Can you die without walking? Travel to American National Parks (6) Recommended hiking at Monument Valley and Navaho Tribal Park

Following Sedona, Grand Canyon and Canyon di Shay, the fourth recommended hiking spot for Grand Circle is Hunts Mesa located in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, a sacred place for the Native American Navajo tribal, just like last time.

Speaking of Monument Valley, the vast wilderness is dotted with rocks of all sizes, large and small, called buttes and mesas (table-shaped rocks), which look like they've been carved by gods as sculptures and created as spectacles, spreading a sight that stands out from the ground. The view is truly a perfect piece of earth's art. Over the years, the soft parts were shattered by wind, rain, snow, etc., and only the hard rocky parts remained today, creating the scenery we see today.

Just being there is a place where you can feel the vastness of the Earth, feel the heartbeat of the Earth, and once again feel the earth's beautifulness.

It is often used in filming Western movies and other films, and is well known, so I think many people have visited Monument Valley and would like to visit in the future. However, few people may have experienced hiking within Monument Valley. In fact, many people may not even know that hiking is possible in the volleyball area.

You can hike inside Monument Valley! And it's a world that's even more wonderful than you imagined. There are generally viewpoints where you can ride four-wheel drive vehicles such as Jeeps and go around as sightseeing, but that's just a small part of the viewpoint. The Monument Valley extends even deeper.

Surrounded by panoramic views of the huge rocky hills towering over vast land, make sure to hike and walk through the land, a place where you can feel the earth! That's the Hunts Mesa trail we'll introduce today.

Monument Valley is not a national park. Tribal park in the country of Navajo

It is often mistaken for being a national park, but in reality it is a Navajo Tribal Park managed and operated by the Navajo tribes of the indigenous peoples. This area is also a place that Native American Navajo people have long cherished as a sacred place and coexisted with nature. Monument Valley is also located within the reservation (reservation) under the Navajo tribe, and is a tribal park under their jurisdiction.

What if Monument Valley became a national park...

The US federal government has repeatedly requested the Navajo government to designate the beautiful Monument Valley location as a national park. However, the Navajo government has continued to decline requests from the US government to turn Monument Valley into a national park. Cherishing this land, which they have cherished by their ancestors, in the Navajo way, connects their culture and cherishes traditions. Monument Valley is a sacred place for the Navajo people, and even today, there are people in the valley who continue to live traditionally without electricity or water.

If Monument Valley were to become a national park, it is said to be at the highest and second place in the beautiful American national park. It is a place that spreads the original American landscape and Native American culture, no less than the Grand Canyon.

Rules at Navaho Reservation Monument Valley

1. When hiking at Hunts Mesa in Monument Valley, you will pass through an area where the public is sightseeing, then head further towards the trailhead in the volleyball area. At that time, you will pass through private properties (private property) of Navajo residents living in the valley, so when hiking at Hunts Mesa you will need to apply to a local Navajo tour company that performs hiking and go with the hiking guide there, and you cannot go on your own. There are areas inside Monument Valley that are open to general cars and areas that are open to without permission. So book a hiking guide in advance and follow their support. (There are several companies that do hiking, such as Monument Valley Simpson's Trailhandler Tours)
2. The Navajo Reservation has prohibited statutes, and alcohol is not allowed on the reservation, and the sale of alcohol is also prohibited.

How to get to Monument Valley (Car Rental)

Time required

It is located 5.5 hours from Phoenix, 3.5 hours from Sedona, 3 hours from Flagstaff, 2 hours from Grand Canyon (South Rim) and 2 hours from Page.

Admission fee

There is no need to proceed in advance to enter the park. You only need to pay the entrance fee at the entrance. 1 car (up to 4 people): $20 (as of 2020) If more than 4 people exceeds $6 per person, enter by bicycle or on foot is $10 per person.

Opening hours

• Summer (May-August): 6:00-20:00
• Winter (September-April): 8:00-17:00

Best season for hiking in Monument Valley

You can hike all year round if the weather is good. However, in winter, it snows, and the temperature is low and there are many cold days. The summer is a desert climate and can be very hot and hot for hiking.

The best seasons are May to June and late September to October. There is little rainfall per year and many days are blessed with good weather. Although the temperatures are low in March and April, you can hike (the photos used are mostly from when I went to Hunts Mesa in the beginning of March).

What outfit is suitable for hiking?

It can be high at an altitude of around 1,600m, so even if the weather is good, your body will get cold if the wind is strong, so be sure to take measures to keep you warm at all times. It's a good idea to make sure you can take it off or put it on at all times. On windy days, there are some days when dusty is tight. It might be a good idea to cover the sand with a face mask or shawl.

Summer

During the day, the temperature rises and T-shirts and shorts are no problem at all. However, there are windy days, so it can be useful to have something to put on, such as windbreakers or winter clothing such as fleece.

