Page 170 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks
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168 THE FOUR C ORNERS THE FOUR C ORNERS 169
1 Monument Valley VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
From scenic Highway 163, which crosses the border of Practical Information
Utah and Arizona, it is possible to see the famous towering Road map C2. n P. O. Box
sandstone buttes and mesas of Monument Valley. These 360289, Monument Valley, UT
84536. (435) 727-5870. Open
ancient rocks, soaring upward from a seemingly boundless sunrise–sunset daily. Visitor Center:
desert, have come to symbolize the American West, largely May–Sep: 6am–8am daily; Oct–
because Hollywood has used these breathtaking vistas as Apr: 8am–5pm daily. Closed Dec
a backdrop for hundreds of movies, TV shows, and 25. & 7 visitor center only. 8
= 0 ∑ navajonation
commercials since the 1920s (see pp34–5). parks.org, utah.com
The area’s visitor center sits within the boundary of
Monument Valley Tribal Park, but many of the valley’s Guided Tours John Ford’s Point
A row of kiosks at the visitor center offer
spectacular rock formations and other sites are found Navajo-guided 4WD tours of the valley. The most popular stop along the valley drive is John Ford’s Point,
just outside the park boundary. The marketing tactics can be aggressive, which is said to be the film director’s favorite view of the valley.
but the tours offer an excellent way to Various stands offer a range of Navajo handicrafts. A nearby native
see places in the park that are otherwise hogan (Navajo dwelling) serves as a gift shop, where Navajo weavers
inaccessible. demonstrate their craft.
Three Sisters
The Three Sisters are
among several
distinctive pinnacle
rock formations at Left Mitten Merrick
Monument Valley. Butte
Others include the
Totem Pole and Right Mitten
the “fingers” of the
Mittens. The closest
view of the sisters can
be seen from John
Ford’s Point, and is
one of the most
photographed
sights here.
Navajo Weaver
Navajo women are usually
considered to be the finest
Art and Ruins weavers in the Southwest.
Petroglyphs such as One rug can take months to
this bighorn sheep can complete and sell for thousands
be seen on Navajo- of dollars. Using the natural
guided tours of rock colors of the land, the weavers
art sites, which are often add a “spirit line” to their
dotted around the work to prevent their spirit
valley’s ancient ruins. being “trapped” within the rug.
Exploring the Valley Blanding Left Mitten Monument Valley
Mitchell Butte Monument Valley is not really a valley.
The awe-inspiring beauty of Merrick Butte The tops of the mesas mark what was
Monument Valley’s buttes and Right Mitten once a flat plain. Millions of years ago,
mesas can be viewed by this plain was cracked by upheavals
travelers from Hwy 163. Visitors UTAH within the earth. The cracks widened
can also pay a fee to travel on ARIZONA and eroded, until all that is left today
a 17-mile (27-km) self-guided 0 km 20 are the formations rising from the
drive along a well-marked desert floor.
dirt road. (Fees are collected MONUMENT 0 miles 20
VALLEY
NAVAJO
at the visitor center.) TRIBAL PARK KeyKey
Alternatively, Navajo
guides may be hired for Major highwayMajor highway
hiking, horseback, or HighwayHighway
4WD tours to fascinating Elephant Park boundaryPark boundary Gouldings Lodge
and less-visited parts of Kayenta • Butte The lodge offers accommodations, a
the valley. Shiprock Gouldings John Ford’s State boundaryState boundary restaurant, and guided bus tours of the
Lodge Point valley. The original trading post is now a
museum of the valley’s cinematic history.
For keys to symbols see back flap For hotels and restaurants see p241 and pp256–7
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