Monument Valley | Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation (2024)

FAQs

Why is Monument Valley not a national park? ›

Contrary to what some might assume, Monument Valley is not a National Park, but rather a Tribal Park, as it lies within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation. The Tribal Park's designation is important in order to preserve its unique heritage and geological wonders.

Sure, it's possible to drive right through Monument Valley, visiting the main sites in just two or three hours, but if you really want to explore it, consider spending at least one day here.

Navajo Nation law prohibits the unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon, particularly loaded firearms. 17 N.N.C. § 320 (A).

Do not litter, burn debris, or bury trash. Please place refuse » in trash containers or hold onto trash until you reach a trash container. The use of » alcoholic beverages and firearms are both strictly prohibited on the Navajo Nation. As any tourist should, please be respectful when it comes to photography.

The valley and monument area is now home to the Navajo Nation, one of the largest American Indian tribes.

Do I Need a Reservation to Visit Monument Valley? No reservations are necessary to enter the park, but there is an $8 per person, per day entry fee. America the Beautiful, or other interagency national park passes, are not accepted.

Yes, you can tour Monument Valley on your own.

This entails driving the 17-mile loop and planning your own itinerary. Alternatively, you can book a tour that will take you around the area. The unique, red rock formations of Monument Valley make it easy to see why it's so popular with tourists.

Conclusion. Staying overnight in Monument Valley is more than worth it for those seeking to fully experience the beauty, culture, and tranquility of this iconic landscape.

The drive through Monument Valley covers a 17-mile (27 km) loop road. Most people spend about 3 hours driving through Monument Valley, but some people spend as little as 2 hours or even longer than 4 hours.

No Dumping of Cremations on Navajo land. Climbing and Base Jumping is STRICTLY Prohibited in Navajo Tribal Park areas. Please abide by the humble religious requests of the Navajo people and do not climb on the Monuments, Sacred Sites, and/or Buttes. Including, writing on rock walls and leaving debris.

Can you carry a loaded gun in your car in Arizona? ›

According to Arizona's gun laws, most adults who are 21 years of age or older can legally carry a loaded handgun in their car. It does not matter if the gun is concealed or openly visible.

This is not a hunting lodge and this is not the wild west of the 1870's. It is a hotel, restraurant, and campground complex that does not hand out firearms to guests.. Also, you cannot carry firearms in Monument Valley tribal park or anywhere else on the Navajo reservation in Arizona, New Mexico, or Utah.

The 2010 U.S. Census counted 18,834 individuals living on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The vast majority (16,906) identified as American Indian. Average per capita income in Oglala Lakota County is $8,768 and ranks as the "poorest" county in the nation.

Can a non-Native American ever live on reservations? You can live on a reservation but you can't become a tribal member. In order to become a member of a tribe, you must be at least 1/8% Native American, for some of the Native American tribes, other tribes require 1/4% Native American.

There are no federal laws related to a minimum drinking age on Native American reservations. They are considered to be domestic independent sovereigns that are able to establish their own sets of regulations and laws.

Monument Valley is a window into their culture. Explore their history, their way of life, their cuisine and their art. You can even take a little home in the form of handmade jewelry or a dyed wool rug. Monument Valley isn't a national park.

Generally, a national park contains a variety of resources and encompasses large land or water areas to help provide adequate protection of the resources. A national monument is intended to preserve at least one nationally significant resource.

Combined with the surrounding mesas, buttes, and desert environment, it truly is one of the natural wonders of the world. Set aside by the Navajo Tribal Council in 1958, the park covers almost 92,000 acres in northern Arizona and southern Utah and lies within the Navajo Nation reservation.

Are national monuments always part of the National Park System? No. National monuments can be managed by a number of federal agencies, and are sometimes jointly managed.