American state with Monument Valley. Natural attractions of the usa. Housing in Monument Valley

Monument Valley (Utah, USA) - exact location, interesting places, inhabitants, routes.

• Hot tours Worldwide

A natural wonder, created by the withering Colorado winds, is located in the heart of a huge plateau that, after millions of years, exposed the iridescent riches of sandstone in the form of remnant rocks. We are talking about the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which is located in southeastern Utah, right on the border with the state of Arizona. True, in fact, officially called Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, the reserve is not a US national park, but this does not detract from its charms.

How to get there

You can get to Monument Valley along a single highway, so it’s almost impossible to get lost. For example, the road from Flagstaff by car takes about four hours.

A bit of history

The historic owners of the valley - the Navajo Indians - secured their property rights in a monopoly on providing excursions to the valley for a diverse group of tourists who visit the state attraction by the thousands daily. Moreover, part of the tour is visiting the settlements of the indigenous inhabitants of the valley, who live on the territory of Monument Valley permanently, without electricity and running water.

The Indians call their valley "The Place Between the Rocks", which colorfully reflects the geographical description of the sand vase, in which huge rocky boulders and dunes are conveniently located, the height of which reaches 300 meters. Most of the cliffs were formed in the 19th century, when white people visited the valley for the first time, instantly taking advantage of the unique landscapes for the filming of the film "Stagecoach" in 1938.

monument valley

visit center

At the entrance to the park, you can get a map with a permitted route of movement for self-acquaintance.

Permitted driving hours for scenic spots: 6:00-20:30 (May-September), 8:00-16:30 (October-April).

Entrance fee - 20 USD for adults, you can also explore the remote corners of the Valley, using the tour on horseback or jeep.

Monument Valley Attractions and Attractions

The most famous sights include: "Eastern Mitten" and "Western Mitten" - two blocks with thin columns, slightly spaced from the main rock block, like thumbs on mittens; "The Mother Superior", "Three Sisters", "Totem Pole", the famous arch "Ear of the Wind" and others.

In addition to viewing the picturesque cliffs of the Valley, which can be done right from the car, it is worth visiting the beautiful and absolutely symmetrical arch of the Rainbow Bridge. It is located just west of Monument Valley, at the confluence of the San Juan and the Colorado, above the drying up river Bridge Creek. The sandstone, iridescent pink, bluish and red-brown, takes on amazing outlines against the background of the dazzling blue horizon of the Valley. The opening of the bizarre bridge to mass tourist visits has led to the creation of the Stone Arches National Park, three hundred kilometers north of the Rainbow Bridge, since the area, dotted with unusual rock piles and stone bridges, is conducive to this. All the poetics of the Indians splashed out in the names of the exhibits: "Dark Angel", "Ship Pine", "Farewell", "Vault of Heaven", "Landscape" and even "Old Maid's Robe".

Another amazing place is located south of Monument Valley in the Painted Desert, where the remains of a fantastic forest still excite the imagination of tourists. Knots, stumps, trunks, branches of ancient trees do not consist of wood, but of the strongest stone, the origin of which dates back to the Triassic period of the Mesozoic era. The largest of them are called: "Blue Mountain", "Crystal Forest", "Rainbow Forest", "Black Forest" and "Jasper Forest". Having admired the petrified fossil forest, the paths will inevitably lead to the amazing sanctuary of stone trunks “Agate House”, the energy of which is legendary.

There is also an interesting observation deck of John Ford’s Point, where famous western films with the participation of the legendary John Wayne were filmed in stunning natural scenery.

In addition to many westerns, this is where the famous Marlboro commercial backdrop was filmed. Needless to say, how many fathers of families captured their version of the famous advertisement?

Monument Valley Park, owned by the Navajo tribe, operates on the territory of the valley. The Indians who manage the park are desperately speculating on the glory of their historical homeland: they pose on horseback, sell souvenirs and arrange interesting walks along the Valley - on horseback and in a jeep.

Prices on the page are for September 2018.

Monument Valley in the USA is one of the must-see wonders of the world! Red rock pillars, blue sky, a plain that plays with colors depending on the lighting - such bright colors, silence and majestic open spaces make up the landscape of the valley.

E this unique place attracts with its spectacularity and unearthly beauty, here the mountains, located at a distance from each other on a flat plain, rise high up, and each mountain is not like the next one.

Location of Monument Valley

Located on the border of southeastern Utah and northeastern Arizona, Monument Valley or monuments covers an area of ​​over 330,000 km 2 . The correct naming of the valley is Navajo Tribal Park Monument Valley, this is the name that must be loaded into the navigator. Plateau coordinates 39 0 59’ N, 110 0 06’ W

Back in the past: how Monument Valley was formed in America

Only time, water and winds created this miracle of nature, man did not take part in this centuries-old process.

