Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Monument Valley and the Valley of the Gods. Many people have seen Monument Valley, the vast, iconic desert on the Arizona-Utah border that is gorgeously interrupted by colossal sandstone monoliths, like bulky ships sailing an ocean of sand.

We will also visit several park and scenic areas along the way. One of the highlight this afternoon will be Gooseneck state park. Gaze at the results of 300 million years of time, where the San Juan River winds and carves its way through the desert 1,000 feet below. This primitive park offers a spectacular view of this amazing and rare geologic formation, known as an entrenched meander. This is a one place you have to see!

Most often they’ve seen it in the context of a Hollywood shoot-’em-up with cowboys like John Wayne twirling six-shooters and dodging arrows. But few people know that 40 miles up the road there is another monumental valley—a geological Mini-Me known as the Valley of the Gods. A quarter the size of its famed neighbor, it has dozens of equally spectacular sandstone sculptures and spires, but on a smaller scale. What they lack in size, they make up for in brilliant color and variety. And best of all, you’re unlikely to see a single tourist bus here.