The Monument Valley Navajo Park, like all the parks on the Navajo reservation, is still closed. We kept hearing rumors it would open soon, but as we got closer to our time to leave, we decided to settle for one of the guided tours outside the park. Leslie found a 2.5 hour sunset tour ($156 for two) through the Gouldings Lodge, just outside the park. We left early for the two hour drive down to Monument Valley so we could get dinner at the lodge. As we headed down into Monument Valley, we came upon the point on US163 where Forest Gump stopped running. Due to the popularity of stopping for a photo from this spot, they dropped the speed limit down to 35MPH and installed pullouts. We of course stopped for a photo. The views of the buttes in Monument Valley were wonderful. We pulled into the lodge and stopped to go to the gift shop (Leslie needed more post cards) before walking over to the dinner. We ate an early dinner (we both had the Navajo Taco) before joining the other folks going on the tour. Our Navajo guide, Art, pulled up with the truck. Our seats were in the back in an open air deck. Fortunately the weather was perfect, for an open air tour. Art’s grandfather, who passed away last year, was one of the famous Marine Navajo Code Talkers during WW2 in the pacific. First stop was to a purpose built Navajo Hogan. A traditional Navajo home design. We went inside and Art explained the structure’s design and how a traditional Navajo Family would live in the structure. We then drove to an overlook off US163 on the north side of the valley. We then went back to the area of the lodge where he took us off road and up through Horse Canyon. We parked and hiked to where there is an arch with beautiful views of the valley through the arch with the setting sun lighting up the buttes with a warm orange glow.. We then hiked around to another overlook where we could also see some ruins tucked into a cave that were used by the Navajo lookouts. The views were beautiful! Then it was back to the lodge to end our tour followed by a two hour drive back to the Wanderer and Etta.
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| Forest Gump stopped running here |
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| Goulding Trading Post |
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| Shadow Picture |
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| Valley through the Horse Canyon Arch |
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| Ruins in Horse Canyon |
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| Hourse Canyon |
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