A breathtaking stop at Monument Valley
There’s no mistaking Monument Valley Tribal Park.
As you approach you realise you’ve seen it many times before—in advertisements, holiday brochures, television and movies, especially American westerns.
Director John Ford used the location in about 10 of his films, including Stagecoach, which won two Academy Awards and made John Wayne a star. Ford once said Monument Valley was the ‘most complete, beautiful and peaceful place on earth’.
The valley is featured in more than 20 other movies. Forrest Gump ended his cross-country run there. Or maybe you recognise it from 2001: A space odyssey or Back to the future III or Thelma and Louise.
No matter how many times you’ve seen it, the real treat is being there in person. It’s breathtaking to see the striking red mesas, buttes and spires surrounded by 92,000 acres of flat and mostly empty sandy desert.
Our group hired a Navajo guide and 4WD so we could travel along the 17-mile loop that weaves through the park.
Navaho guides are allowed to take you off the main track, so our excursion included some wonderful bonuses. We knew dinner was included—Indian fry bread, steak, salads and more. But we didn’t know we’d get to see the Sun’s Eye and nearby ancient rock art.
Next stop was a sort of rock amphitheatre where we were treated a ‘concert’. Our guide brought his traditional flute and played several haunting tunes. The enormous stone backdrops created perfect acoustics.
I was struck by how much the towering buttes, sweeping desert and rough scrub reminded me of Australia’s Red Centre and its massive sandstone monolith, Uluru.
As an aside, not all the pics have captions. As usual, I was in a quandary choosing which pics to share.
A little more about the valley
Monument Valley Tribal Park is part of the Colorado Plateau. In the Navajo language it’s called Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii, which means ‘valley of the rocks’.
Of course, the place isn’t a valley in the conventional sense, but a wide flat, sometimes desolate landscape, with the crumbling formations that rise up to 1000 feet (300 metres), the last remnants of the sandstone layers that once covered the entire region.
Monument Valley is part of the much larger Navajo Nation Reservation, which covers about 17.5 million acres (71,000 square kilometres) in parts of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. It is the largest land area retained by a Native American tribe, and has a population of about 350,000.
The valley is not a national park, like nearby Canyonlands in Utah and the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but one of six Navajo-owned tribal parks. What’s more, the valley floor is still inhabited by Navajo—30 to 100 people, depending on the season, who live in houses without running water or electricity.
Valley residents rely on local natural springs for drinking and cleaning, and for watering their livestock and vegetable gardens. Water also plays a important role in Navajo daily and ceremonial life. Clan and community names often refer to water.
Plants, such as wolfberry and Indian ricegrass, grow around the springs. They provide forage for animals, and help to stabilise the sand and dirt. While plants such as snakeweed are used in Navajo ceremonies. Coyotes are central figures in Navajo life and culture. As an aside, I reckon coyotes figure much more widely in American life and culture. Poor John recently finished a book that says every single person in the USA lives within one mile of a coyote.
The Navajo Code Talkers
The visitor centre at Monument Valley has a wonderful display about the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II. There’s another display at a local fast food outlet.
Between 1942 and 1945, Navajo Marines spoke in a code forged from their native language. The tactic amazed American troops and completely baffled the Japanese, and helped to win World World II in the Pacific.
While Native American language had been used during World War I, the more recent effort began in 1942 with a pilot project that involved an original 29 Navajo Code Talkers. They initially developed more than 200 terms for the English alphabet, general vocabulary, ranks of officers, countries, military equipment and munitions. By the end of the war, the code included more than 800 terms and involved 400 talkers.
Navajo Code Talkers served in all six US Marine divisions. They provided the most sophisticated, accurate, fast and secure means of military communication during World War II. Their code was used to send combat coordinates, troop movements, orders and highly classified messages. They served on the front line, on ships and aircraft, with the US Marine Raiders, reconnaissance, and underwater demolition teams.
Their efforts were featured in the 2002 film Windtalkers. A documentary, The Code Talkers: a secret code of honour, was produced in 2003. In it, cast and crew from Windtalkers share their feelings about their service during the war and in the making of the film.
Stunning
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Such an amazing landscape.
