The Classic West

No scene is more iconic of the American west than something from Monument Valley.

That landscape has been used in countless westerns, but much of that land is part of the Navajo Reservation and both photographers and hikers are limited to views close to the maintained roads. But just north of Mexican Hat, Utah, Highway 261 turns off Highway 163 and heads north towards a formidable cliff over 1,000 feet high called the “Moki Dugway” that leads up onto Cedar Mesa. Before reaching that cliff, a graded dirt road turns off to the northeast and begins a journey through a non-reservation area of Monument Valley called, "The Valley of the Gods." With formations similar to Monument Valley, you're free to drive or wander far from the road to capture that perfect desert scene. 

The area was originally included in the Bears Ears National Monument but was later excluded December of 2017 by a proclamation issued by President Trump. It is still considered an “Area of Critical Environmental Concern” and managed by the BLM. 

This photo is an HDR image taken September of 2015.