The great debate- Monument Valley or Valley of the Gods caused several weeks of debate. Ultimately it came down to itinerary logistics. It was easier to go Mesa Verde- Chaco Canyon- San Juan River and Valley of the Gods- Natural Bridge National Monument. We tried several other versions but in the end it just required more time and the expense of a tour we decided could be better applied to another area. I can’t say that this was a wrong decision. True, we didn’t get to see some of the iconic rock formations, but we spent several pleasant hours enjoying gorgeous rock formations that were impressive. Best of all, we had the entire place (with the exception of a few remote campers) to ourselves. This left plenty of time for exploration, photography and enjoyment.

The park is extremely easy to access from either Bluff, Utah or Mexican Hat, Utah. The road is circular so you just need to enter at one of the entrances and follow the road to the exit. There are turn offs for exploration. The road is not one way so you may need to slide over to let fellow travelers pass you. The road is gravel, rocks and dirt. It is passable in a regular car- we did it in a minivan, but if there has been recent rain- I would advise checking in with local residents to check on its passability. While driving on the road, you will need to use a reduced speed to avoid flying rocks and damage to your suspension/undercarriage as the “road” has sharp dips, turns and protruding rocks. There are no street lights. Cell phone coverage is spotty. As always be certain you are carrying at least 2L/person of water and adequate gas.

One of the highlights of our evening was seeing the grazing cattle and their babies crossing the road. We were able to park and watch them graze along the side of the road. It was quite enjoyable. The cattle against the backdrops of huge rock formations rising in the distance was an unforgettable memory. Valley of the Gods was a great adventure.