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I told you that you would be blown away coming here
We were lucky we actually got to speak to one of the windtalkers, (god only knows how old he was)
You never saw the Navajo on horse back posing like John Wayne, Anne took several photos of him, then spoke to him when he came back to check his tips (they were all there and no one had pinched his bucket)
There are so many places to take photos from, every time you find one great spot, another pops up
Yes very reminiscent of the centre of Australia or Ayers Rock with the colours,
We never had a guide but still wandered off the track
We saw a group on horseback going for a tour, that was good watching them
There was also a bit of filming going on while we were there, we were asked not to take photos, well for once I didn’t
We stayed in a Navajo hotel not far from here, and ate a traditional meal, but it weren’t steak
Yes I could go back here again, just to do it on horseback (that is really the best way to see monument valley (which isn’t really a valley)
Cheers Peggy for bringing back a few memories of our Route 66 trip (weren’t that long ago really but it seems a long, long time ago now)
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I forgot to mention we stopped at the point where Forrest stopped running, it’s not in the car park, it’s on a long stretch of road that disappears into the distance
There are a few car wrecks out there as well, one near the exit, people queued up to pose with the wreck (it was a wreck, but never had much rust on it)
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I remember when you did your Route 66 trip. What a great adventure you had. We didn’t see anyone on horseback when we were there, but I reckon it would be a great way to see the valley. Glad to bring back some memories for you.
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OMG! Absolutely breath taking… It’s always a pleasure to read your travel stories. They inspire me to explore and make my bucket list of travel! 🙂
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Thanks so much for stopping by and for commenting. I love sharing my travels. I wonder what will be on your bucket list?
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For now: It’s Machu Picchu, Northern Lights, Leh Ladakh, Manasarovar and Mt. Kailash, Greece and Ireland. 🙂
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Wow, great choices.
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As you say, Peggy. This is so familiar from a lifetime of watching films. But I am sure that nothing compares to actually seeing it and being there.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It really is wonderful to see it in person.
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I bet! 🙂
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Wonderful post … and wonderful to see this beauty !!!
Have a nice week my friend!!!!
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Thanks for this fantastic link.
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Thanks so much…I’m glad to hear your words. Really appreciate it.
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Good to see the Big Horn pictograph is still there. My son and I did the backcountry tour in 2003.
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Lucky you. That would be a wonderful experience.
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I did the exact same tour 12 years ago….can’t remember if it was the same flute player though! Lol. It’s a magical place that’s for sure!
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So glad you’ve experienced the magic too.
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Yes, some views were definitely familiar. And wow, mind blowingly awesome.
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Yes, many views were familiar to me and everything was awesome.
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Certainly looks it.
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Thanks so much.
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Reblogged this on Blue Dragon Journal and commented:
Another great-looking adventure from Miss Peggy!
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Thanks so much. Always appreciated.
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Your description puts the Monument in context in a way I had not understood before. You did well to capture the rock art.
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Thanks Derrick. I’m lucky enough to have a telephoto lens that let’s me capture things too far away.
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Monument valley is so amazing, but I haven’t seen it for a while now. You had a fascinating tour through it.
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It was an incredible tour. Hope you have the chance to return.
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Spiritual indeed.
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Yes, and I think the flute music really added to the spirituality.
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The desert southwest is one of my favourite places on the planet, and in that whole region, this was my favourite stop. I haven’t been there in about a decade but I would love to go back – maybe next time travelling through the region by bicycle.
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It’s a wonderful place to visit. It might be hard to navigate the dirt loop on a bicycle! Maybe pedal to the visitor centre and then hire a horse.
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That would be the idea for sure. I’m not even sure I’d be allowed to ride beyond the visitor’s centre.
I’m thinking more of a cross-country ride – following Route 66, for example, with a bit of a diversion north to ride there.
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Route 66 would be the perfect way to go.
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It is wonderful to see it through your eyes. It is one of our favorite spots.
When we were last there, Alie was having some health issues, and we were blown away by the unexpected acts of kindness by people there.
To meet a surviving Code Talker — wow!!!
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It’s great to hear when people really step up with kindness.
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Monumental post . . . as always.
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Aw thanks.
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Great pictures, reminded me of my visit there in 1996.
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Glad you’ve also had the chance to see it in person.
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Good story, Peggy. Lots of info I hadn’t known, such as it being Navajo-owned. See you —
Neil S.
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Thanks Neil. I learned a lot in the visitor centre.
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What an amazing experience to see all that. Beautiful!
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It really was a treat. I’d love to visit again.
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I can see why you’d think it like Australia’s red centre. Interesting post Peggy. The landscape looks awe-inspiring and powerful, and I loved the flute music.
Alison
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Yes, it’s especially Uluru-like when you get up close to some of the buttes. Really struck me around the Sun’s Eye and where we listened to the flute music.
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Terrific photos, Peggy! This makes me want to go again as my previous drive by was a hastily planned side trip when headed to Bryce Canyon.
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Thanks. I’d love to go again too.
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Monumento Valley… 😮🤤😲
Ok, I live on the wrong side of the ocean 😁
Breathtaking photos!
Ciao
Sidd
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Maybe one day you can visit.
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This really is breathtaking! And your photos are always so stunning. xxx
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Oh thanks so much. I guess lugging around a heavy camera is worth it. 🙂
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It 100% is! I’m really not a fan of flying, and doubt I will ever travel to all the places you do, so I just love seeing all your beautiful photos of them. 🙂 xxx
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So happy to take you along with me.
