Monument Valley
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is this Monument Valley and where is it anyway?
This is not a city with monuments, but huge red rock remains sticking out of the desert on the border of Arizona and Utah, in the Four Corners area. It lies on the Colorado Plateau, at an altitude of about 1,900 m.
Who is the owner there - can you just drop by?
The land belongs to the Navajo tribe, their "Monument Valley" park works here. That is, you are a guest on the territory of the reservation, and not in an ordinary national park.
When is the best time to go?
In the summer it heats up to +30, in the winter it can be -3, and it rains only about 20 cm a year - that is, it is dry and dusty. Keep a cap and water handy, shade is in short supply here.
Why do these rocks look so familiar?
Because you have already seen them on the screen. John Ford's westerns, as well as scenes from "Forrest Gump" and "Back to the Future 3" were filmed here. The valley has long become one of the visual symbols of the USA.
What, in fact, to see on the spot?
The remains themselves are a mosaic of rocks, scree cones, canyons and small plateaus. This is the geology that people come here for: a landscape that looks alien, but is completely earthly.
