Monument Valley Jeep Tours

The pristine Monument Valley is located in the heart of Navajo Nation near Lake Powell along the Utah-Arizona border.

The restricted back country is highly protected as to preserve its natural buttes, arches and mesas. In fact, the area is only accessible to authorized Navajo guides; private vehicles are prohibited. All visitors must enter via a Navajo tour guide.

Despite its restricted access for those vacationing in Arizona and visiting the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley is another miss attraction and included in Caravan’s Grand Canyon tour.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park History

The official name of Monument Valley is Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley Park.

As one of the most photographed points on the planet this desert area has been featured in numerous 1930’s western films. Many come to Monument Valley, Utah to experience the “Good Old West“.

Some say that Monument Valley offers some of “the most enduring and definitive images of the American West” with it reds mesas and buttes. What may come as a surprise to vacationers is the vast, wide open sandy desert that feels like it’s straight from a movie or commercial. With a somewhat familiar touch the area feels like you know it well, even on your first trip. That’s not to say the valley is not spectacular.

The open desert region is highlighted by its sandstone formations, the unique Navajo Indian population and the famous Four Corners Monument.

As mentioned, the area is only accessible via certified tour guides. There are many jeep tours guided by registered Navajo tour operators that will take visitors down into the valley and up close to the many of the popular mythical formations. For the ordinary visitor wanting to explore on foot, these places simply are not accessible.

Monument Valley Attractions and Landmarks

Monument Valley was once a vast lowland basin. Over a significant period of time, materials eroded from the Rocky Mountains and formed layer after layer of sediment. With pressure from below the surface these formations gently uplifted to create the famous red buttes and mesas featured in the park today.

Monument Valley Buttes

A butte is an isolated hill with extremely steep sides and a flat top. These are quite a sight to behold as they jut out from flat surrounding landscape. Monument Valley features some of the world’s most famous buttes:

East and West Mitten Butte – A butte that looks like a set of hands. For Navajo peoples it symbolizes spiritual beings keeping watch over the valley.

Elephant Butte – A butte in the southwest point of the desert named for its elephant like appearance.

Camel Butte - A west facing butte named for the famous spitting, middle eastern animal.

Monument Valley Mesas

In addition to the buttes, Monument Valley is also filled with mesas which are similar to a butte but much wider. The famous mesas in Monument Valley include:

Merrick and Mitchell Mesas – Mesas named after two explorers who thought they struck it rich when they stumbled upon silver in Monument Valley. History reveals that Merrick and Mitchell were eventually killed by the Ute tribe who concealed the silver.

Rain God Mesa – This mesa marks the geographical center of the world. Traditionally, Navajo medicine men pray to the Rain Gods at this mesa whose south side seeps out water from the base of the sandstone.

Spearhead Mesa – A mesa that bares resemblance to the spear of an arrow; attached to Spire Monument.

All Inclusive Grand Canyon Vacations Include Monument Valley

Monument Valley and many of these famous Utah landmarks are included as part of Caravan’s all inclusive Grand Canyon Vacation Packages.

These 8-day, fully escorted Grand Canyon vacations are all inclusive and affordably priced at just $1,095. Other famous locations included in Caravan’s Grand Canyon Tour include Sedona, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Dam, Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon.

Visit Caravan’s Grand Canyon Vacation Review page to read what other vacationers have to say about these all inclusive Grand Canyon tours, which include Bryce Canyon and Zion Park.