“I like big buttes and I cannot lie…”
I know, I know. It’s not pronounced like butts. It’s actually pronounced bee-ute.
A drive through Monument Valley is a fun way to explore another iconic stop in the Southwest U.S. In fact, you’re sure to feel like you’re in a John Wayne movie. That’s because this area has provided the perfect backdrop for countless movies and commercials.
We started our day in Cortez, Colorado and made the approximately two hour drive to Monument Valley. Obviously it takes longer depending on how many stops you make. The drive between the two places includes Valley of the Gods, Muley Point, Goosenecks State Park, Forrest Gump Point, and Mexican Hat. Mexican Hat is easily seen from the road.
Forrest Gump Point
You can’t drive Scenic Highway 163 towards Monument Valley without a stop at Forrest Gump Point. It’s not hard to miss. You will see cars parked on both sides of the road with people running back and forth across the highway. I’m not kidding.
I’d say 50% of the people we saw here safely ran out to the center highway line, snapped some pictures, and went back to their cars. The other 50% are daredevils, trying to get the perfect shot for Instagram. Maybe they’re sitting in the center of the road, maybe they’re jumping, or maybe they’re doing a yoga pose. Either way it’s good people watching.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Entrance to the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park costs $20 and is payable with cash only. We took the Monument Valley Drive which is a 17-mile dirt road that winds past many notable features. These include the Mitten Buttes, Three Sisters, Yei-bi-chai, North Window, and Totem Pole. Allow yourself approximately two hours to complete the drive.
It is important to note that this road is very rough and bumpy. You’d probably want to leave your sedan at home and opt for something higher off the ground. If you get motion sickness easily you’re probably not going to enjoy it very much. Keep in mind you are not allowed to park or hike along the road.
While we originally planned on hiking the Wildcat Trail, we decided against it because of the high winds. Dust was flying everywhere which would have made that hike less enjoyable.
Snacks & Shopping
We snacked on Navajo fry bread covered in cinnamon and sugar and enjoyed shopping for jewelry with the girls.
Lodging
The View Hotel
We stayed at The View Hotel and had a room with a “premium starview.” This would have been great had it not been so cloudy the day we were there. The room was very clean, and we enjoyed the sunset from our balcony.
If I were doing this trip again I wouldn’t stay overnight in Monument Valley. I think it’s totally manageable as a little side trip rather than allotting an entire day.
Dining
Amigo Cafe
We love trying local restaurants while we’re on vacation, and the restaurant at the hotel seemed expensive and didn’t have great reviews. That’s when we decided to drive 20 minutes to Kayenta, Arizona to see what was there. At first glance all I noticed was a Sonic, and that made my day. So I have to be honest, this is when hiking fatigue must have set in. I cried that Kris and the twins didn’t want Sonic too. Yeah, I was having a moment. Haha. I put my big girl pants on and gave it a try.
Turns out, here we enjoyed one of our favorite meals of the trip! A stop at the Amigo Cafe is a must! I had the Navajo burger, and Kris had the Navajo taco. They were absolutely delicious, and the service was fast and friendly. Plus, they played 90s alternative rock!
I don’t always take pictures of my food, but when I do it’s because the food was freaking awesome!
Day 10 miles hiked:
0.00
Total miles hiked since our Southwest vacation began:
same as Day 9
Total calories consumed:
I’d rather not say 🙂
