Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park - Arizona

The red mesas and buttes and surrounding sandy desert of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park have been filmed and photographed countless times over the years for movies, adverts and holiday brochures and as a result, Monument Valley has become the most definitive image of the American West. In fact, even to newcomers, the area seems quite familiar from famous films such as Westerns by director John Ford, cartoons such as Chip n' Dale's Rescue Rangers, and science fiction movies such as Back to the Future III.

The natural colors at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park really are as bright and deep as those colors in the pictures. Even the view from the visitor center is quite spectacular, but most of the park can only be seen from a 17-mile dirt road which starts at the Center and goes southeast among the cliffs and mesas. The road here is very rough and difficult for non-4WD vehicles so consider hiring one of the many Navajo guides and jeep rentals – its well worth it, as places such as Ear of the Wind and other landmarks can only be accessed via guided tours. Take in the scenic clouds which cast shadows that roam the desert floor and the pinnacles of rock surrounded by miles of mesas and buttes, shrubs, trees and windblown sand. From the visitor center, you will also see the world-famous panorama of the Mitten buttes and Merrick Butte, and during summer months, the visitor center also features Haskenneini Restaurant, which offers both native Navajo and American cuisines, and a film, snack and souvenir shop. And don't forget to take home a souvenir or 2 from some of the numerous Navajo vendors sell arts, crafts, and native food at roadside stands about a mile from the Visitor Center.