Road trip to explore beautiful Oljato Monument in Utah

(Utah) The Oljato-Monument itself is ancient, rugged, and beautiful. The iconic rock formations that distinguish this iconic section of the Utah desert are eroded remains of their Rocky Mountain ancestors, foamed by sandstone deposits and geologic uplift that then became shaped by years and years of wind and water.

Three main layers of Organ Rock shale, de Chelly sandstone, and Moenkopi shale are visible in many of the buttes. The largest of the freestanding formations measures 1,000 feet above the valley floor.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is located in a remote area on the Utah and Arizona border, part of the Colorado Plateau spans 91,696 acres. The Navajo Tribe was the first group of people to establish themselves in the valley.

In the 1920s, a family by the name of Goulding began operating a trading post in the area. They sold the local population their groceries and other supplies while serving as a hub of commerce in the area. Their establishment lasted through the 1960s.

Harry Goulding caught wind of a new western film in the works out in Hollywood. He and his wife packed up their belongings, went to Hollywood, and managed to get a meeting with the film’s location manager. They showed him photographs of Monument Valley. Not long after that, the movie by John Wayne’s Stagecoach (1939) was filmed with Monument Valley as the setting.

Since the 1930s, numerous major motion picture films have been shot in the area, as well as countless commercials, music videos, and other productions. The Monument Valley has become one of the most iconic images of The West, and a popular tourist destination. It’s not always referred to by name in the movies, but most visitors will surely recognize it.

In 1994, the movie Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks and his band of running followers jogged along the U.S. Route 163 right through Monument Valley. This film won the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director Robert Zemeckis, and Best Actor for Tom Hanks, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effect, and Best Film Editing. After all, fans of the movies often visit this stretch of the highway to recreate the scene or just take a few photos.

Spread across the border of Utah and Arizona, the spectacular scenery of Monument Valley is captivating year round. The giant sandstone formations towering over the desert floors are a unique kind of structure; you don't have mountains, or canyons, or even just big rocks, but something else.

They are monuments. Some have been given descriptive names such as Mittens, Elephant Butte, Totem Pole, and North Window. But describing them doesn’t do it justice. You need to visit Monument Valley yourself to truly appreciate this magical place.

Monument Valley can be accessed through the Utah cities of Bluff, Blanding, and Monticello by taking US Highway-191 to Highway-163, the main road into Arizona that leads through Monument Valley. This northern approach leads through one of the most familiar scenes: a long stretch of highway running through the deep red desert toward the towering mesas of Monument Pass on the horizon.

The city of Bluff, Utah, is an excellent base camp for exploring the valley, with several lodging and dining options. Nearby Mexican Hat also offers a couple of eateries, as well as its namesake rock formation, which is also worth a quick visit.

A bit further north along US Highway-191, Blanding and Monticello also offer dining and lodging while still offering convenient access to the large rock towers on the Arizona side of Monument Valley.

The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park in Oljato has a visitor center, restaurant, and campground. One of the most popular ways to experience Monument Valley is on the road.

The wide-open spaces and towering rock structures allow for easy viewing of all the natural beauty as you take the Valley Drive through the desert. The tour-by-road takes you across the Utah border and into the Arizona side of Monument Valley. But you will be able to come back to your hotel on the Utah side in one day. Feel free to pull off to the side of the road to capture the perfect photo or appreciate the skyline from a different angle.

Elevation: 5,200 feet. Location: San Juan County, UT and Navajo County, AZ.