Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is run by the Navajo Nation, not the National Park Service. It covers 91,696 acres across the Arizona–Utah line. The Navajo name is Tse'Bii'Ndzisgaii. The valley is sacred to the Navajo Nation, and its sandstone buttes rise 400 to 1,000 feet from the valley floor. From the visitor center you look across at the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte. John Ford filmed several Westerns in the valley, among them Stagecoach (1939) and The Searchers (1956).

The buttes are layered rock left behind as wind and water wore down a plateau. Wikipedia describes three main layers, Organ Rock Shale at the base, de Chelly Sandstone in the middle and the Moenkopi Formation on top, and says the red color comes from iron oxide. Uranium was mined in the area between 1945 and 1967.

The main way to see the valley is the 17-mile loop drive. The tribe says it has reopened and that entry is first come, first served. The road is natural dirt with very rough stretches and deep sand. The tribe recommends an SUV or truck and says you drive it at your own risk. Motorcycles are not allowed on the loop, and RVs are prohibited inside the park. Places such as Ear of the Wind can only be reached on tours with Navajo operators, who drive visitors through the valley in jeeps. The only listed hiking trail is the 1.5-mile Wildcat Trail. Sign in and out at the visitor center.

Fees are confusing, so check before you go. The park page lists an entry fee of $10 per person per day and a vehicle fee of $15. The tribe's fee page shows $10 at the top but also says '$8 per person, per location' further down. Confirm the price when you buy. National park passes are not accepted.

The Navajo Nation's rules apply throughout. Drones are prohibited. Rock climbing is banned, and so are alcohol, firearms and scattering cremated remains. Photography for weddings, filming or commercial use needs a special use permit. Ask before photographing Navajo people, and stay on the designated route. Winter hours began on October 17, 2026. The scenic drive is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last entry at 2:30 p.m., and the visitor center viewpoint is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park closes on Thanksgiving (November 26), Christmas and New Year's Day. These hours are Navajo time, which runs an hour ahead of the rest of Arizona from March to November.