How Monument Valley in Arizona was formed, geologists determined as early as the 19th century. During the Mesozoic, there was a sea on the site of the Colorado Plateau, its bottom was an accumulation of sandy layers. At the end of the Mesozoic era, tectonic processes changed the earth's surface, and the seabed rose up, forming a plateau. Soft rocks were weathered and eroded until only remnant rocks, consisting of dense layers of red sandstone, remained above the plain. At first, the rocks were flat mesas, but then, as a result of the action of air and water, they began to look like columns, spiers and towers. The highest of them reach a height of 300 m.

Scientists distinguish several types of rocks in Monument Valley:

• remnants of table mountains - Mesa;
• the rock becomes thinner and decreases, acquiring a relief - Butte;
• the last stage, when the rock becomes like a spire - Spire.

Confirmation that grandiose tectonic changes took place in these places is the fact that just 300 km from Monument Valley is the Grand Canyon - another unique natural place.

Unique rock formations

Going to look at the American miracle, Monument Valley, it is worth knowing that each bizarre rock has a name that it was designated either by the Navajo Indians who have long inhabited this land, or by the first American settlers.

The Yei Bi Chei rock was named after the Navajo tribal spirits, The East and West Mitten Buyyes look like hands, which, according to the Indians, belong to the gods. Near Rain God is a place of worship for the god of rain.

There are rocks named for their resemblance to a camel, a cowboy boot, an elephant, or the hub of a railroad wheel. The most famous mountain is The Three Sisters. Monument Valley - the land of Martian landscapes, it has become a source of inspiration for many artists and artists. The mountains named John Ford's Point and Artist's Point are named after them.

Monument Valley - only a small part of the national park Navajo Tribal Park, owned by an Indian tribe.

Once the Navajo lived here on the reservation, but then they managed to attract tourists by offering them a lot of entertainment in addition to the unique natural weathering.

What else can you see in Monument Valley?

1. Hogan Village. This is an Indian village, which presents a colorful national life. Instead of houses - tents, different for men and women. Women live in tents with a round roof, men in gabled ones. Houses are heated by hearths. In the village, the Indians often perform various ceremonies.
2. Park area of ​​stone arches. Bridge-like heaps of sandstone bear the poetic names Dark Angel, Vault of Heaven, Old Maid's Attire, Farewell. The strongest impression is left by the huge one next to the drying up river Bridge Creek. This stone arch, 100 meters high and 10 meters wide, casts delicate shades of brown, blue, pink, red, besides, the bridge is amazingly symmetrical.
3. In the Painted Desert in the south there is a forest that is amazing to the imagination, because the trees in it are not living, but stone. It is assumed that the wood was fossilized in the Mesozoic period. The largest exhibits have their own poetic names: Crystal Forest, Jasper Forest, Blue Mountain. On the chips of huge snags, reaching a height of 30 m with a trunk diameter of up to 2 m, crystals of onyx, jasper, and quartz are visible to the naked eye.
4. Behind the forest is a temple made of stone trunks. Temple Agate House attracts tourists with its powerful energy that affects everyone who enters.
5. A must-see place is the John Ford's Point observation deck. It was this point that served as the stage for most of the films shot in the park. In addition, amazing panoramic photographs are obtained from here.

Ways to move around the valley

Although Monument Valley occupies a significant part of the Colorado Plateau, only a small area is open to visitors. You can see everything in 1 day in different ways:

1. By car. The ring route is 27 km. Stops are allowed only in designated places, but at these points the most beautiful views of the surrounding nature. It is impossible to get lost, because the route is marked with milestones and signs. You can go by car on your own, or as part of an organized group in a jeep or bus. In this case, there is a chance to get into closed areas, see the most picturesque places and listen to the fascinating stories of Indian guides. Excursions last both 3 hours and the whole day.
2. On a horse. Such an adventure leaves no one indifferent. The horse can be hired for an hour or all day.
3. Walking tour. The best option for those who want to get to know the Monument Valley. For tourists, tracks are offered with a length of 3 km and a duration of several hours to a day. The most interesting is called Wildcat Natural Walk, it passes by the main attractions of the park. When going on a hiking trip, in the visitor center you need to stock up on a map of the area and a description of the route, as well as follow the rules: do not deviate from the marked signs, take water and wear the right shoes.

