Monument Valley: Straddling the Utah-Arizona Border

Iconic Desert Landscape

Monument Valley (Navajo: Tsé Bii' Ndzisgaii) lies on the Utah–Arizona state line within the Navajo Nation Reservation.

Location Details

• Primary access: US-163 (scenic highway through the valley)
• Nearest towns: Kayenta, AZ (22 mi south); Mexican Hat, UT (24 mi north)
• Coordinates: 36°59′N 110°06′W
• Elevation: Valley floor ~5,500 ft; buttes rise 400–1,000 ft

Navajo Nation Context

• Reservation spans Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah (27,000 sq mi — largest in US)
• Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park managed by Navajo Parks & Recreation
• Entry fee required; guided tours by Navajo guides recommended for restricted areas

Cinematic Fame

Featured in countless films (John Ford westerns, Forrest Gump, Back to the Future III, Thelma & Louise, Westworld). The Mittens and Merrick Butte are the most recognizable formations.