Monument Valley Utah

One of my favorite pics from a few years ago. We had the whole area to ourselves.

We were told when boondocking there the last time, that the new campground would be where the old boondocking spot was - right in front of the Mittens and west of the hotel.

I'm glad we've been there a few times already because we'd never pay that price for a campsite - anywhere - with or without hookups.

Well, it is a rough road for a reason. As is many roads remaining in unpaved condition. Ask yourself why that might be? Not because 80+% of the world’s roads are unpaved. But for economic and accessibility reasons.

Lets start in Death Valley. The areas of the great expanse, in this park, are often maintained at more expense than it costs for maintaining a paved road. Case in point, The Race Track. In the DV budget is a line item to grade and prepare the road, twice a year, spring and fall. This is done to allow the road to be accessed, but not overdriven by the masses of people that might otherwise arrive in this area. Plus the demand for services, fuel, rest rooms and a cold one. So, sometimes roads are in these level of maintenance, due to accessibility. That in itself is a self-limiting factor.

Lets take Monument Valley. This is strictly an economic matter. IMHO Years ago the fact of earning money off the tourist was not as easy. Meaning not many tourists were traveling great distances, services were far away and cars were not dependably air conditioned. So, those with the economic means were traveling in the area and a revenue stream developed beyond the family that campaigned for the John Fords of the Movie business. So, taking tourists down the Monument Valley Road and keeping the expensive vehicles (Cars/RVs) out by virtue of the road's surface created a revenue stream and income for the people that need work. Many countries just become rich and go to other countries to seek their citizens to do the work that the domestic population don't want to do. Here, you find just the opposite. The people that live here, the Navajos, are doing the work. Guiding the tourists down through the valleys. For those that appreciate the effort, and often times share a little extra $$$ with their tour guides, often are rewarded with even more time and scenes to see.

So, IMHO, you won't see these area roads improve. In fact if more people begin driving their RVs and personal cars more often, the opposite might happen. The road just deteriorates and people will complain and just jump on the Navajo Tour Wagons. Win, Win situation.

Me? I just ride my motorcycle and do just as the OP is asking about, boondock nearby.

Have a great time in Monument Valley!


b

pnichols wrote:
Jon, I wonder if that new campground isn't up high on the cliff over-looking the valley? Kindof up there at the same level as the visitor's center? If so, that area does offer a spectacular view of the valley.

Yes, I believe the campground is up near the hotel. The last time I was there in 2012, they pointed out the location of the new campground.

I've driven my RAV4 the full length of the floor drive, and agree that I wouldn't take an RV on the road (although I saw a few class C's and one class A while I was driving along the road - suspect they were rentals). It is a rough road!

Here is a photo I took a little after dusk from the visitor's center area:


I'd like to get back for both more night time images & better skies during the day...

ReneeG wrote:

profdant139 wrote:
Yes, 2Gypsies is (are??) right -- Goosenecks would be a disappointment if you are hoping for lots of neighbors to talk to -- it can get kind of lonely out there. That is my trailer hunkered down on the edge of the cliff, a long way from anything else:

Our kind of boondocking!

I agree. A closer view of the place I camped. John Wayne threw a bottle of the cliff in the old black and white movie "Ft Apache".

Jon, I wonder if that new campground isn't up high on the cliff over-looking the valley? Kindof up there at the same level as the visitor's center? If so, that area does offer a spectacular view of the valley.

The Monument Valley dry camping I wish we could have done would be down on the valley floor somewhere off the loop road. That's probably never going to happen though, because most RV's wouldn't attempt to get down there without (expensive?) improvements in the entrance road and the main loop road. It's especially tricky in a large vehicle going down to, and getting up from, the valley floor. The for-hire jitneys appear to be made starting with small flatbed pickup trucks.

Here's a link to the new campground's website showing a view from one of the campsites:

http://monumentvalleyview.com/campground/

Here's a photo taken by myself in 2012 looking from a large open flat area on the cliff over-looking the valley floor before attempting to go down onto the valley floor loop road. The locations look similar, but I could be wrong and maybe the new campground is indeed down on the floor. If so, that Class C driver in the campground photo gets an A-plus for succeeding in getting down to the valley floor - unless that steep and rough entrance has been improved:

pnichols wrote:

garyhaupt wrote:
Phil..I was going thru this thread and realized I had forgotten to mention something to you. You had talked about "art by individual that made it"...and, sadly, if you were to look closely at most of the art offered at the tables, they are 'questionable'. The silver rock/stone holders are right out of the store in Window Rock..they also sell the rocks that go into the holder, with the neck chain as part of the package. Very, very few of the offered items are actual works of art. Mostly just schlock.

