Described by some as the Eighth Wonder of the world. Monument Valley sits on the Colorado Plateau 5-6000 feet above sea level and is a majestic and spiritual place. From the flat sandy desert floor rise massive sandstone forms up to 1000 feet high, variously described as Mesas and Buttes.

The area and the Navajo people have suffered exploitation from many sources including the US Government when Uranium ore was discovered to Hollywood and the film industry, with many locations being featured in John Ford and John Wayne movies, plus the iconic scene when Marty McFly 'lands the De Lorean on September 2nd 1885' in Back To The Future III.

Monument Valley is not a National Park but is now owned and run as the tribal homeland of the Navajo People.

Access to the Valley is controlled, an entrance fee payable, and permits required to access the limited hiking trails, and camping within the park. Various business ventures operated from the Valley are owned and run by the Navajo people and access to certain areas, such as Mystery Valley and Hunt’s Mesa is only permitted via organised Navajo led tours.

Most people visiting Monument Valley do so as a self guided circuit around a rough 17 mile ungraded dirt road.

The 17 mile drive takes about 2 hours but really depends on how often stops are made.

The Valley is truly breathtaking, and time should be taken to appreciate the land and its spirituality, admittedly this is not easy amongst the crowds and endless procession of cars on the circular drive. The climate is hot and arid, plants are limited to Cottonwood scrub and gnarly stunted Utah Juniper and Pinyon Pine Trees but the stars of the show are undoubtedly the massive rock formations, most of which bear descriptive Anglo names, but I have no doubt the rocks also have traditional Navajo names.

It is clear that Monument Valley is both a spiritual and literal home to the Navajo people who work the Valley, run businesses and even have their own government and national flag.