Winter

The altitude itself is approximately 1,670m, and it is very cold in winter. A solid cold protection is required. Shawls, scarves, and hot-headed garments are also very useful.

What is the information center at the park? Can I replenish my food and equipment?

There is a view hotel shop adjacent to the visitor centre, where you can get simple sandwiches and drinks.

There are supermarkets and gas stations around five minutes from the entrance outside the park. (GOULDING'S GROCERY STORE)

Good things to carry on hiking

• Cold weather wear that can adjust the temperature
• Trekking shoes
• hat
• Shawl/face mask (for preventing sand on windy days, etc.)
• sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Drinks (more in summer)
• Snacks and more for eating while hiking
• If you have a regular medicine, first aid such as medicine or band-aid
• rain gear

Highlights at Monument Valley

While you're on your hike, have your guide stop at the viewpoint of Monument Valley and head out to see the art of nature. This will make Monument Valley even more profound.

Visitor Center

The visitor centre is located right in front of the car park just after passing through the entrance. The scenery from there is already a spectacular view. It is known as Mittens View, and is a place where you can see both the glove-shaped light mittens on the right and the left mittens on the left hand. It is a departure and arrival location where you can meet guides on various tours and hiking tours, and there is not only a bathroom, but also a restaurant and a gift shop. (There is also a trailhead called the Wildcat Trail that leads to a mini hike. There is no need to attach a Navajo guide here. It is an easy hike that you can go to on your own. It is a short trail that allows you to see the sacred rocks closer together.)

John Ford Point

This is a place that director John Ford, famous for western movies, liked this place and is said to have often been filmed from there. It's an absolutely spectacular view.

Totem pole

The name is particularly because it resembles the pillar-shaped wooden totem poles that Indigenous people in Canada have built in front of their homes or in cemeteries as a talisman. The long-shaved rocks are very mysterious and captivating to the viewers, and the totem pole seen beyond the parking lot is said to be nearly 250m tall. It may become unseen in the near future as it has weathered due to wind and other factors! ?

Artist Points

The name is given because many artists and photographers are fascinated by the scenery from which they come, and continue to create works from that point and inspire others as well. This is what it means to be ''really magnificent and beautiful earth''. A gentle sight will unfold from here.

North Window

The North Window is open like a window between two buttes about 100m tall, and is called the "North Window" because you can see the spectacular view from there.

There is also a hidden spectacular view point in North Window, so if you have time, be sure to check it out. Rather than looking at the North Window from the foreground, there is a place where you can see the scenery that stretches deeper! As you drive between the two buttes, you will find a parking lot at the end of the day. If you get out of the car and walk along the trail leading to the far right, you'll be able to see another spectacular view.

Forest Gump Point

This is a point outside the park, not inside the park, and is located on the north side of Navajo Tribal Park towards Mexican Hat. It is about 15 minutes' walk from the entrance to Monument Valley. You'll find it right away if you search on Google Maps, but it's a place that became famous overnight when the main character stopped running and turned back in the movie "Forest Gump." Be careful as this point is limited to parking. Take care of your car and take photos.

Teardrop Arch

This is another point outside the park, not inside the park, and is relatively close to Monument Valley, but the road to the viewpoint is bumpy and unpaved, so be careful as it is impossible to drive two. It's a level where you can slowly move forward with a 4WD, but the spectacular views spread out, with tear-shaped holes in the rocks and the scenery of the Monument Valley that stretches deep inside.

Hunts Mesa hiking information

Travel time: 5 hours: 1,200 feet (approximately 365 meters) The walking distance will vary depending on the situation at the time and the guide.

Famous hiking trails in Monument Valley include Hunts Mesa Hiking and Mystery Valley Hiking. This time we will introduce hiking in Hunts Mesa, a place that many photographers aspire to.

This is a park under the jurisdiction of the Navajo tribe and its private property, so you will have to go with a local Navajo guide, and you will need to book a driver guide in advance through the tour company. There are several tour companies in Navajo Monument Valley, and you can book online. You will decide based on your price and preferences, but if you are not confident or have trouble with your English exchange, it may be easier to get a Japanese tour company to take care of you.

First, we meet up with our tour guide at the visitor center and enter the Monument Valley. You have signed up for the tour, so don't worry, as the car will be a four-wheel drive vehicle from the tour company.

Before you go to the trailhead, stop at several viewpoints and continue to the private property further down the road. This area is not accessible by a regular car, and there is a house for people who still live in the volleyball area, and nearby, a residence called Hogan, which was previously used by Navajo people. Hogan is a home born from the incredible wisdom of Navajo, and is excellent in being cool in the summer and warm in the winter. (A detailed explanation of Hogan will be provided in the next article.)