Now..if you are looking for the good stuff..I can help you with that.

Gary ... the only things we bought in Monument Valley while down there in our RV were from that lady in my one photo. We talked with her at length about where her items came from. She told us all about her family, gave us some of their names, including the name of her relative that supposedly made the actual things we bought. We always try to buy that way ... not just pickup and look, then pull out the wallet. I guess that we took a chance that at least the items we bought were "Native Made".

As a side note, one time we stayed in an RV park on a Native American reservation just outside of the Badlands. We paid the Native American woman manager of the park ($$$) to take us - in her own vehicle - on a personal tour of the reservation. We met the past president of the Tribal Council, saw the school were her children attended, ate in a small restaurant where only reservation folks eat, etc.. It was a wonderful experience all around.

Suzzeee ... you don't have use your RV or it's towed vehicle to visit Monument Valley. You can pay for a tour in one of the Native American driven jitneys that go on the valley floor route. There were several jitneys down there passing us in our motorhome ... as we went really slow over the rugged road for safety and so that we could stop often and take photos. What would have been REALLY NICE would have been able to drycamp down there on the valley floor ... but it's not allowed.

Actually, you can dry camp at Monument Valley. They have finally opened the campground within the park - The View Campground. Not cheap - RV Park Reviews has one entry for it @ $42.00. There are 90 sites, 30 primitive, 30 RV (still dry) and 30 Cabins. There are bathrooms & showers...

pnichols wrote:


Gary ... the only things we bought in Monument Valley while down there in our RV were from that lady in my one photo. We talked with her at length about where her items came from. She told us all about her family, gave us some of their names, including the name of her relative that supposedly made the actual things we bought. We always try to buy that way ... not just pickup and look, then pull out the wallet. I guess that we took a chance that at least the items we bought were "Native Made".

Ahhh haaaa...had you said all this, I wouldn't have wasted the ink, envelope and stamp.


Gary Haupt

garyhaupt wrote:
Phil..I was going thru this thread and realized I had forgotten to mention something to you. You had talked about "art by individual that made it"...and, sadly, if you were to look closely at most of the art offered at the tables, they are 'questionable'. The silver rock/stone holders are right out of the store in Window Rock..they also sell the rocks that go into the holder, with the neck chain as part of the package. Very, very few of the offered items are actual works of art. Mostly just schlock.

Now..if you are looking for the good stuff..I can help you with that.

Gary ... the only things we bought in Monument Valley while down there in our RV were from that lady in my one photo. We talked with her at length about where her items came from. She told us all about her family, gave us some of their names, including the name of her relative that supposedly made the actual things we bought. We always try to buy that way ... not just pickup and look, then pull out the wallet. I guess that we took a chance that at least the items we bought were "Native Made".

As a side note, one time we stayed in an RV park on a Native American reservation just outside of the Badlands. We paid the Native American woman manager of the park ($$$) to take us - in her own vehicle - on a personal tour of the reservation. We met the past president of the Tribal Council, saw the school were her children attended, ate in a small restaurant where only reservation folks eat, etc.. It was a wonderful experience all around.

Suzzeee ... you don't have use your RV or it's towed vehicle to visit Monument Valley. You can pay for a tour in one of the Native American driven jitneys that go on the valley floor route. There were several jitneys down there passing us in our motorhome ... as we went really slow over the rugged road for safety and so that we could stop often and take photos. What would have been REALLY NICE would have been able to drycamp down there on the valley floor ... but it's not allowed.

Phil..I was going thru this thread and realized I had forgotten to mention something to you. You had talked about "art by individual that made it"...and, sadly, if you were to look closely at most of the art offered at the tables, they are 'questionable'. The silver rock/stone holders are right out of the store in Window Rock..they also sell the rocks that go into the holder, with the neck chain as part of the package. Very, very few of the offered items are actual works of art. Mostly just schlock.

Now..if you are looking for the good stuff..I can help you with that.


Gary Haupt