Monument Valley

Tango

Can I get some tips on Monument Valley?

I've heard that I really should go with a Photography tour, not the regular tour...anyone have a link for me to find more info on that? where do I sign up & get info?
where do I meet up for a tour?

Ive heard there is no access to this area other than a tour guide. true? why? (not public lands?)

whats your favorite Image taken at Monument Valley? care to post it here to show me what I have in store?


Thanks!!

kdog

:lurk

dlplumer

kdog wrote:

:lurk

+1

denisegoldberg

I believe it's owned by the Navajo Nation.

I found this info page - http://www.navajonationparks.org/htm/monumentvalley.htm. There are guided tours from the visitor center, and there is a scenic drive. The site doesn't say anything about requiring that you take a tour. And this page shows photos from a hike - http://www.navajonationparks.org/images/photos/WildCatTrail/WildcatTrail/Monument_Valley.html.

There is a phone number on the web site, probably worth calling and asking.

--- Denise

Tango

those looks like great links, thanks Denise!...(I googled but every site was not as helpful as these)

let me ask everyone that has been there...

If you could be at Monument Valley during a wonderful sunset and a sunrise too... where would you make sure to be standing....? specific names to these views?

Cuong

I made a quick stop at Monument Valley on the way to Page after the Moab shootout last year. As you can see from the info provided by Denise, the place is a Navajo Tribal Park so it's not part of the US national parks. From the visitor center, there's a 17-mile unpaved loop road with 11 different scenic stops. You can clearly see this road on Google map, about 4 miles east of the US-163 from the UT-AZ border. You can drive this road and explore on your own once you paid the entry fee to get into the park, unless you want to use one of the tours for additional costs. I was there at mid day so no sweet light. A quarter way through the scenic route I decided to call it quit since the minivan is definitely not designed for off-roading. I hope to come back someday with more time to spare than a couple hours.

Here are a couple of mine with the mid-day lighting:

1. West Mitten, East Mitten, and Merrick Buttes


2. Sentinel Mesa, West Mitten, Big Indian, Brigham's Tomb, King on his Throne, Stagecoach and Castle Rock


I've seen some beautiful shots of MV from Mahesh (thapamd) and Dan (dlplumer). Maybe they can chime in with their suggestions.

Cuong

Andy

Just saw an article in McPaper about a new hotel right there @ The Mittens, too... google for it

Tango

Thanks Coung!

Andy, a Hotel right there @ Mitten?.... wow, its getting built right now!...
http://www.monumentvalleyview.com/

(in a way - it kinda takes the thunder out of going there for photography)(just wont be the same if I know anyone can take a pic right out the window...)

Nikolai

AaronNelson wrote:

Thanks Coung!

Andy, a Hotel right there @ Mitten?.... wow, its getting built right now!...
http://www.monumentvalleyview.com/

(in a way - it kinda takes the thunder out of going there for photography)(just wont be the same if I know anyone can take a pic right out the window...)

View from the hotel is gonna be far from ideal... no worries:-)

Cuong

The view from above is definitely not the same as one down on the valley road.

Cuong

JohnDC

This is the Navajo Nation. As a non-Navajo, you can only go to limited areas in your own vehicle.

I have been there once for about three days. There is a hotel. I recommend it. I also recommend the full-day (not half-day) tour with a Navajo guide and vehicle. You can sign up near the hotel. The vehicle has high clearance and big tires, which are needed to get through areas of deep sand. The tour will go where you are not allowed to go yourself. It's somewhat dusty, so bring protection for your equipment. Do the tour on arrival so you can get oriented. The light can be fantastic, especially in the late afternoon. This is one of the best trips I've made.

pathfinder

AaronNelson wrote:

Can I get some tips on Monument Valley?

I've heard that I really should go with a Photography tour, not the regular tour...anyone have a link for me to find more info on that? where do I sign up & get info?
where do I meet up for a tour?

Ive heard there is no access to this area other than a tour guide. true? why? (not public lands?)

whats your favorite Image taken at Monument Valley? care to post it here to show me what I have in store?


Thanks!!

Hi Aaron,

Kathy and I shot Monument Valley in May 2006 on the way to the ShootOut in Bryce and Zion.

While you can drive the single road through Monument Valley, you cannot go walking about as it is all "private" Navaho Tribal land. To get there during the sunrise light, you need a native guide. We hired Dan Chee and found him quite engaging, and knowledgeable. He drove a 2 wheel Ford van, and we enjoyed getting him unstuck in the deep sand innumerable times, but we always got free. The sand can be as bad as it was in Toroweap, or even worse. The White Knight did get stuck in the Valley of the Ancients, but I think that was partially the drivers fault ( me ) as I did not know how to use the Honda's power train to best effect in sand back then.



Without a guide you will not see the petroglyphs, inside some of the hogans, or the Eye or the Ear. Nor can you shoot at sunrise, or sunset. If you try to go walkabout, the Natives WILL chase you out, too! You can shoot and explore the Valley of the Gods without any problems though, but you MAY need 4wd. The eastern entrance is a stream crossing at times.

