Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Monument Valley Tribal Park is located within the larger area of Monument Valley (Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii in Navajo). From the trading post/visitor center, you see the world-famous panorama of the Mittens and Merrick Butte. Monument Valley has been the setting for many movies, especially the westerns of director John Ford. His favorite actor was of course John Wayne. There is an admission fee to drive the 17 mile dirt road loop through the Park. Better yet, you can take one of the Navajo guided tours for a narrated cruise through parts of the Park not accessible from the road.

I've been to Monument Valley four times, in 1995, 2007, 2021, and 2025. It was overcast and rainy in 1995. I took the tour of the park in 2007 - it was great. The park was closed in 2021 (COVID), so I spent a lot of time at Goulding's Lodge. I didn't get really good pictures of the iconic threesome (the Mittens and Merrick Butte) the first 3 times out, but the fourth time (2025) I hit the jackpot (my best photos). As is my custom I have included photos of the same subject over the years - a bit boring but it's what I do.

View from Forest Gump Point on U.S. 163

(l to r) Stagecoach, King on his Throne, Brigham's Tomb - View southwest from U.S. 163

Entrance Sign

Closed 2021

Rez Mustangs

Trading Post Gift Shop and Museum

View southwest - (l to r) Mitchel Mesa, Gray Whiskers Butte, Mitchell Butte

Mitchell Mesa (l) Gray Whiskers Butte (r)

Mitchell Butte

Trading Post Interior

Lots of Kachinas

Lots of Pots

Shaggy Goats

17 Mile Valley Loop Drive

Visitors to the park can either take a guided tour of the 17 mile Valley Loop Drive or they can drive it themselves. Travel time around the loop is 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on how long you dawdle at each stop. The following photos are main points of interest along the loop, in order.

The Mittens (1995)

The Mittens (2007)

The Mittens (2025)

(l to r) West Mitten, East Mitten,
and Merrick Butte (1995)

(l to r) West Mitten, East Mitten,
and Merrick Butte (2007)

(l to r) West Mitten, East Mitten,
and Merrick Butte (2025)

Sentinel Mesa

Sentinel Mesa (l), West Mitten (center), Merrick Butte (r)

Elephant Butte

Three Sisters formation at the southeast end of Mitchell Mesa (2007)

Three Sisters (2025)

John Ford's Point (2007)

John Ford's Point (2025)

John Ford's Point Trading Post

Camel Butte

Rain God Mesa

The Hub

Totem Pole and
Yei Be Chei formation (2007)

Yei Be Chei formation
and Totem Pole (2025)

View from Artist's Point

The Thumb (2007)

The Tumb (2025)

The North Window

View from North Window

Extended (Deluxe) Tour

In addition to stops around the 17 mile loop, "Deluxe Tours" are available that take tourists to points of interest in restricted parts of the park. I took one of these tours in 2007 that included stops at Ear of the Wind, Eye of the Sun, and a visit to the hogan of Susie Yazzie, renowned weaver, storyteller, and Monument Valley Matriarch. There are also horseback and 4x4 tours for the extreme tourist.

Blacks Horseback Trail Rides

Susie Yazzie braiding hair at her hogan
Susie passed away in 2013

Sheep Jester

Ear of the Wind Arch

Bighorn Sheep Petroglyphs at Eye of the Sun

Goulding's Lodge - RV Resort and Campground

Harry and Leone "Mike" Goulding purchased some land in Monument Valley and started a trading post in 1924. The original trading post was set up in a tent, and after several years Harry built a permanent building for the trading post (now the Goulding’s Trading Post Museum). The great depression hit the Navajo Reservation hard and Goulding thought if he could intice movie producers to film in Monument Valley it would provide a much needed source of income for the Navajos. He went to Hollywood and convinced John Ford to come to Monument Valley. Ford filmed "Stagecoach" staring John Wayne, the first of several movies he filmed there. Since then, Goulding's has continued to host movie crews and tourists from around the world. The La Font family bought the lodge in 1981, and fittingly, the Navajo Nation acquired the lodge in 2023. Over the years, a restaurant, convenience store, RV park, and other ammenities have been added to the lodge.

Goulding's is really the only game in town if you want to spend more than a day in Monument Valley. Stephanie and I stayed at the Lodge in 2007 and 2025, and camped in the RV resort in 2021. I had the same meal at the Stagecoach Restaurant in 2021 and 2025, the Rez Bah. I'll say only that it was tasty and involved fry bread.

Goulding's Lodge

Shopping area at Goulding's Lodge
Grocery Store, Gas, and Laundromat

Goulding's Trading Post Museum

Goulding Memorial

Birdcage Theater

John Wayne's Cabin

"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon"

International Toilette

Hogan

Goulding's Arch

Bonus - Monument Valley High School Homecoming

I happened to be staying at Gouldings Lodge in 2007 the same weekend that Monument Valley High School was having its homecoming parade. The high school's mascot is the cougar and the school colors are purple and gold if you can't tell from the photos below.

Homecoming 2007