2. Landscapes

Monument Valley

Hiring a personal guide to see Monument Valley is a great way to enjoy the park. It is totally on Navaho land and only native Navaho people can give tours. Road access to the public within the park is limited, and some of the scenes in this gallery were in restricted areas with only 4 wheel drive roads to get there. It was an interesting, peaceful and informative day. All of these photos were taken on a warm and windy Friday in mid March, 2013 except Church Rock and Goosenecks State Park, which were from the afternoon before. In terms of color, the midday light was some of the hottest and harshest I have ever dealt with.
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  • Sunrise from my hotel room on March 22, 2013. Thick clouds were moving in from the north and almost snuffed out this sunrise before it had a chance to show its nice colors.

    Sunrise from my hotel room on March 22, 2013. Thick clouds were moving in from the north and almost snuffed out this sunrise before it had a chance to show its nice colors.

  • Not the easy photo it appears to be. These horses constantly moved away from me which changed the angle I wanted for the monument backdrop. I ran and scrambled for 150 yards, through bushes and ravines, to get an acceptable angle before they finally paused for several seconds.

    Not the easy photo it appears to be. These horses constantly moved away from me which changed the angle I wanted for the monument backdrop. I ran and scrambled for 150 yards, through bushes and ravines, to get an acceptable angle before they finally paused for several seconds.

  • Totem Pole at sunrise, Monument Valley. March 21, 2013.

    Totem Pole at sunrise, Monument Valley. March 21, 2013.

  • Black and white of the first sunrise in Monument Valley.

    Black and white of the first sunrise in Monument Valley.

  • A room with a view for sure. Monument Valley from my 3rd floor hotel balcony after the clouds moved in.

    A room with a view for sure. Monument Valley from my 3rd floor hotel balcony after the clouds moved in.

  • The View Hotel visitor's Plaza.

    The View Hotel visitor's Plaza.

  • Ear of the Wind Arch, Monument Valley.

    Ear of the Wind Arch, Monument Valley.

  • The sun goes down on the Mittens. Later in the year the West Mitten will fit its sunset shadow perfectly onto the face of the East Mitten.

    The sun goes down on the Mittens. Later in the year the West Mitten will fit its sunset shadow perfectly onto the face of the East Mitten.

  • Pottery Arch was not discovered until the 1960's. It is only a couple of feet wide and contained within another formation called the Submarine. You must climb the "sub" and stand in just the right spot to see it.

    Pottery Arch was not discovered until the 1960's. It is only a couple of feet wide and contained within another formation called the Submarine. You must climb the "sub" and stand in just the right spot to see it.

  • A wider view of Pottery Arch.

    A wider view of Pottery Arch.

  • One of the Navaho art pieces for sale at several roadside stands within the park.

    One of the Navaho art pieces for sale at several roadside stands within the park.

  • The North Window as viewed from a Navaho vendor stand.

    The North Window as viewed from a Navaho vendor stand.

  • Sun's Eye Arch.

    Sun's Eye Arch.

  • Sun's Eye Arch from a different viewpoint.

    Sun's Eye Arch from a different viewpoint.

  • North entrance into Monument Valley. Luckily the hazy clouds softened shadows on the formations from this famous viewpoint.

    North entrance into Monument Valley. Luckily the hazy clouds softened shadows on the formations from this famous viewpoint.

  • One of the scenes that made Monument Valley world famous, and a favorite of western film makers.

    One of the scenes that made Monument Valley world famous, and a favorite of western film makers.

  • The "Thumb", a free-standing formation which also resembles a western boot. It is approximately 100 feet high.

    The "Thumb", a free-standing formation which also resembles a western boot. It is approximately 100 feet high.

  • Early morning light.

    Early morning light.

  • It was only in the last few years that someone noticed the shape of an Eagle's Head inside Hogan's Arch. It was goose bump time when my guide Frank deftly played some haunting and beautiful Navaho songs on his flute while I shot these photos. Cool.

    It was only in the last few years that someone noticed the shape of an Eagle's Head inside Hogan's Arch. It was goose bump time when my guide Frank deftly played some haunting and beautiful Navaho songs on his flute while I shot these photos. Cool.

  • A relative late comer to organized tourism, Navaho Nation did not designate this area as Monument Valley Tribal Park until 1958. it is not on maps as a state or national park because it is neither. Navaho totally control it.

    A relative late comer to organized tourism, Navaho Nation did not designate this area as Monument Valley Tribal Park until 1958. it is not on maps as a state or national park because it is neither. Navaho totally control it.

  • On the way to Monument Valley from Arches National park is Church Rock, the first glimse of rock formations projecting high above ground level.

    On the way to Monument Valley from Arches National park is Church Rock, the first glimse of rock formations projecting high above ground level.

  • The is a stitched panorama of Goosenecks State Park, just north of Monument Valley in Utah. The San Juan River cuts 1000 feet down through 300 million years of rock.

    The is a stitched panorama of Goosenecks State Park, just north of Monument Valley in Utah. The San Juan River cuts 1000 feet down through 300 million years of rock.

  • Goosenecks State Park in Utah. Although it is less colorful and more shallow than the Grand Canyon, it is no less graced with rock detail in its exposed earth layers.

    Goosenecks State Park in Utah. Although it is less colorful and more shallow than the Grand Canyon, it is no less graced with rock detail in its exposed earth layers.

  • The Mittens, as seen from a spot near the View Hotel. They are deceptively large and rise about 1000 feet above the valley floor.

    The Mittens, as seen from a spot near the View Hotel. They are deceptively large and rise about 1000 feet above the valley floor.

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    Totem Pole at sunrise, Monument Valley. March 21, 2013.
    Black and white of the first sunrise in Monument Valley.
    A room with a view for sure. Monument Valley from my 3rd floor hotel balcony after the clouds moved in.