Monument Valley day trip from Page or Moab, Arches and Canyonlands
A day trip to Monument Valley from Page or Moab: an early walk on the Wildcat Trail round West Mitten, the Visitor Center and The View, the Valley Drive to John Ford's Point, the North Window and Artist's Point, then Goulding's Trading Post Museum and the road view from Forrest Gump Point. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Monument Valley in 1 day
Day 1
Wildcat Trail (around West Mitten)
The only trail open without a guide, a loop of about 5 km round the West Mitten Butte, sandy and without shade.
Monument Valley Visitor Center and The View
The tribal park's visitor centre and hotel on the rim, with Navajo exhibits and the classic view of the Mittens and Merrick Butte.
John Ford's Point
Viewpoint on the Valley Drive named after the director who filmed his westerns here, over the buttes and the valley floor.
North Window Overlook
Viewpoint on the Valley Drive looking through a gap between the buttes to the open valley beyond.
Artist's Point Overlook
Wide viewpoint on the Valley Drive over the open valley and its distant buttes, good in the late afternoon light.
Goulding's Trading Post Museum
The old trading post of Harry and Leone Goulding, now a museum of the Navajo trade and of the John Ford westerns filmed here.
Forrest Gump Point
The roadside viewpoint on US-163 north of the valley, where the long straight road runs towards the buttes, as in the film.
Getting there
By car Monument Valley is about 2 hours from Page, via Kayenta and US-163, and about 2 h 45 min south of Moab via US-191 and US-163. The Visitor Center is a few kilometres off US-163 on the Utah-Arizona border; Forrest Gump Point is on US-163 to the north. There is no public transport, so a car or a tour is needed.
Staying in Page or Moab, Arches and Canyonlands? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Monument Valley
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons, with mild days for the drive and the trail. Summer is hot and dry, with afternoon thunderstorms in July and August, and dust storms can blow in spring. Winter is cold, sometimes with snow on the buttes, and quiet.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Monument Valley on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Monument Valley on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Monument Valley on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Monument Valley
- Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park, not a national park: it has its own entry fee and national park passes are not accepted.
- The Wildcat Trail is the only walk allowed without a guide; to go deeper into the valley, book a tour with a Navajo guide.
- Respect Navajo land and homes: stay on the drive and trails, and ask before photographing people.
- In summer the Navajo Nation keeps daylight saving time while the rest of Arizona does not; check which clock your tour uses.
- There is no shade on the Wildcat Trail or on the Valley Drive: carry water and sun protection, and walk early or late in summer.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Forrest Gump Point: m01229 from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Goulding's Trading Post Museum: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- John Ford's Point: Taewangkorea, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Monument Valley Visitor Center and The View: Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0
- North Window Overlook: Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Wildcat Trail (around West Mitten): Luca Galuzzi (Lucag), CC BY-SA 2.5
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
