Spanning the Arizona-Utah border is one of the most photographed places on Earth: Monument Valley. Accessible via US-163, this red-sand desert features sandstone buttes and towers that rise up to 1,000 feet high. Today, Monument Valley is part of the larger Monument Valley Park maintained by the Navajo Nation.
The History of Monument Valley
Monument Valley began as a lowland basin that later became part of the Colorado Plateau. Over time, wind and weathering created the unique features of stratified sandstone that give the area its iconic look. This breathtaking vista gained popularity as the setting for several of John Ford’s movies, which shaped the way Americans saw the Southwest. The Navajo National Park containing Monument Valley totals 91,696 acres and is called Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii in the Navajo language, which means “valley of the rocks.” During the mid-20th century, parts of Monument Valley were mined for uranium, copper, and vanadium; however, mining ceased in 1967.
The Features of Monument Valley
Monument Valley’s towers and buttes are its most identifiable features. The Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte are visible upon entry to the park from its visitor center. Totem Pole, a slender rock spire rising 450 feet above the ground, is among the park’s most famous landmarks. While many of Monument Valley’s formations can be seen from the 17-mile road accessible to visitors and their vehicles, some of the park’s areas can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Such features include Hunts Mesa, Ear of the Wind, Eye of the Sun, and Mystery Valley.
This article is part of Xcel Delivery’s popular blog series, Arizona’s Amazing Roadside Attractions.
