Best things to do in Monument Valley

Made famous by its sandstone buttes, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park straddles the border of northeastern Arizona and southeastern Utah. Established in 1956, the park strives to preserve the Navajo way of life and features an otherworldly landscape of rugged sandstone hills and soaring rock spires. The protected park lies within a Navajo reservation near a small town of Goulding, which once served as a trading post. Start your exploration at the visitor center, where you can check for current road conditions, arrange for guided four-wheel drive or horseback tours of the valley, and try authentic Navajo cuisine. As you drive up to the visitor center, keep an eye out for roadside stands selling Navajo arts and crafts.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument is one of the most-visited national monuments in the United States. Its rough walls were carved from water running off the Chuska mountains. Here you can view the canyons that resulted from these waters, home to the ancient Anasazi whose pueblo homes are protected from the sun within the deep crevices. Spider Rock, a spire that pierces the sky with 229 m (750 ft) of rock, draws many outdoor enthusiasts. You can hike the White House Ruin Trail along the canyon floor without a guide. The Navajo tribe owns the land; an authorized Navajo guide can lead you on other trails. Ask about guided tours with a local park ranger.

See impressive geological formations and explore archeological sites at . A paved, one-way loop road takes you through the park and lets you access the three natural bridges that are the result of thousands of years of natural erosion. Take one of the hiking trails to get an even closer look at the bridges. The hikes are not too long; in some places they feature stairs and ladders that make them more accessible. Trails also lead to well-preserved Anasazi ruins. Be sure to bring enough water--you won't find any along the trails.

The only place in the United States where four states intersect as one point, Four Corners Monument was originally marked in 1912 with a simple cement pad. The monument has since been renovated and now features a granite and brass pad that is decorated with flags from each state. Stand and take a photo at the crossroad. Or visit the demonstration center with Navajo artisans and pick up handmade jewelry and crafts. You'll have the opportunity to sample traditional Navajo food at nearby vendors. Take water with you--there is no running water or electricity at this site.

Bluff is a small town with a big heart with 300 residents located in the San Juan River Valley in the southeastern corner of Utah.

Located along U.S. Highway 191, Bluff is bordered on the south by the San Juan River and the Navajo Nation, verdant farmland to the east and vast panoramic landscapes to the west. To the north, 300-foot sandstone bluffs, which were the inspiration for the town's name, are a dominant visual element serving as a dramatic backdrop for the community.

Bluff is one of those hidden gems that has accommodations for everyone, incredible places to eat, artists to admire, a living museum, and trading posts. Bluff offers everything you need to have an incredible desert escape.

The Valley of the Gods is a scenic sandstone valley near Mexican Hat in San Juan County, southeastern Utah, United States. Part of Bears Ears National Monument, the Valley of the Gods is located north of Monument Valley across the San Juan River and has rock formations similar to those in Monument Valley with tall, reddish brown mesas, buttes, towers and mushroom rocks, remnants of an ancient landscape. On December 4, 2017, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation that reduced the area of Bears Ears National Monument, proclaimed by President Barack Obama on December 28, 2016, with new monument boundaries that exclude the Valley of the Gods. The area remains protected public land administered as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and managed by the Bureau of Land Management, as it was before the monument designation.