Can you die without walking? A trip to the US National Parks (7) Staying in a Navajo hogan in Monument Valley

The indigenous people who have lived on this land and coexisted with nature since long before the United States was established as a nation, are the indigenous people of the United States.
The Navajo Reservation, home to the Navajo people, is the largest in the United States.

Monument Valley, a vast tribal park spanning Arizona and Utah, is located in Navajo Nation and is sacred land that the Navajo have revered since ancient times. It's
a place where rock formations that seem like the work of gods are spread out among the endless red soil. It's like something straight out of a movie.

This is not a national park, but a tribal park managed and administered by the Navajo people, a Native American tribe that has long revered it as a sacred place.

There are people who continue to live traditional lives in areas of the valley without running water or electricity, not just around Monument Valley. The dwellings they once lived in, called "hogans," can still be found in the valley.

Did you know that you can stay in a hogan, which was created based on their wisdom?

Staying in a hogan, I sleep under a starry sky.
As I gaze at the night sky, I think to myself, "How beautiful this Earth is."

The natural world is so grand and full of wonder, and the beauty of the universe that stretches beyond the night sky is so overwhelming that it leaves you overwhelmed by its sheer size.

This is a power spot where you can empathize with how Native Americans discovered the mysteries in nature and learned everything from nature, and feel that nature, humans, animals, and all other living organisms coexist on this big, round Earth.

What is a "Hogan"? A dwelling born from Navajo wisdom

The hogan, a home that is warm in winter and cool in summer, was born from the wisdom of
the Navajo people, who have lived in harmony with the earth and have a deep respect for nature, through years of learning, trial and error, and through their wisdom over the years of living in the natural world.

Even today, there are people who choose to build hogans next to their homes in the traditional style and live in them. There are still many traditional Navajo people who live in these hogans. The hogans they live in have no electricity or running water. When they need electricity, they use generators.

A hogan is a hemispherical earthen igloo-like structure made with juniper trees as the framework and mud on the exterior walls. The juniper logs are stacked tightly to create the hemispherical shape without using a single nail. "If the earth on the hogan wears away due to rain or other reasons, you can just stick it back together again!" said my Navajo friend Johnson.

The entrance to a hogan is always built on the east side, which is a sacred direction for them.
The time when the sun rises is considered the most sacred time of the day, so the entrance to a hogan is always built facing east, so that the sacred new light can be brought into the house and the person can spend the day with that spirit.

He also said that the hogan maintains a relationship with Mother Earth and Father Sky. The sky, which is the ceiling, is Father, and the earth, which is the ground, is Mother. The hogan is a warm space surrounded by both.

There is a wood stove in the middle of the hogan, with a chimney stretching straight up into the sky. You cook and keep warm on the wood stove. It's simple, but it has everything you need.

Book Hogan Overnight

You can actually stay overnight in a hogan, right inside Monument Valley.
As I mentioned in my previous article, Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park, a tribal park managed by the Navajo government. There are still residents living in the valley, and some areas are privately owned, so you'll need to book an overnight hogan through a tour company run by a local Navajo.

There are several local tour companies, so you can book in advance online or by phone based on your preferences and price. (Some companies offer overnight tours, such as Monument Valley Simpson's Trailhandler Tours, which costs $250 per night.)

What you can experience at Hogan Overnight

By booking an overnight stay, you'll get a tour of the Monument Valley view spot, dinner, a Navajo song and dance performance after dinner, sleeping bags provided, sunrise viewing, and breakfast, so it's a truly priceless experience that exceeds your imagination and price.

Below is an example of a typical schedule.

1. Meet with your Navajo driver guide at the visitor center around 3:00 or 4:00 PM.

2. Leave your car in the visitor center parking lot, and then depart into the valley with your driver to visit the viewpoints (sightseeing).

3. After touring the viewpoints, we went to the private property where the hogan where we would be staying was located. First, we listened to an explanation about the hogan, where the restrooms were, and other important information. After that, we had a little time to relax. It was a beautiful time just before nightfall, so we took some photos and walked around the area.

The evening sky is a mix of pale colors.

Meanwhile, the Navajo staff are preparing dinner.

