Destination: Monument Valley

[Patricio Elicer]

Folks,

Some weeks ago, another forumite brought to my attention a beautiful, legendary and interesting territory that is relatively close to Las Vegas, around 450 miles away. It is MONUMENT VALLEY (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_Valley).

The landscapes are awesome, I'd seen them on pictures and on Western films, but had no idea what it was and where it was. It's a place I've always wanted to visit, and Jan 2007 is the opportunity!.

The sole idea of riding these roads thrills me:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8131/monumentvalley1vp1.jpg

But there are other attractions to the area, for example the Anasazi ruins.

It's already a done deal to do the trip on Mon 22th, Tue 23th and Wed 24th. It would be great that other people join. BTW, I consider this to be an extension of the Meteor Crater trip I proposed on another thread. We can visit MC, Petrified Forest as well, because they are on the way.

My outline schedule:

Mon 22th: Early morning departure to Monument Valley.
Tue 23th: Touring Monument Valley whole day (there are guided tours).
Tue 23th late afternoon: Travel to Flagstaff.
Wed 24th morning: Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest visit.
Wed 24th afternoon: Travel back to Las Vegas.

Of course there are a lot of details to work out, and also there can be a great deal of improvisation, plan changes/adjustments, etc, but I think it is doable in three days.

Ideas, tips, etc., are mostly welcome, and hopefully there are other people interested.

[Zep]

I have travelled that road, my friend, and it is one of THE most awesome sights! If you can find the time, go! The nearest good accommodation is at Page or Kayenta, to the west (recommend Page - nice spot), about a half-day easy drive from Grand Canyon. If you go from GC, be sure to stop at Artists Retreat, on the eastern end of the GC. You will travel through Navajo country - the Painted Desert.

But don't stop there! If you want to continue the fun, AND stay in a really good spot, go on to Moab in Utah (north of Monument Valley). This is the "base camp" for many film crews doing westerns, so it is exceedingly well set up - many good facilities. It is also very near Arches National Park, another remarkable natural site.

[Patricio Elicer]

I have travelled that road, my friend, and it is one of THE most awesome sights! If you can find the time, go! The nearest good accommodation is at Page or Kayenta, to the west (recommend Page - nice spot), about a half-day easy drive from Grand Canyon. If you go from GC, be sure to stop at Artists Retreat, on the eastern end of the GC. You will travel through Navajo country - the Painted Desert.

But don't stop there! If you want to continue the fun, AND stay in a really good spot, go on to Moab in Utah (north of Monument Valley). This is the "base camp" for many film crews doing westerns, so it is exceedingly well set up - many good facilities. It is also very near Arches National Park, another remarkable natural site.Thanks for your valuable tips, my friend. Grand Canyon is certainly within the range of a good option.

Here's a scan of a road map of the area for further reference:

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9981/monumentvalleymap1em3.jpg

[Boo]

For me, it is the most beautiful part of the country. I wish I could take the time to join you, it's been way too long since I've been there.


Boo

[Patricio Elicer]

For me, it is the most beautiful part of the country.This is good news, thanks for sharing. So we made the right choice, huh?
I wish I could take the time to join you, it's been way too long since I've been there.Bad news that you don't have time, but you can push the limits and stretch the time, can't you?

[Luciana]

bump!

Because I either want to go or get pictures of the place.

[grayman]

I'm planning on driving through there on my way home, should be nice.

[BrianSI]

If I have quit my job by then, I'm in for this. I am quitting sometime in two to five months, but some complicated factors have to be considered before I know exactly.

[BillC]

I'm definitely interested.

[Verde]

Thanks for your valuable tips, my friend. Grand Canyon is certainly within the range of a good option.

Whilst Moab and that part of Utah is certainly really beautiful scenary, I would suggest a detour along Alt 89, from Marble Canyon to Jacob Lake. This takes you through the Vermillion Cliffs region into the high country. Really stunning. From Jacob Lake, go south and you will get to the North Rim, which is rightfully considered to be far superior to the tourist-infested South Rim.

Back up to Jacob Lake, then west to Fredonia. North to Kanab, which puts you back on the 89. North up through the Bryce Canyon region, plan on several photo stops along the way.

That eventually hits the 70, then west to the 15 and back into Vegas.

If you have a suitable vehicle, and an adventurous spirit, there are some more interesting ways to get from the 89 to the 15.

I was really hoping to make it to this TAM, but my current work schedule doesn't bode well for that. I will try and fix that.

I just hope that folks will tire of the blatant debauchery of Vegas, and get to experience some of the wonders of the Southwest environment.

