Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona/Utah

A place that is sure to leave a lasting impression on your soul is Monument Valley located on the border of Arizona and Utah in the U.S.A.  That could be the reason this place is the most used for filming movies on location.  The beauty is stark, dramatic and so riveting it’s hard to take your eyes off of the splendid nature in front you of you spanning 360 degrees.  If Mother Nature had indeed created her own art gallery, it would be the impressive sandstone monoliths sprawling in every direction in Monument Valley.

Our family recently went to Monument Valley to celebrate the beauty of life.  Don and I wanted to share this special place with our children Dani and Josh now that they are older and more aware of the emotional ties that make us who we are today.  I lost my oldest sister a few years ago.  When her husband told me that Monument Valley was their favorite place in the whole world, it made me want to see the red cliffs even more.  I knew then that just standing among the beauty of the valley would make me feel a bit closer to her spirit.  And that thought alone made my own spirit soar as we traveled.  I just couldn’t wait to get there again.

Monument Valley is a special place.  The quiet is so still there you can actually hear it within your own beating heart.  The valley is infused with the rich traditions and tranquility that personifies the Navajo Indian spirit.  Driving in the Monument Valley Tribal Park gives you the flavor of what the Navajo way of life was in the past and up to the present.  The Navajos have seamlessly bridged and preserved their old ways with the new ways without losing their rich cultural traditions.

The park has a visitor center, campground, restaurant and a lodge.  There is a $20 entry fee to take the 14 mile graded loop drive which takes you to the famous monoliths:  the Mittens, Totem Pole, and the Yei Bi Chai among others.  These are the ones that have become the landmarks of the area and highly recognizable from movies, TV shows and commercials.

As you drive keep a good look out for the livestock.  The Navajos who still live in the monument and have for generations, raise sheep who graze in the open lands.  The Navajo way of life is preserved and sheep wool is spun and woven into native rugs which are sold in the valley and in surrounding stores.   The weavers raise the sheep and sear, wash and spin the wool in the traditional ways of their old cultural ancestors who passed on the methods through the generations to preserve the art.  It is not uncommon to see a weaver sitting on the floor in front of a Navajo log loom as they spin their tradition.  This is most exciting to see near a Hogan, the ancient Navajo dwelling, which are still used for living in the valley.

Our family loves to visit Monument Valley and see the rich ways of the Navajo life.  The sandstone orange and red hues are vivid any time of day and make for spectacular photos.  If you are ever in the valley, we hope you will stop and visit the Monument Valley Trading Post.  We are proud to say our “OutDoors And not…Arizona” travel DVD is on sale there and your purchase helps the Navajo way of life endure.  As the Navajo people perceive their homeland, this strong spiritual belief in the land of Monument Valley requires that Mother Earth be treated with the deepest respect.

Let’s go!