This is a cliche'd shot from the visitor's center, but I still like it



I have more from Monument Valley here - http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/gallery/1504304_JjLMn/1

If you decide to go, spend an after noon in the museum at Goulding's trading post, there are dozens of photographs by Mark Muench's grandfather who shot there in the early 1930's. Lovely work. There are also stills from John Ford's work there. If you have not seen "Stage Coach" or the "Searcher's" you might enjoy them on DVD. http://www.desertusa.com/mag05/dec/m_valley.html

Most folks stay at Gouldings motel, but I hear it is being sold ( but I am not certain about this)

Kathy and I stayed at the Desert Rose Inn in Bluff, which is about 30 min east of Monument Valley. We have since returned to Bluff, we enjoy staying there and the surrounding country side offers lots of things to explore and photograph. I shot this frame just down the road from Bluff.



There is a nice little coffee shop in Bluff ( or there was in summer 2007 ) and there is a significant amount of interesting history there as as well. The Comb Ridge area just east of Bluff offers days of exploration. You might enjoy Dave Robert's "Sandstone Spine: Seeking the Anasazi on the first Traverse of the Comb Ridge"

Here is the highway cut through Comb Ridge



If you tire of Comb Ridge there is all of Cedar Mesa to explore, as well as Moki Dugway. Unguarded hairpins turns and 18 wheelers are always interesting!

Moki Dugway is a famous motorcycle riders rite of passage. Great views from the top of the mesa as well from Muley Point!


The Edge of Cedars Museum in Blanding is also worthwhile to visit. I shot this there



The Goosenecks are also close, as is Natural Bridges National Monument

As you can tell, this whole area is a favorite of mine, so feel free to ask any questions and I will be hapy to oblige you if I can. I would go back in a heartbeat, schedule permitting. I could easily be talked into a few days in October after the end of Marc's workshop, say October 7 - 10 or so, but you could spend weeks here as still not be done with the area. The weather is lovely then, much cooler than Toroweap was, but still pleasant and sunny. I could be talked into spending some time here in October...........

Tango

Thanks for the comments everyone!, And Jim thank you for taking me on a tour!!
That shot from Blanding: "Dude, Sweet!", You have one hella collection my friend.
Its looking like I will have on-call the weekend of the 10th otherwise youbetcha I'd meet up....so I will let you know of any changes...

CWSkopec

I sort of remember driving through the area with my dad when I was a kid, so I can't off too much help, but take a look at one of Mahesh's first posts, from Hunt's Mesa. Somewhere in that thread I think he says you need a quide to get to Hunt's Mesa and he may be able to give you more info.

Judging from his shots, looks like money well spent to get up there!

wxwax

The view from the hotel is pretty darn good. They built it right where you'd stand for the classic shot of the Mittens. If you stay there, one unbelievable experience is walking out onto your balcony on a moonlit night and seeing those massive, looming guardians in stone seemingly within reach. I got up more than once that night just to savor the experience.

Yes, that absolutely spoils the notion that Monument Valley is in the middle of a vast wilderness. Sadly, I've found this to be true of many famous beauty spots. What's just outside the frame never gets seen!

If you don't want to spring for the paid photo tour, then seriously consider hiking. Patch29 found a trail map and AFAIK it's free and has excellent access. Hiking will liberate you from the access road's highly restrictive hours, which I think are probably designed to protect the business of the paid tours.

The Navajo run Monument Valley very much like a business. That's neither good nor bad, it just is. Just so you're not surprised.

Consider approaching or departing Monument Valley via the Moki Dugway. If you're scared of heights it'll give you a thrill and if you're lucky, a nice shot too.

Nikolai

wxwax wrote:

The view from the hotel is pretty darn good. They built it right where you'd stand for the classic shot of the Mittens. If you stay there, one unbelievable experience is walking out onto your balcony on a moonlit night and seeing those massive, looming guardians in stone seemingly within reach. I got up more than once that night just to savor the experience.

Yes, that absolutely spoils the notion that Monument Valley is in the middle of a vast wilderness. Sadly, I've found this to be true of many famous beauty spots. What's just outside the frame never gets seen!

If you don't want to spring for the paid photo tour, then seriously consider hiking. Patch29 found a trail map and AFAIK it's free and has excellent access. Hiking will liberate you from the access road's highly restrictive hours, which I think are probably designed to protect the business of the paid tours.

The Navajo run Monument Valley very much like a business. That's neither good nor bad, it just is. Just so you're not surprised.

Consider approaching or departing Monument Valley via the Moki Dugway. If you're scared of heights it'll give you a thrill and if you're lucky, a nice shot too.

Sid! Man! I can't believe it's you! Great to have you back!
And yes, Moki Dugway is a thrill.
RE MV: I wonder if they allow mountian bikes on the hiking trails, that would be a great way to cover some distance and get to and out fast.

pathfinder

Hi Sid. I haven't seen you since Scotland. Welcome home!

Can you really hike on your own, unescorted, in Monument Valley? I doubt it. I know in the Valley of the Ancients, that you need to be escorted by a guide. You can hike all through Valley of the Gods without any escorts though.

Moki Dugway is way cool

Muley Point is well worth week end also

wxwax

Patch29 was able to take a morning hike unchallenged and unescorted. Perhaps it made a difference that we were there in December, I dunno.