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Often for great photos of long distances, they result in hazy images… so I am amazed how clear all your beautiful photos are. You should be a movie director and produce a short movie on “Travels with Peggy”! And Monument Valley can be your signature video. And sidekick Poor John (no Wayne) hubby can be your cowboy star.. where is his hat, gun and horse photo? Again, amazingly beautiful photos and commentary on a unique part of America.
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Thanks so much Sy. I did get some hazy pics, but we were so very lucky with the weather. Don’t think I’ll get Poor John on a horse any time soon. He prefers donkeys—not quite so far to fall.
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Interesting views, it looks a lot like Mars or something, interesting about the Navajo Code Talkers.
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Great comment, the landscapes rather do look like Mars, the Red Planet.
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Reblogged this on dreamweaver333.
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Thanks so much. Greatly appreciated.
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The dinner look nice as well. Was that a buffalo steak?
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Dinner was nice, but I have no idea what kind of meat. They never said.
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Stunning place. And yes, although I’ve never been, it looks so familiar
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Amazing that it looks so familiar. We must watch a lot of films. 🙂
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I do! And I love ‘Thelma and Louise’.
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This is such a breathtaking part of Colorado, with a rich history. I wish more was taught to American children about Navajo culture – I wish more was taught about all Native American culture. The Rock Art is stunning, every bit as impressive as the cave paintings in Europe. And yes, it does remind me of Ayers Rock, now that you mention it. I’ve really enjoyed “traveling” here with you, learning the history and getting to see the incredible landscape.
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So glad you enjoyed the post. I’m a big fan of rock art in general. Seeing it here was a big, unexpected bonus.
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We live in Lake Forest, California – and have seen coyotes walking down the street at noon. There is frequent evidence of their presence in our and all Orange County neighborhoods. A bit scary sometimes, and requiring a little caution and common sense.
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Oh my goodness, you are proof that what Poor John read about coyotes is right. I guess pets are at the greatest risk.
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It’s a stunning landscape. Thanks to John Ford, I used to think that most of the USA looked like this!! lol!
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I love your artworks. Have you ever painted scenes from here?
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Thank you. No I haven’t although I did visit here a long time ago (in the 1990s). I still have the photos in a cupboard somewhere!
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Perhaps some inspiration.
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Great read 👍
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Thanks so much.
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Great post, Peggy. For all of my wandering the southwest, I don’t remember ever visiting Monument Valley. Several bloggers I follow have featured it. I shall include it in my next trip to the region. –Curt
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Oh yes, Curt, it is a must see. Look forward to you posting about Monument Valley one day.
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Maybe this spring. (grin)
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It’s stunning🌿
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I know. Very lucky to have seen it.
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👍
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wow !!ja staunnig
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Peg, you are STILL here??? What a tour, and, good for you both, then. I should see my own country in this way one day. (Maybe time to retire.)
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Shhh! Don’t tell anyone, but we are back in Australia. I’m almost always behind with the blog. But yes, you need to explore the USA—Australia too. Always welcome.
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What an interesting post.
…and the images and landscape are spectacular. Thanks for sharing, Peggy.
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Thanks Vicki. You have so many wonderful posts. It’s great to post one you like.
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vielen lieben dank !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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You are most welcome.
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viel dank !! aber ich bleib lebe zuhause !!!(FUN)
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Spectacular countryside. Hard to believe I’ve never been there, although your pictures have a familiar feel. That side trip with the Navaho guide must have been amazing.
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Oh yes, the trip with the guide made the visit extra special.
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Wonderful report !!! He makes you want to visit this beautiful place too.
Have a nice time.
best regards
Balle
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Thanks so much. It is a wonderful place to visit.
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What wonderful photographs and such a great back story. I haven’t been to Monument Valley but Teddy has, on geological field trips. The fry bread looked so good! I haven’t heard our coyotes in a while but was transfixed in Arizona listening to them ‘sing’ at night.
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Thanks Kerry. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard coyotes singing at night. Time for a return trip.
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It is a lovely sound – if you like coyotes…🐺
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I do, and wolves too.
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Monument Valley is so full of great shots to take. You did it justice.
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Thanks so much. I had a challenging time trying to choose pics to include.
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Wow. To all of the above. I really need to be brave and go see the world! I now have a long list, many of places you’ve featured 😉
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Yes, be brave and go see the world. It waits for you.
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Gorgeous as always. One of these days I’ll get over there…
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I hope you do. It’s well worth the trip.
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I so miss Monument Valley. It is not like any other place I have ever been before or since.
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Yes, it’s a one-of-a-kind landscape.
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Stunning 👍
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Yes, it’s a very special landscape.
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We are going this year. Im so looking forward to it.
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It’s such a fabulous location. Hope you have a wonderful time.
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Thank you.
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