Monument Valley

I have seen pictures of Monument Valley on social media, and the photos are always stunning.  When I began planning our 2021 cross-country RV trip, I had to figure out a way to visit this area so I could see this landscape for myself.  

Our original travel plans would take us from Holbrook, AZ to Ouray, CO, via the Million Dollar Highway between Silverton and Ouray, CO.  I wanted to avoid this highway at all costs, especially while pulling an RV.  A detour at Goulding in Monument Valley, UT would be the perfect excuse.  Even though it was a little out of the way, it was worth it, and it did not disappoint!

As Monument Valley resides on the Navajo Nation Reservation and the Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation oversees all Navajo Tribal Parks, Covid restrictions closed the Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.  As a result of this, we were not able to visit Monument Valley.  However, we came up with a new plan for our stay, and I must say, it was pretty great!  

We would stay two nights at Goulding Campground, which provided a great view of the Valley. On our arrival at the campground, we set off for a brief hike right from the campground to Goulding Arch. This was a surprise and an enjoyable hike.  

In the evening, we drove to the Earth Spirit Theater, located on the property next to the Gift Shop, to watch a free 25-minute information movie about the Goulding Family and the area’s history.  It was worth the time, and to our surprise, we were the only two people in the small theater.  

As for the Goulding history, it reminded me of the history of Bryce Canyon.  In this case, it was Harry Goulding who was looking for a new business opportunity.  When land became available for purchase, he and his wife Leone purchased a large plot and started a Trading Post. Their business began with trading with the local Navajo people.  In the 1930s, Harry and Leone set their sights on Hollywood, with hopes of convincing John Ford, the famous movie director at that time, that Monument Valley would be the perfect setting for future movies. The Gouldings figured the movie business would bring much-needed income to the local Navajos, who were hit hard by the Great Depression.  After seeing a few photos of the local landscape, John Ford provided an advance to the Gouldings to film his next movie, Stagecoach, starring no other than John Wayne!  

With its breathtaking scenery, Monument Valley quickly became a popular location for future western films and tourists.  With Monument Valley’s growing popularity, the Gouldings built a lodge and dining facility to accommodate actors, film crews, and tourists.  Today, the Goulding Resort has grown to accommodate guests from around the world.  The resort now consists of the Goulding Hotel, Villas, a Gas Station, a Grocery Store, Gift Shop, and Restaurant.

With the closure of the Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, we quickly drafted a new plan for our visit to this area. As we had one full day to explore the areas around Monument Valley, we decided to visit the following places, which are highlighted and listed in order below. This took a full day. If you plan to visit this area, I would suggest a two-night stay, to fully appreciate the area.    

Forrest Gump Point – Located 14.4-miles from Gouldings sits the iconic Forrest Gump Point made famous in the movie Forrest Gump. This is the scenic point from the movie where Forrest decides to stop running cross-country and make his way home. Yup, it is a tourist destination! At this point, you will find plenty of parking and roadside vendors selling their Navajo jewelry. A sign along the road states no standing in the road.  Additional signs warn drivers to slow down ahead and of course, everyone stands in the middle of the road to get the classic picture. It is quite the sight.  As you make your way to this location from Gouldings, you will come across several pullovers where you will want to stop for pictures of Monument Valley.  Each one seems to offer a better shot. I think we stopped at every one to take in the view! 

Mexican Hat Rock – As you continue northeast on Highway 163 you cross the San Juan River.  3-miles north, and after passing through the town of Mexican Hat, you will see a rock formation that looks like a Mexican Hat. This is visible from the road.  One can drive down road 2161 for a closer look, and you can also hike to the rock.  See the link for details as provided in Alltrails.  We choose to drive down the road and stopped to take some pictures.  

Goosenecks State Park – A brief 6 miles from Mexican Hat was Goosenecks State Park. There is a $5.00 entrance fee, but it is well worth the cost!  This State Park provides stunning views of the San Juan River below as it goosenecks around the valley floor 1,000 feet below. This location offers camping and picnic tables.  I would propose packing a lunch and stopping here for lunch with some of the best views in Utah! 

Valley of the Gods – Directly off Highway 163, you will find Valley of the Gods Road.  This 16-mile dirt road takes you through a remote section of Utah.  In the beginning, I was a little nervous as I did not know what kind of road lay ahead, but was glad my wife put this “must do” on our bucket list.  It took about 2-hours to cover these 16-miles while providing the most outstanding views! Some say this 16-mile road is better than the 17 mile loop road through Monument Valley and this road has no cost.  Had it rained, the road conditions would have been pretty bad. I assume that Utah red dirt would turn into thick mud, making the drive very difficult.  Plan your visit accordingly and pay attention to the forecast.  It is very remote with no cell coverage.  

For us, a two-night stay provided plenty of time to take in the beauty of this area, do some off-road exploring, and visit another Utah State Park with breathtaking views. Pictures can only explain the beauty, so enjoy!