Three Sisters, Monument Valley

Outdoor activities

Embark on a tour of Monument Valley and discover the breathtaking monuments you’ve seen in photos and western movies. See the famous West and East Mitten Buttes, John Ford Point, the Three Sisters, Moccasin Arch, the Totem Pole, and more. Travel by safari-style open-air vehicle in the warmer weather or by an enclosed van in colder months. Your guide will share with you a lot of interesting facts about Monument Valley. You will even visit the backcountry of the valley, which you can’t visit on your own without a Navajo guide. Learn many interesting facts about Navajo culture and visit a Navajo Hogan, a traditional Navajo home with a bonus opportunity to watch a rug weaving demonstration (dependent on weather and other circumstances) and to enjoy a ceremonial musical performance by your guide.

Treat yourself to a 3.5 hour tour of Monument Valley with plenty of time at each stop to take the perfect picture and enjoy the views. This tour is ideal for photographers and visitors who want extra time to explore and learn more about the area. In addition to main monuments such as Mitten View, Three Sisters, John Ford Point, Sleeping Dragon, Traditional Hogan, The Big Hogan, Moccasin Arch, Sun's Eye, Totem Pole, North Window, Artist Point, see the scenic Ear of the Wind arch and Anasazi Ruins. The views of the sights on this tour will leave you speechless. At the end of your tour, enjoy a musical performance from your guide and a visit to a Navajo Hogan, a traditional Navajo home, where you can learn a lot about the history of this incredible place.

Make the most of your trip and experience an unforgettable visual spectacle that you will remember for the rest of your life. Upon arrival at Monument Valley, follow your guide to a nearby vantage point where the sun rises directly from the center of the iconic Totem Pole. Admire the sun as it rises across the vibrant landscape, and marvel as the combination of colors dances across the sky, changing the shape of famous rock formations and arches. After a breathtaking sunrise, enjoy a tour of the valley with plenty of stops along the way to take photos. See the famous West and East Mitten Buttes, John Ford Point, the Three Sisters, Moccasin Arch, the Totem Pole, The Big Hogan, Sun’s Eye, North Window, and Sleeping Dragon. Next, follow your guide into the restricted back country part of the valley that you can only visit in the company of a Navajo guide. Throughout the tour, listen to your guide share fascinating insights and anecdotes, and learn about Monument Valley and Navajo culture. Finally, visit a Navajo Hogan, a traditional Navajo home, to watch a bonus rug weaving demonstration as well as a ceremonial musical performance.

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Note: This 44+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Monument Valley in 2-3 hours. Your adventure into the stunning Utah landscape begins on the outskirts of the tiny town of Mexican Hat. From here, we’ll cruise across the rust-red land and crest the rise where Forrest Gump’s long run finally came to an end in the famous Tom Hanks film. This is where you’ll get your first really good look at the wonders that await. Then it’s on to Monument Valley itself. After we pass the visitor center (entrance tickets not included), we’ll learn about the mysterious Anasazi tribe, the first people who ever lived in this harsh place. They left behind ancient, advanced dwellings among the cliffs, which have been abandoned even before the Spanish arrived here. We’ll also hear about the Navajo, of course! This is their valley, after all, and the tribe has a long history here. Next, we’ll come to Wildcat Trail, the only self-guided trail in the park. From here, you can hike through some of the coolest sights the valley has to offer--as long as you bring enough water, that is! After that, we’ll see the towering formations of East Mitten Butte, West Mitten Butte, and Merrick Butte. While there, we’ll dive into the fascinating story of a silver prospector who tried to steal from this Navajo land. You can probably guess how that went for him. Our drive continues to John Ford Point, a gorgeous viewpoint named for the famous Western director John Ford. Along the way, we’ll dig into the countless Hollywood hits that have been filmed here over the years, from The Searchers to 2001: A Space Odyssey. We’ll visit the Three Sisters next. These monoliths loom 1,000 feet over the landscape and seem to defy gravity itself. Plus, we’ll give you some insights into the Navajo families who still live in this valley with no running water or electricity. On our way through the jaw-dropping scenery, we’ll learn more about the long history of the Navajo, from the dramatic tale of Navajo code talkers in World War II to the tribe’s modern presence in the country. At North Window Overlook, we’ll point out the perfect spot to catch a sunrise. Finally, we’ll end up near Camel Butte and Elephant Butte, where our tour will conclude.

Experience Monument Valley and Mystery Valley in one day with a local Navajo guide. Discover iconic monuments, learn about the history and traditions of Navajo Nation, see the Anasazi ruins, and enjoy plenty of photo opportunities. See famous monuments at the Monument Valley such as the Three Sisters, John Ford Point, Moccasin Arch, the Totem Pole, the Big Hogan, Sun’s Eye, North Window, and the Sleeping Dragon as well as the West and East Mitten Buttes. Additionally, enjoy an exclusive visit to the valley’s backcountry, which is only accessible with a Navajo guide. Continue to Mystery Valley, where you can learn a lot about generations of Navajo people and their culture. Visit a Navajo Hogan, a traditional Navajo home. Watch a rug weaving demonstration and enjoy a ceremonial music performance performed by your guide. Lastly, Explore the Anasazi ruins and the petroglyphs and be amazed by stunning 360-views of the area.