What not to do in the park

The Indians carefully guard and protect their territory, so you should carefully consider their prohibitions, especially since there are not so many of them:

• do not photograph Indians without permission;
• do not enter Indian houses;
• do not leave or leave the route;
• do not climb rocks;
• do not drink alcohol.

It is considered good manners after the tour to buy a few souvenirs, especially since there is something to see in the shop. Indian silver jewelry, woven rugs and blankets, amulets and figurines will be an excellent gift for relatives.

The cost of visiting the park

Entrance to the Indian Territory is paid according to the tariffs established by the Navajos, and none of the discounts and benefits that apply in other US national parks apply here.

The cheapest way to visit Monument Valley is for a lone tourist - only $6. You will have to pay the same for a motorcycle. For the right to stay overnight and spend 24 hours in the valley, you have to pay 12 dollars. The fare for a car is paid based on its dimensions (at the same time, no one has canceled the passenger fee) and ranges from $20 for a passenger car with 4 passengers to $300 for a tourist bus.

How the park works

Visiting Monument Valley is interesting at any time of the year, but you should take into account the opening hours of the park. From May to September, you can go to the museum and for a walk from 8 to 20 hours, from October to April - from 8 to 17 hours. There is also a time for trips around the territory: from October to April - from 8 to 17 hours, from May to September - from 6 to 20:30.

Where to stay

If you are going to enjoy the views in Monument Valley and take amazing photos, you will have to stay late. After all, exceptional photos of rock towers are obtained at dawn or sunset. You can relax and spend the night in the park hotel.

How to get to the valley

The easiest way to get to Monument Valley is from New York. To do this, you need to transfer from the Big Apple to a flight to Flagstaff, rent a car at the airport and drive about 300 km.

From Las Vegas to the valley will have to travel 640 km.

The only way to get to the places of unique weathering is by car or bus.

Monument Valley has become for many Hollywood blockbusters, among them the well-known "Forrest Gump", "Back to the Future 3", etc.

From the language of the Navajo Indians, the name of the Valley of Monuments is translated as "a place between the rocks, where there is no tree."

If suddenly on the screen of your TV you see two brutal guys standing opposite each other and ready to grab a Colt from a leather holster and immediately put an opponent right in front of the saloon, just waiting for the slightest excuse, you already know that this film is from the western genre. Dashing cowboys rush across the prairies, catching up with the Indians (well, or vice versa), the leader of the Redskins smokes a pipe of peace and buries the ax of war, all this action is accompanied by music familiar from childhood and ... classic landscapes of the wild, wild West. With a high degree of probability, in these films in the background you will see one of the largest, most famous and simply beautiful attractions in America - this is Monument Valley.

Just don't say that you haven't watched westerns and haven't seen these landscapes.

This is not a set, this is a real place. Monument Valley is located in the two American states of Arizona and Utah at once, directly on their border, on the territory of the lands of the Navajo Indians. The Indians themselves called this territory "The place between the rocks where there are no trees." The rocks are part of the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which is owned by the Navajo tribe.

Monument Valley on the map

• Geographic coordinates 36.979380, -110.086430
• Distance from the capital of the USA Washington about 2900 km in a straight line
• The nearest airport is Monument Valley Airport, about 11 km, but it is not capable of handling large aircraft, it is more of a small airfield for light pleasure aircraft
• The nearest International Airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor, 430 km away. south

Monument Valley is a rock formation left over from the endless weathering of parts of the Colorado Plateau. The softer rocks have been eroded over time, but the harder red sandstone cliffs now rise above the prairie. Geologists call these rocks remnants. But they are also subject to destruction. Look, characteristic blockages of sand and rock fragments are visible around the rocks.

The process of formation of such mountains is most similar to the process of the appearance of giant stone mushrooms in the Akkurum Tract in Altai.

Huge rocks in the middle of a plain covered with stunted vegetation look amazing and unrealistic.
The most famous rocks of Monument Valley even have their own names. These are Three Sisters, Eastern and Western Mittens. If you look at these mittens from a distance, you get the feeling that they are a mirror image of each other.

If you visit the valley, you should pay attention to one more attraction. 30 kilometers to the northeast nestled one of the most unusual natural sculptures in the world - Mexican Hat (Mexican hat, or simply Sombrero). This amazing formation weighs tens of tons and balances almost at the end of a needle, ignoring the laws of gravity for hundreds of years. The size of the Mexican Hat is approximately 18 meters wide and up to 3.7 meters thick. This formation is located in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe town of the same name.