As they are allowed to enter private property, Navajo residents who live there will be introducing the inside of Hogan along with a brief demonstration. Depending on the driver guide at the time, most guides will stop here and ask the Navajo woman who lives there to introduce her to Hogan. This is a great opportunity, so be sure to take a look inside. It's very interesting.

Please don't forget to tip the person who introduced me to my gratitude, even if it's just a little!

Then drive more. The car continues to move further into the valley, captivated by the extraordinary sight, as he feels strange, incredibly unbelievable that he is actually there. My guide, Johnson, said, "Humans just don't listen, they all talk about rocks, trees, and the earth!" When you say it, you can understand and feel it! I want to say I'm there. That's how it really feels. lol

After driving, we finally arrived at the trailhead.

Hunts Mesa Trailheads have no signs or signs, so I thought it would be impossible to find them on our own.

The guide, Johnson, is finally starting his hike in the Red Land. The blue sky, white clouds, red ground and rocks towering in front of us are like we've come to a planet somewhere. .

I'm walking on a pathless path. It doesn't seem to be a trail, and there aren't many guideposts like Cologne, so if you don't have the guide Johnson, you wouldn't be able to tell the direction you're going, but Johnson has a number of different ways to get there, and you can just decide on every time based on your mood that day! What was he saying?

In Japan, there are many famous places such as Sedona and Mount Shasta, and the term "power spot" is often referred to as "power spot", but the power spot inside me is definitely Monument Valley. Not only is it a majestic land, but by experiencing the culture of the Navajo people who live there, listening to songs, listening to stories, and listening to them, I feel like I will regain the precious voice of people inherently possessed, and this place becomes even more profound and special.

Navajo guide Johnson will tell you a lot of stories about Navajo during his tour. Personally, I'm interested in Native Americans, but I find it interesting, including the way of thinking that I don't know about in my everyday life, or in a world I don't know about, everything about the folk tales he tells and the way of thinking about the natural world.

After an hour and a half walk following Johnson, the highlight of this hike is finally upon us. it is….

A long rope hangs from the large rock wall. Of course, it is not a decoration or anything, anything but something that people can climb.

You use cables to climb the rocky mountain, and you'll see a spectacular view beyond it.

The slope was so steep that it was a little firm as soon as we saw the rope, but challenges were a part of it, and this is the joy of walking around an unknown land! This sparked even more ambitions for everyone.

Johnson will give you a thorough lecture on how to climb, and then you will climb one by one. You need strength in your arms and balance, but Johnson also provides solid support so you can survive safely!

After climbing this steep rocky mountain, we also had lunch time as a break. Relax between the majestic sky and the earth as you are almost sucked into the blue sky.

Johnson says, if you want to go on the Hunts Mesa Trail, you can go even further, or you can spend your time sitting there enjoying the situation. So you can adjust the distance and other details to suit the level of the person you are walking.

There are murals everywhere in Monument Valley that you'd probably pass by without realizing it if you hadn't been told, and by going around with your guide, you can share the message and meaning of the mural. A place that remains the history of ancient indigenous peoples living a long time ago. To protect this sacred area, only guides by the Navajo people can enter. I understand.

The Navajo people began living here at least about 500 years ago. However, before they settled here, there were people who lived here. These are the people called the Anasazi tribe, considered to be the ancient indigenous people.

It makes my heart warm to think that people have been here for a long time and that they may have seen the same view. Even after a long time, the beauty and powerful energy of this earth have certainly not changed.

They apparently set up residences here and lived a hunting life, but suddenly disappeared from this place. There is no evidence of where it disappeared, and there is a temporary measure, but in the end, the reason has not been proven. Why he left this place and where he went is still shrouded in mystery. From Guide Johnson's account, they say they later became white people and came back. Only those who have toured will be looking forward to seeing how it disappeared and how it returned! lol　

Well, after finishing lunch and exploring the surrounding area, I ran out of time, so I'll turn back for this time. You will have to go back the same path as the one you came, but there are no trails so you won't know unless you have a guide. The slope we went up to the way this time will also descend. Of course, the ropes are down! I felt it a little more suddenly on the way home lol

Incidentally, this photo shows the beginning of March. It's a little chilly, but the sunlight is still very strong even in March. The weather was good and it was a perfect day to hike, sandwiched between the endless blue sky and red ground.

Hike through Monument Valley to go deeper and walk slowly to create a different world.

There may be a steep slope along the way, or you may use a rope to climb, but the hiking content can be changed according to the customer's level! If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.

Kato Sayaka

Leave your hiking to Monument Valley. Due to my father's influence, I have always loved outdoor activities, and since I was in Japan, I was captivated by the great nature of America and Canada, and as a result, I arrived at the United States, which I had longed for. We currently run ANAMI TOURS, which offers local optional tours that can be created with customers, including completely private hiking tours with Japanese guides. We will introduce you to some special options that you can find out because you are a local resident. If you are interested, please visit the website below.

ANAMI TOURS Official Website