Kayenta, Arizona

Keet Seel is an amazingly preserved pueblo village in the depths of the canyons at Navajo National Monument. First occupied as early as 700-900 AD, it was not until approximately 1250 AD when the current visible structures were built. During that period, Keet Seel was home to about one hundred An...

Note: A guide is recommended to take you on a tour of Hunts Mesa. Guide information can be found on NavajoNationParks.Org.  Though there are many unique viewpoints from within and around Monument Valley, none is as grand as the view from Hunts Mesa! Not easily accessible, the only way to get to ...

Be ready to embark on this 17 mile monumental scenic drive. The loop includes 11 numbered viewpoints and you can expect to spend between 2-4 hours in the park. For the best experience, check park hours and arrive early before the 15 mph traffic begins to stack up.  You will find the beginning of ...

...Who doesn't enjoy short hikes to beautiful landscapes?! I know I do when I'm pressed for time! This 0.6 out and back hike will lead you to an arch that doesn't get as much recognition due to it being directly across the street from Monument Valley Road taking you into the park. The hike starts...

When facing The View from the parking lot, Wildcat Trail is off to the left where the campground is located. It's a 3.2 mile, self-guided loop that takes you around the West Mitten Butte. If you're hiking during the summer be sure to go early and bring a lot of water. You're fully exposed on t...

Other than the spectacular landscape, the park really doesn't possess any of the attributes one would associate with the "wild west." Rather, an introduction to the Navajo culture is what awaits visitors. Located on the Navajo Reservation, a vast parcel of land spanning portions of Western New Me...

If you are in or around Monument Valley, the drive and corresponding effort to get to Forrest Gump Hill is minimal. The location is known most notably as the spot where Forrest Gump ended his cross-country run in the movie. It's also simply an unbelievable view. From the most iconic site within ...

Located near the southern border of the state, Goosenecks State Park is a small slice of Grand Canyon views in Utah. The park overlooks the meanders of the San Juan River, and canyons that have eroded over the millennia. This park is great for anyone hoping to learn about geology, get far away fr...

For a small entrance fee of $5, you have the chance to photograph a beautiful canyon view without having to hike miles and days to get to it. Enjoy this rare luxury! There is a pavilion with a picnic table for dinner while you wait for the sunset, and there are also bathrooms if you need them. ...

The put-in for the lower segment of the San Juan river is in the center of Mexican Hat. This is a permitted section of river run by a lottery, and you work to secure a permit through https://www.recreation.gov/permits/250986 Briefly after take off, the canyon walls begin to climb taller above the...

In the days of Utah's Wild West gold rush (circa 1890s), a man named Henry Honaker decided to build a supply route from the San Juan River to the cliffs tops, roughly 1200 feet, above. The roughly hewn trail that Henry built; aptly named the ‘Honaker Trail’ was to act as a supply route for the go...

Muley Point on the southern end of the Cedar Mesa is one of the finest camping (and car camping) sites in North America, towering some 2400' above the San Juan River Canyon (and The Goosenecks State Park) looking south directly into the northern mouth of Monument Valley. It is a breathtakingly be...

The dirt road loop is relatively smooth and can be driven on by just about any car, campervan, or RV. However, check the weather beforehand because some areas can become flooded after rain and will be a difficult mud crossing. It can be driven in either direction. One entrance is off Highway 163,...

Elephant's Feet is located 20 miles east of Tuba City on 160 right outside of Tonalea, AZ. This roadside stop is right off the highway - you definitely won't miss it when driving from either direction. There is plenty of space to park in the roadside pull off. Depending on the season, there may b...

…Not sure about everyone else, but who doesn’t enjoy a less visited natural arch?!This natural arch sits in Chinle's small town, just west of Canyon De Chelly National Monument. Hope Arch is definitely a gem that the locals know about, and the tourists do not, so if you plan to explore this arch,...