Postcard from Monument Valley

This may be the only photograph I ever show here of Monument Valley. For those who are unfamiliar with with it, Monument Valley lies in southeastern Utah, just over the Arizona border. It was made famous in several John Ford western movies, a few staring John Wayne. It is a fantastic surreal landscape that boggles the mind and the photographer’s imagination. A photographer could spend days exploring its amazing sites.

Sadly, unless you have a large bank account, it isn’t really possible. You see, Monument Valley is owned and operated by the Navajo Nation whose sole interest is getting as much money from you as possible to see the place. First, to get into the park costs $5 per person. That seems OK at first glance. But what you get for your money is free admission to the gift shop and museum…and one decent view of a small part of the park…the one you see here.

Want to see more? Then you pay more. You can take a rough dirt road into the valley only during certain daylight hours. So if you want a great sunrise or sunset shot, forget it (the hours are later in the summer months, but still not during the peak “golden light” hours). Oh, and by the way, you cannot get out of the car to take photos or even look. It is sacred tribal land and only members of the tribe can do that.

Of course there are guided mobile tours you can take for a pretty penny. Sorry I don’t know how much and it is not on their Web Site, for some reason. Now, if you want that glorious sunrise or sunset shot, you can pay a native guide and spend the night in the park…but these fees are in the hundreds of dollars.

It is sad that such a place of amazing beauty costs so very much to see. It is also sad that it could not have been taken over by the National Parks Department so its wondrous sites can be enjoyed by all. I understand and respect the fact that it is the property of the Navajo Nation, but still…. When you come to a privately owned place like this, or other places like Sedona, you really come to appreciate how wonderful and amazing our National Park System really is.

My advise if you want to see part of the park, just stay on the main highway…there is much to see along the road. However you will need a long lens on your camera to capture some of the amazing natural stone sculptures.