Looking for the best hikes in Monument Valley? Read on for my guide to the most scenic trails and walks in this rugged red landscape, plus the rules you need to know before you go.
Straddling the border of Utah and Arizona, Monument Valley is one of the most photographed and beautiful places in the US. And it’s easy to see why.
Home to an other-worldly collection of sandstone buttes and mesas, some rising 1,000 ft above the valley floor, hiking in and around Monument Valley is a dreamlike experience.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is run by the Navajo Nation, and most of it can only be explored with a Navajo guide. But there are a handful of trails you can walk on your own, plus a few short walks just outside the park that offer the same picturesque scenes (if not better). In other words, deciding which hikes to tackle can be difficult.
Have no fear: that’s where I come in. Keep reading for the best trails worth adding to your itinerary, as well as essential tips you need to know before setting out.
Best hikes in Monument Valley
Wildcat Trail
Length: 3.2 miles (loop)
Time: 1.5 to 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Let me begin this guide with first-time visitors to Monument Valley in mind. The Wildcat Trail is the park’s best-known self-guided trail and an excellent way to get up close to its most famous buttes.
The loop starts near the visitor centre car park, drops down into the valley and circles right around West Mitten Butte, with brilliant views of East Mitten and Merrick Butte along the way.
Keep your eyes peeled during the hike as you’ll spot scenery that has been the backdrop to countless Western films. Prepare to live out your wildest cowboy dreams.
There’s no extra fee for the trail, but you’ll need to sign in and out at the visitor centre. The climb back up at the end is steep and sandy, so save some energy (and water) for it.
Top tip: The Mitten Buttes glow at the end of the day, which makes them one of the best places to see the sunset in Monument Valley. The Scenic Drive closes before sunset, so for the full show I recommend a sunset tour with a Navajo guide. Just remember to bring your camera along.
Lee Cly and Mesa Rim trails
Length: 2.8 miles (combined)
Time: 1 to 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to hard
Winding through rolling sandy hills, the Lee Cly and Mesa Rim trails start near the campground at The View, inside the tribal park. They take you through some of the most scenic spots in Monument Valley, and combining them into one longer hike is ideal.
While walking the Lee Cly Trail, you’ll spot stunning views of Mitchell Butte, Mitchell Mesa and Grey Whiskers Butte.
The Mesa Rim Trail requires a bit of rock scrambling, but it ends with unparalleled views of Monument Valley from above. So it’s well worth it.
Top tip: These trails aren’t listed on the Navajo Parks website, so check at the visitor centre that they’re open and where to start before you set off.
Monument Valley Scenic Drive
Length: 17 miles
Time: 2 to 4 hours
Difficulty: Easy
I know what you’re thinking: “this is not a hike”. Oh, but it can be. The Valley Drive is the only road through the park you can explore on your own, and it takes you to the most famous sights in Monument Valley.
This unpaved loop passes 11 numbered viewpoints, from the Mittens and Merrick Butte to Elephant Butte, the Three Sisters, John Ford’s Point, Camel Butte, the Totem Pole, Artist’s Point and the North Window. Park up at each one and walk out to the overlooks, and you’ll have covered a fair few miles by the end.
The road is rough and sandy in places, so a high-clearance vehicle is best, and you must stay on the marked route; the back roads are only open on guided tours. RVs and motorcycles aren’t allowed on the drive.
Top tip: Check the opening hours before you go. In winter the drive is open from 8am to 5pm, with last entry at 2:30pm, and it can close after heavy rain.
Hunts Mesa
Length: varies by tour
Time: half day to overnight
Difficulty: Moderate
Hunts Mesa is home to some of the most stunning views in Monument Valley. This hidden gem, south of the main valley, looks back across the whole sea of sandstone formations scattered across the valley floor.
You can only visit Hunts Mesa with a licensed Navajo guide. Tours usually involve a 4×4 drive over dunes followed by a hike up to the rim, and many visitors stay overnight to catch both sunset and sunrise from the top.
Overnight camping tours typically include 4×4 drives, backcountry hiking and a wander through the labyrinth of red rock mesas, with camping gear, dinner and an expert guide included.
Goulding Arch
Length: about 0.6 miles (return)
Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
This Monument Valley walk is sweet and short. And the best part is you’ll probably find few other people on it.
Goulding Arch is one of many natural arches dotted across Utah and Arizona, but we all know each one is unique and worthy of admiration.
The trail is just outside the tribal park, starting from Goulding’s Campground. From the car park, follow the signs to the arch. If you’re not staying at Goulding’s, ask at reception before you set out.
If you’d rather a bed than a tent, Goulding’s Lodge is just down the road from the campground.
Forrest Gump Point
Distance: about 12 miles north of the visitor centre
Time: 20 minute drive, then a short stop
Difficulty: Easy
Last but certainly not least, I recommend a stop at Forrest Gump Point on US-163, between Monument Valley and Mexican Hat in San Juan County, Utah. Sure, it’s more of a pull-over than a hike, but it’s pretty impressive.
This is where Forrest stops running in the film of the same name, near mile marker 13, and it’s a hugely popular photo spot.
The seemingly endless road makes an extraordinary backdrop as it disappears towards the buttes.
The highway is paved, so any car can make it, but it’s a busy road with fast traffic: park in the pullouts and take care if you step into the road for a photo.
Practical tips
- Fees: entry to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is $10 per person per day, plus $15 per vehicle for the Scenic Drive. US national park passes aren’t accepted here.
- Opening hours: in winter, the visitor centre viewpoint is open from 8am to 5pm and the Scenic Drive from 8am to 5pm (last entry 2:30pm). Hours are longer in summer. The park closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
- Time zone: the tribal park follows Mountain Time and observes daylight saving time, unlike the rest of Arizona. In summer it’s an hour ahead of Page and Phoenix, so check your clock before booking tours.
- Guides: most of the valley, including Mystery Valley, Hunts Mesa and the Ear of the Wind, can only be visited with a licensed Navajo guide. Stick to the marked trails and the Scenic Drive when exploring on your own, and respect any signs asking you to keep out.
- Wildlife: you’re more likely to see lizards, rabbits, coyotes and birds of prey than anything larger. Black bears on the Navajo Nation live in the forested mountains, not the valley. Leave no trace and take all your litter with you.
- Weather: summer days regularly reach the 90s Fahrenheit (over 32°C), and storms are common from July to mid-September. Winter brings occasional light snow. Protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water whatever the season.
- Book ahead: check the weather and whether it’s peak season. If it is, book your accommodation and dinner ahead of time, as hotels in Monument Valley fill up quickly.
Map
Read next
- Beautiful places in the US you have to see
- The best things to do in Utah
- The ultimate guide to Forrest Gump Point
- An epic Arizona road trip
Love this? Save and share on Pinterest
Discover the top things to do, insider tips and hidden gems in our USA Travel Guides.
Read the guides →