Verde

[Patricio Elicer]

I'm planning on driving through there on my way home, should be nice.Good to know, see ya!

If I have quit my job by then, I'm in for this. I am quitting sometime in two to five months, but some complicated factors have to be considered before I know exactly.Hope you can make it :).

I'm definitely interested.Great, Bill!

Whilst Moab and that part of Utah is certainly really beautiful scenary, I would suggest a detour along Alt 89, from Marble Canyon to Jacob Lake. This takes you through the Vermillion Cliffs region into the high country. Really stunning. From Jacob Lake, go south and you will get to the North Rim, which is rightfully considered to be far superior to the tourist-infested South Rim.

Back up to Jacob Lake, then west to Fredonia. North to Kanab, which puts you back on the 89. North up through the Bryce Canyon region, plan on several photo stops along the way.

That eventually hits the 70, then west to the 15 and back into Vegas.

If you have a suitable vehicle, and an adventurous spirit, there are some more interesting ways to get from the 89 to the 15. Thanks for the tips, that's an interesting option, it would fit well on the way back to Vegas. Looks like Moeb is too far away north.

By the way, below is a more complete road map of the area, showing all places and attractions mentioned so far. Meteor Crater is East of Flagstaff (bottom); Jacob Lake, Vermillon Cliffs, Fredonia and Kanab are to the West (middle of the map); Moeb is way up north east.

(Click to enlarge)

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4125/mapamonumentjpguf0.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mapamonumentjpguf0.jpg)

[Zep]

The drive to Moab is about half a day from Monument Valley. Arches National Park is right next to it - WOW!

http://www.nps.gov/arch/photosmultimedia/upload/arches3.jpg
http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm

[BillC]

My only requirement is that we return to Las Vegas by the morning of Thursday 25th Jan, as I fly back that day.

[Patricio Elicer]

Well, less than a month now for the Amaz!ng Event.

Anyone else interested in the Meteor Crater/Monument Valley visit?. So far it is BillC and myself.

Remember the whole trip is planned for Mon, Tue and Wed after the conference.

[El_Spectre]

Well, less than a month now for the Amaz!ng Event.

Anyone else interested in the Meteor Crater/Monument Valley visit?. So far it is BillC and myself.

Remember the whole trip is planned for Mon, Tue and Wed after the conference.

Yeah, I'm interested... do you have any idea what accomodations are available out there (or where you'll be stopping for the night) ? Adventurous as I may be, I won't go off into the desert not knowing where I'll sleep :)

[SquishyDave]

So how do I get in on this trip?

[Patricio Elicer]

Yeah, I'm interested... do you have any idea what accomodations are available out there (or where you'll be stopping for the night) ? Adventurous as I may be, I won't go off into the desert not knowing where I'll sleep :)You are welcome!

I've been doing a little search on hotels and accomodations, and yes there are!. Rates for this time of year can be around $60. I will be making a more detailed search on that shortly, I'll keep you posted.

[Patricio Elicer]

So how do I get in on this trip?Sorry for the confusion, there are two threads on this going. I started the Meteor Crater thread first, and a few weeks later I discovered Monument Valley, so I thought of extending the trip to cover both. I thought it would be better that to start a second thread, looks I was wrong.

Anyway, so far it's:

BillC
Patricio Elicer
SquishyDave
El_Spectre

Nice group.

[phyz]

I won't be joining the trip from TAM, but the Grand Circle is one of my favorite destinations. I'll be trekking through NE Arizona come spring break.

In the meantime, let me keep you charged up about going to Monument Valley. Here are some photo sets from trips taken in the past few years.
http://phyz.smugmug.com/Landscapes/144215

The shot you posted (classic road shot) is from US-163 north of MV.

There's a great Hampton Inn in Kayenta.
http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=KAYAZHX

The ultimate place to stay in the area is Goulding's Lodge. It's "right across the street" from Monument Valley.
http://www.gouldings.com/

There's also a decent place in Mexican Hat (north of MV).

Nearby attractions include
The Valley of the Gods,
http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/mexican_hat/valley_of_the_gods.html

Goosenecks of the San Juan,
http://www.desertusa.com/goout/du_goout_vvc.html

Antelope Slot Canyons (Page, AZ).
http://www.navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm

I bit further to the north is Natural Bridges Nat'l Mon.
http://www.nps.gov/nabr

[El_Spectre]

Sorry for the confusion, there are two threads on this going. I started the Meteor Crater thread first, and a few weeks later I discovered Monument Valley, so I thought of extending the trip to cover both. I thought it would be better that to start a second thread, looks I was wrong.

