Discover Oljato-Monument Valley

Oljato-Monument Valley combines an impressive desert landscape with a multifaceted history of trade and culture. Particularly characteristic are the sandstone formations in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which rise 400 to 1,000 feet above the desert plain. For planning your trip, this means you can combine landscape, history, and different ways of exploring without limiting yourself to just one type of vacation experience.

Landscape Between Viewpoints and Exploring on Foot

Those who want to experience the distinctive landscape on foot, rather than simply viewing it, will find the Wildcat Trail in the park. It is the only self-guided hiking trail in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park and forms a 3.2-mile loop around West Mitten Butte. The trailhead is located at the northwest corner of the visitor parking lot at the Monument Valley Visitor Center. The exact trail length should therefore be factored into your daily planning, especially when different interests and walking speeds come together in your group.

Dineh Trail Rides near John Ford Point offer another perspective on the landscape. In addition, Goulding’s Monument Valley tours are led by local Navajo experts. This gives you different ways to get to know the area: a self-guided loop trail, a tour with local expertise, or a horseback ride in the John Ford Point area.

Trading Posts and the Region’s History

The Oljato Trading Post was built in 1921 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Its significance is closely connected with the trading history of Indigenous people in the Four Corners region of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. The trading post is therefore an important point of reference for anyone who wants to combine the landscape with regional history.

The Goulding’s Trading Post Museum explores Monument Valley’s early trading days and its history in Western films. The Trading Post Bull Pen displays original artifacts relating to the goods traded in the region. The Ware Room contains historical photographs, handcrafted pottery, and other artifacts. These different areas focus on different topics: You can explore trade relations, material culture, photography, or the depiction of Monument Valley in Western films.

Which Accommodation Fits Your Plans?

When searching for a vacation apartment or vacation home in Oljato-Monument Valley, it is worth organizing your preferred experiences first. If the trip is to focus primarily on the sandstone formations and the Wildcat Trail, the landscape and the loop trail provide a clear focal point. Those with a stronger interest in history can include the Oljato Trading Post and Goulding’s Trading Post Museum in their plans. For a trip with different preferences, self-guided hiking, Navajo-guided tours, horseback riding, and museum visits can be considered as different ideas for each day.

More Destinations for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to compare additional places, you can also include Spanish Valley, La Sal, Monticello, Mexican Hat, and Blanding in your further planning.

For the higher-level travel overview: San Juan County.