Goulding fell in love with the Monument Valley region and opened a trading post there in order to attract others to visit the area and better the lives of their Native American neighbors. During the Depression years, the Gouldings were instrumental in persuading movie producer John Ford to come Monument Valley. He soon discovered the perfect location for his newest John Wayne production, Stagecoach.
And the rest, they say, is history. Monument Valley has become a familiar backdrop for many well-known westerns as well as other ''classics'' like Thelma and Louise, National Lampoon's Vacation, 2001: A Space Odyssey,
... and my personal favorite, Forest Gump!
Run, Forest, Run!
Three Ways to Appreciate Monument Valley
Take a self-guided drive along the 17 mile Monument Valley Drive
For those who have smaller, more nimble vehicles then ours, it is possible to drive the scenic 17 mile gravel road called Valley Drive. While the trip can be slow going at times, it is a good way to see the mesas, buttes, and spires up close.
Take a guided tour
One of the best ways to get to the ''heart'' of Monument Valley is to take a tour led by one of the many native Navajo tour guides. Their high clearance vehicles get you over some narrow, rocky terrain to areas that are not possible to see on the self-guided Valley Drive Loop. Their personal stories reflect their love for and pride in their native land. Tours start around $80 a person for a three+ hour tour.
Doug, who doesn't do sunrises, gave me a sweet gift when he signed us up for a sunrise tour. We even got photo proof that he actually was (sort of) smiling when he accomplished this crazy feat!
The brilliant colors as the sun peeked up behind Mitten Butte was well worth the cost of a few yawns amid nippy morning temperatures.
After the sun was up, we continued our guided tour through Monument Valley.
One of the benefits of taking a guided tour is that we were able to see some areas that are not accessible to the general public. Henry promised to show us one very special sight ... the sacred money tree. And sure enough, there were actually coins poking out of the money tree's bark. While I'm thinking that some of his ''stories'' may not be as ''authentic'' as others, the views were still pretty spectacular!
Hike the Wild Cat Trail
Because much of Monument Valley is home to several Navajo families, there are not a lot of hiking trails throughout the park. But we were able to see the buttes from a different prospective by hiking the four mile Wild Cat Trail.
The desert floor was alive with hardy wildflowers and plants,
... and the grandeur was even more spectacular as we looked up at the towering buttes.
From whatever angle you look at it, Monument Valley is truly a place where time stands still.
It provides a spectacular vision of the Wild West, but more importantly, Monument Valley is a place where the heart of the Navajo Nation is reflected through nature's magnificent sculptures.
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