Indian Country - Monument Valley UT, AZ

As we leave Hovenweep, we wind through back country two-lane black tops towards Monument Valley. Other than Mesa Verde, it's one of the more heavily visited areas we see on this trip. As we cross the San Juan River, we decide to return some day to take a river trip and visit the many interesting archeological sites along its banks.

Road descends through a narrow canyon

Crossing the San Juan River

As we get near Mexican Hat UT, the colors of the rocks start to deepen into purples/greys and reds/oranges.

Rock colors nearing Mexican Hat

Ahhh - there's the Mexican Hat rock

Suddenly we round a corner and can see the buttes and spires of Monument Valley in the distance. We also notice how quickly the weather changes... from warm and sunny to cold and stormy.

We settle on camping at Goulding's Lodge, which is a bit pricey but is better protected from the winds than other possible camping areas. Goulding's Lodge and Trading Post opened in 1989 and is most known as a location for Hollywood western movies. During the depression of 1930's, Goulding's owners had professional photos taken of the area and then shopped them around Hollywood as a possible movie location. In the process, they met John Ford who chose to film Stagecoach starring John Wayne. The movie became a big hit and Monument Valley was put on the Hollywood location map for good.

Even though May is the most common time of the year for movies to be shot in the valley, we wonder about the challenges this location poses for film crews. Even though the colors are amazing and it's hard to take a bad photograph, the constantly changing light and shadow makes continuity difficult. Then there's the cold bitter winds and frequent storms to consider.

Road to Monument Valley

Changeable weather in May

Entrance to Goulding's Campground

We settle into a nice site at the top of the campground with an amazing view of the valley. We are impressed by how many people from all over the world are there with us. In addition to many Europeans, we meet visitors from Australia and the far East.

Campsite at Goulding's

View from upper campground

Europeans enjoying the view

That evening a fast moving thunderstorm passes overhead leaving a brilliant rainbow overhead.

Rainbow after a storm in Monument Valley

The next morning dawns cool and windy, but with plenty of sun, so we are off to an early start to check out the valley.

Morning in Monument Valley

First we head north to a view point with a small open air market that we passed on our way into the valley.

Road north through Monument Valley

All nationalities are welcome here

The colors from this viewpoint are amazing

Classic Monument Valley - No wonder it's so popular with Hollywood

We then turn back southward to the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which contains Ford's Point a favorite location included in the movie Stagecoach.

The Visitors' Center parking lot is surprisingly full, especially for an early morning in May. There are many large tour buses. We guess these tours are out of Las Vegas taking tourists to both the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. We watch Japanese tourists climb out of a buses and then walk up the pathway to the Visitors' Center, which offers great vistas of this amazing landscape.

It's quite windy so we pop inside for some relief.  All kinds of western wear and souvenirs are available for a price. We laugh that the only thing reasonably priced are the Stetson's Hats. I find one I like, but it's not my size. Hey - I was born in Texas after all.

Outside on a sheltered patio, we meet a whole family from Ireland. Even they are surprised at the prices for both tours and souvenirs.

Japanese tourists hold on to their hats and poise for photos

Kachina dolls for sale in windows with a view

Vistas from Visitors' Center

The clouds start rolling in and the wind picks up more, so we decide it's time to hit the road especially if we are to make it home before the roads become crowded from Memorial Day weekend (ahhh the advantages of being retired). As we leave Monument Valley we notice the blowing dust gives the buttes and spires add more other-worldly appearance to the spires and buttes.

Blowing dust at the base of Monument Valley buttes and spires