Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park preserves a vast desert expanse of towering sandstone buttes and sacred red earth along the Arizona-Utah border.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, known natively as Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii (meaning valley of the rocks), is a 91,696-acre preserve managed by the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department. Established by the Navajo Tribal Council in 1958, this sacred landscape on the Arizona-Utah border is not a United States national park, meaning federal interagency passes are not accepted. Instead, the park is a sovereign homeland for the Diné, who have lived in harmony with these crimson mesas and towering sandstone monoliths for generations. The geology of the valley is a dramatic testament to millions of years of erosion: wind and water have carved the soft Cutler Formation sandstone and De Chelly sandstone into colossal structures that rise up to 1,000 feet above the desert floor.
The centerpiece of a self-guided visit is the 17-mile Valley Drive, a rough, unpaved dirt loop that begins at the visitor center. This rugged road winds past some of the most famous formations in the American West, including the East and West Mitten Buttes, Merrick Butte, and the slender spires of the Three Sisters. Because of deep sand dunes and uneven switchbacks, large vehicles like RVs, camper vans, and motorcycles are strictly prohibited on the loop. For those who wish to explore on foot, the Wildcat Trail offers the only self-guided hiking opportunity in the park, a 3.2-mile loop that circles the base of West Mitten Butte. Visitors must respect the sacred nature of the land: rock climbing is strictly prohibited, as is the flying of drones, in accordance with Navajo Nation laws.
To experience the true depth of the valley, visitors can hire a local Diné guide to enter the restricted backcountry. These guided excursions provide exclusive access to areas like Mystery Valley, Hunts Mesa, and the base of the 500-foot Totem Pole spire, where ancestral Puebloan petroglyphs and hidden arches reside. Near the park entrance, the Monument Valley Visitor Center and The View Hotel sit atop the mesa, offering panoramic views of the entire valley. Along Monument Valley Road, local Navajo artisans set up roadside stands to sell handcrafted jewelry, pottery, and traditional foods, directly supporting the local economy. As of 2026, the park entrance fee is $15 per person, with an additional $10 vehicle fee required to access the scenic loop drive.
Arrive at the park entrance before the toll booths open to beat the long queues, and ensure your vehicle has high clearance if you plan to navigate the 17-mile loop independently. To support the local economy directly, bring cash for the Navajo artisan stands located along Monument Valley Road just before the visitor center, as many do not accept credit cards.