Anyway, so far it's:

BillC
Patricio Elicer
SquishyDave
El_Spectre

Nice group.

At this point, I don't think I can make it, sorry.

[Patricio Elicer]

I won't be joining the trip from TAM, but the Grand Circle is one of my favorite destinations. I'll be trekking through NE Arizona come spring break.

In the meantime, let me keep you charged up about going to Monument Valley. Here are some photo sets from trips taken in the past few years.
http://phyz.smugmug.com/Landscapes/144215

The shot you posted (classic road shot) is from US-163 north of MV.

There's a great Hampton Inn in Kayenta.
http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=KAYAZHX

The ultimate place to stay in the area is Goulding's Lodge. It's "right across the street" from Monument Valley.
http://www.gouldings.com/

There's also a decent place in Mexican Hat (north of MV).

Nearby attractions include
The Valley of the Gods,
http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/mexican_hat/valley_of_the_gods.html

Goosenecks of the San Juan,
http://www.desertusa.com/goout/du_goout_vvc.html

Antelope Slot Canyons (Page, AZ).
http://www.navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm

I bit further to the north is Natural Bridges Nat'l Mon.
http://www.nps.gov/nabrThanks for the tips!

Nice pictures BTW, now I'm expecting to take my own ones .... :)

Rates at Hampton Inn are $53 per night on two-bed rooms, and $73 at Goulding's Lodge. Not that bad....

At this point, I don't think I can make it, sorry.Oh well, anyway let's see what happens in the next days. Let us know your final decision.

[phyz]

Rates at Hampton Inn are $53 per night on two-bed rooms, and $73 at Goulding's Lodge. Not that bad....

Go for Goulding's then. Kayenta is a half hour drive south of MV. I'm usually there in the spring or summer, when rates--especially at Goulding's--get prohibitive. Easier to shoot up to Valley of the Gods, Goosenecks, and Natural Bridges from Goulding's as well.

You can get a nice shot of Gouldings in the morning, too. The hotel is built high at the base of a red rock butte, and the morning sun puts the whole scene ablaze.

If you get to Kayenta, there's a cute little "museum" between the Hampton Inn and the Burger King next door. They charge a coupla bucks, but it's a nice little walk-thru of Native culture (including some interesting WWII propaganda). And the woman who runs the place is a bit of a firecracker--fun conversationalist!

Did I mention I really like this area?

[Patricio Elicer]

One of the wonders of Nature ...

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/378/tam5photos155bxn2.jpg

[Zep]

OK, Patrico. WHY did you break the piece off the side like that? It was just FINE left right where it was...

[Patricio Elicer]

OK, Patrico. WHY did you break the piece off the side like that? It was just FINE left right where it was...I'm not the one to blame. Maybe it was Uri Geller with the power of his mind? :rolleyes:

BTW, here's a video (4.5 min) with the highlights of our visit to Zion National Park, Utah.

gZuXVIwAxA0

[BillC]

Great piece of editing, Patricio!
It brought back memories to see that again. And that was just a short interlude on our first day...

[BillC]

Here's another of the stunning Monument Valley:

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/310245c3b3dd9082f.jpg

[Patricio Elicer]

That's a very good one, and let's not forget our friend, the dog! :)

Here he is ... (Monument Valley video, 8 minutes)

uCHAmwLZyvQ

[Kopji]

Awesome! Did you ever get to Meteor Crater?

[scotth]

What an awesome photo, Patricio.

[BillC]

Awesome! Did you ever get to Meteor Crater?We certainly did:

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/310245c49dbf43c45.jpg

I'm working on a stitched panorama.

[Patricio Elicer]

And here's a road map with the route we followed,

Green: Day 1
Highlights: Zion National Park, Vermilion Cliffs.

Red: Day 2
Highlights: Monument Valley, Four Corners.

Blue: Day 3
Highlights: Meteor Crater, Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff (including night observations on the very same telescope Lowell used to observe Mars).

Due to some strategy problems we missed Petrified Forest Nat Park and Painted Desert, not a big deal anyway :) .


http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2860/monumentvalleymapaxb8.th.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/my.php?image=monumentvalleymapaxb8.jpg)

[Patricio Elicer]

What an awesome photo, Patricio.Thanks Scott. We must credit BillC for that, anyway :) .

[Luciana]

Awesome. Jaw-dropping!

[Boo]

Now I'm homesick again. Thank you for sharing the stunning pics of my favorite places on the planet. I only wish I had been able to go with you.



Boo

[BillC]

Zion National Park:

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/310245c67c7a923e5.jpg