RV Traveler's Roadmap to Monument Valley Meander However you experience it, the valley is a wonder to behold, a harsh yet hauntingly beautiful landscape. View it in early morning, when shadows lift from rocky marvels. Admire it in springtime,when tiny pink and blue wildflowers sprinkle the land with jewel-like specks of color. Try to see it through the eyes of the Navajos, who still herd their sheep and weave their rugs here. 1 Highlights & Facts For The Ideal Experience Agathla Peak Trip Length: Roughly 260 miles, plus side trips Best Time To Go: Spring - autumn What To Watch Out For: When on Indian reservations abide by local customs. Ask permission before taking photos, never disturb any of the artifacts. Must See Nearby Attractions: Grand Canyon National Park (near Flagstaff, AZ) Petrified Forest National Park (near Holbrook, AZ) Zion National Park (Springdale, UT) 2 Traveler's Notes Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park The stretch of Rte. 163 called the Trail of the Ancients in honor of the vanished Anasazis cuts across Monument Valley at the Utah border on its way to the little town of Mexican Hat. Named for a rock formation there that resembles an upside-down sombrero a whimsical footnote to the magnificence of Monument Valley—Mexican Hat is the nearest settlement to Goosenecks State Park, just ahead and to the west via Rtes. 261 and 316. The monuments in the park have descriptive names. They are based on ones imagination. These names were created by the early settlers of Monument Valley. Others names portray a certain meaning to the Navajo people. The park consists of mesas, buttes and spire rock structures. World famous red rock buttes surrounded by sandy plains; the epitome of a Western landscape, featured in many movies and commercials. Some can be seen from overlooks along US 163 but most is part of a Navajo Tribal Park, viewed by a 17 mile dirt road 3 What To See Along the Way Dinosaur Tracks Muley Point Navajo National Monument Valley of the Gods Agathla Peak Bluff Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Hovenweep National Monument Goosenecks State Park Four Corners Monument 4 Facts & More Information To Plan Your Trip! Dinosaur Tracks near Tuba City, AZ Dinosaur Tracks: Driving towards Four Corners on Route 160 you’ll see signs for Dinosaur Tracks near Tuba City along the road (just before you reach Tuba City, heading north). Navajo National Monument: The pueblos were built between 1250 and 1300 in deep sandstone canyons cutting into the Shonto Plateau of north Arizona, in the middle of the Navajo Indian Reservation, at the edge of a vast, largely inaccessible region that extends north towards Navajo Mountain and Lake Powell. Agathla Peak: Located south of Monument Valley, Arizona, the peak rises over 1500 feet above the surrounding terrain. It is 7 miles north of Kayenta and is visible from U.S. Route 163. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park: This great valley boasts sandstone masterpieces that tower at heights of 400 to 1,000 feet. Goosenecks State Park: The park is located near the southern border of the state a short distance from Mexican Hat, Utah. Muley Point: A remote cliff and scenic overlook in southern Utah near Mexican Hat. Valley of the Gods: A scenic sandstone valley near Mexican Hat. Hovenweep National Monument: Once home to over 2,500 people, Hovenweep includes six prehistoric villages built between A.D. 1200 and 1300. Explore a variety of structures, including multistory towers perched on canyon rims and balanced on boulders. Four Corners Monument: Marks the quadripoint in the Southwestern United States where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet. Ready, set, go! Presented by: Great RV Escapes 7071 Warner Ave. Suite F120, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (888) 727.1118.