4. Dinner time! Dinner is Navajo Taco! This meal is made with frybread (fried bread) made from corn flour, a traditional Navajo dish, topped with vegetables, beans, steak, and more! They also cater to vegetarians. Navajo Taco's frybread is also very suitable for Japanese people. It's fluffy and delicious when it's freshly made. It's like a thin, soft version of the nostalgic fried bread rolls. You can also make it into a dessert by sprinkling powdered sugar or honey on the frybread.

Enjoy a fun time eating with the Navajo people.

5. After the meal, there will be a song and dance performance by Navajo people, followed by story time.

Navajo songs and dance resonate with the soul and body; their songs and dance are a part of their culture and life.
While it seems that fewer people sing songs or perform ceremonies these days than in the past, there are still people who hold on to the Navajo spirit and cherish the old traditions and customs. Our guide, Johnson, is one of them. "Song is life itself," he said, and he shared many stories with us.

It seems that many of their songs are born from constantly speaking to nature and receiving messages from it.

Of course, I don't understand the words or meaning of the songs they sing in Navajo, but regardless, the deep messages in their songs resonate and touch my heart, and I can't help but feel a sense of spirituality.

After watching the wonderful performance, we were surprised with handmade bracelets as presents. They explained the messages that were put into each bracelet as they tied them, and we are truly grateful.

During the story time that follows, you can hear about their thoughts on the relationship between humans and nature, their way of thinking, their culture, customs, and lifestyle, and the Navajo stories they tell are filled with a spiritual worldview.

6. Free time, bedtime

It's completely dark and the earth is silent, but when you step outside the hogan, you can see the wonders of the universe spread out above you: a sky full of stars, and an endless universe stretching out into the distance.

You can see the Milky Way with your naked eyes, and the extraordinary scenery leaves everyone speechless.

We all sat on the ground for a moment and each enjoyed some quiet time.

7. After that, we went back to the hogan and went to sleep. The photo was taken in November, but the hogan had a wood stove burning and it was warm and comfortable. I had anticipated it might be cold, but I wasn't worried at all, and went to sleep surrounded by the warmth of the hogan and the energy of the earth.

8. In the morning, Johnson, a Navajo man, comes to wake us up while adding more firewood. There is no running water or electricity, but there are water tanks and buckets available, so we wash our faces and brush our teeth with the water and get ready before setting off to watch the sunrise.

9. It takes about 10 minutes by car from Hogan to reach the best view spot for the sunrise.

Seeing the moment when night turned into morning was so beautiful that I was left speechless. I was moved to realize that such beautiful art is performed here every day.

The sun is out and it's sunny again today. It's a refreshing start to the day.

10. Breakfast is a continental breakfast with cereal, ham, bread, milk, yogurt, fruit, dried fruit, pastries, etc. After breakfast, the tour ends!

The coffee at breakfast was refreshing, but the Navajo tea was also very mild and delicious. It makes a great souvenir. It tastes like chamomile tea. You can find it in souvenir shops and nearby supermarkets (although it may be sold out due to its popularity).

lastly

Although we only stayed one night, it was packed with content. We were able to have an experience that you really can't get in a hotel stay, and I think it will be a great experience and memory for the rest of our lives.
Above all, it was a rare opportunity to interact with the Native American Navajo people, and their songs and stories really touched our hearts. What's more, we were drawn to the beautiful connection between this red earth and Navajo culture. It makes us want to learn more about America's majestic nature, long history, and beautiful land.

I highly recommend the Hogan Overnight in Monument Valley. If you have any questions about overnight stays or need someone to book for you, please feel free to contact Anami Tours. We'll be happy to help.

Kato Sayaka

Leave your Monument Valley hiking and travel plans to us. Influenced by my father, I've always loved outdoor activities, and while living in Japan, I started hiking and touring national parks, which fascinated me with the natural beauty of America and Canada, ultimately leading me to my dream of visiting the United States. I currently run ANAMI TOURS, which offers local optional tours created together with customers, such as completely private hiking tours with Japanese guides. As a local resident, I'll introduce you to special options that I can only know about. If you're interested, please visit the website below.

ANAMI TOURS Official Website

   

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