Monument Valley

Monument Valley is part of the Colorado Plateau composed of a cluster of iconic buttes; the largest one is about 1000 feet from the floor of the valley. This vast region is located on Utah’s southern border within the Navajo Nation Reservation. It is accessible via US Highway 163.

The floor of the valley is generally Cutler Red siltstone. Siltstones are deposited by the river, which carved the valley. The valley is colored red due to the oxidation of iron, which is exposed from the weathered siltstone. The dark, blue-gray rocks on the other hand acquired their color from oxidized manganese. Visitors of the valley will be able to see the clearly stratified buttes. One of the large stone structures found in the valley is the famous Eye of the Sun.

The monument valley is one of the top visitor attractions in the United States. At the park, a visitor center is provided with a small convenience store, which also serves as a souvenir shop. There is also a restaurant for the visitors. There are several tours available for the visitor. Visitors can choose from different services and route. You may choose to drive through the park on a 27-km dirt road, which will take around 2-3 hours.

Mystery Valley and Hunt’s Mesa however, are only accessible through a guided tour. There are also available horseback riding services inside the park and general Monument Valley area. The fees depend on how long you intend to go horseback riding. Another exciting adventure that visitors may be delighted with are the hot air balloon flights. They are available from May 1 to October 31. Sometimes there are also small airplanes to fly the visitors and witness one of nature’s great wonders.