Settlers were able to see and visit Monument Valley only in the second half of the 19th century, when the bloody wars with the Indians were coming to an end. But the whole world learned about this attraction only in the first half of the 20th century. At that time, Harry Goulding settled in these places and organized a small company. He hoped that the beauty of the valley would attract travelers. But things went badly. For 10 years, Harry practically “marked time”. But one day he made up his mind and went to Hollywood with photos of Monument Valley. Far from immediately they liked the directors. Harry, along with his photographs, was constantly sent to different offices until he was in the field of view of director John Ford. He liked the photos of Monument Valley, and as a result, in 1938, a western appeared called Stagecoach. Since then, the fame of the attraction has spread across the planet, and Harry Goulding's business has gone uphill.

Later, not only classic westerns were filmed here, but also scenes from such famous films as McKenna's Gold, the second and third parts of Back to the Future, Forest Gump and many others. Music and advertising clips were repeatedly filmed.

Since the land and the park belong to the Indians, you will have to pay for the right to visit there.
The park is actually open to tourists all year round, but has certain opening hours. In summer, from May to September from 8 am to 8 pm. In winter, from October to April from 8 am to 5 pm.

You can explore Monument Valley on foot, there is a short route for this. Riding a horse, feeling like a cowboy or an Indian. But the best option is to drive a car. A road with parking lots at the most famous and remarkable rocks has been laid through the territory of the park. You can walk along the valley on your own or as part of an organized tourist group with a guide.

Rules for visiting Monument Valley

• obligatory observance of all signs and indicators installed in the park
• it is forbidden to deviate and go off the route (but sometimes it is allowed for groups accompanied by a guide)
• You must obtain permission to take professional photos and videos. This does not apply to ordinary tourists, but professionals are issued with a tripod and expensive photo and video equipment
• Pets are allowed in the park, but they must be kept on a leash.
• consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited
• climbing is not allowed
• you can not take stones and plants
• local residents can not be photographed without permission

Monument Valley photo

Monument Valley is no less attractive place in the USA than the well-known one. It is located approximately 300 kilometers from it, so do not neglect the natural attraction when driving through Arizona. Rock formations are located in the northeast of the state, on the border with Utah. Officially, this territory belongs to the Navajo Indian tribe, but undoubtedly it is the property of the country, and is also included in a hundred of amazing natural beauties.

How did Monument Valley form?

The natural attraction is a desert plain, on which mountain formations of remarkable shape rise up. Often they have steep slopes, almost perpendicular to the ground, which makes it seem that the figures were created by a human hand. But this is not at all the case, it is enough just to find out how the famous valley was formed.

Previously, the sea was located on this territory, at the bottom of which there was sandstone. Due to the change in the geological features of the planet, millions of years ago, the water left here, and the porous rock began to be compressed into shale. Under the influence of the sun, precipitation, winds, most of the territory turned into a desert plain, and only small outgrowths are still preserved and have taken on an unusual shape.

At the moment, natural factors still affect the porous ledges, but it will take thousands of years for the natural landmark to be leveled to the ground. Most of the mountains are so unusual in shape that they have been given interesting names. The most popular are Mittens, Three Sisters, Mother Superior, Mother Mother, Elephant, Big Indian.

Journey to a natural treasure

In America, many seek to see with their own eyes the beauty that stretches for tens of kilometers. In the photo they look picturesque, but nothing compares to a tour of Monument Valley. It is recommended to take care of a guide in advance, who will tell many amazing legends about rock formations. Otherwise, the trip around the area will end pretty quickly, because hiking is not allowed here.

A route is laid along the plain, which is overcome by car. Several stops are allowed in strictly limited places. In addition, there are a number of prohibitions on the territory of the Indian reservation, namely it is impossible:

• climb rocks;
• move off the route;
• enter houses;
• shoot the Indians;
• bring alcoholic drinks.

On average, a tour of the local expanses lasts about an hour, but it will be remembered for a long time, since you will not find such a picturesque place anywhere else.

Interest for popular culture

The natural beauty of this place is appreciated by the filmmakers, since most westerns are not complete without filming on a desert plain with rock formations. The territory is imbued with the spirit of cowboys, so you can often see Monument Valley in movies, clips, and in pictures of fashion magazines.

In many ways, such popularity among representatives of show business adds to the fame of the shale plain. Tourists from different countries tend to visit the natural heritage and plunge into the atmosphere of the western. The effect is further enhanced by the fact that among the locals there are predominantly Indians who still maintain their culture.

Nature is able to create unique beauties, and the desert valley with intricate rocks is one of the extraordinary places. Of course, the slate mountains will not change their appearance soon, but until this happens, it is worth visiting this place and touching the miracle that has been created for millennia.