How will you not be intrigued to go to a spot with a reputation that sounds prefer it belongs within the fertile lands of Historical Kingdoms? The Valley of the Gods shouldn’t be a land of pointed pyramids and solar worshippers, however a sandstone valley within the desert in Utah.
To discover the Valley of the Gods, you may get pleasure from a 17-mile loop scenic drive alongside graded gravel highway surrounded by remoted cedar mesa sandstone buttes and towering pinnacles amidst the huge open areas.
You may then attain the Pure Bridges Nationwide Monument through a 3-mile unsealed highway referred to as Moki Dugway, which then connects to the state freeway which you drive for about an hour.
It’s essentially the most adventurous technique to admire the geological options and unspoiled landscapes of this space and join these two excellent monuments.
On this information, we share what you must learn about driving the Valley of the Gods scenic loop, what there’s to see, and how one can join it to Pure Bridges Nationwide Monument through the Monki Dugway highway.
However first…
Is Valley of the Gods price visiting?
The Valley of the Gods is price a glance if you’re touring slowly in Utah. It does supply a a lot quieter and extra distant expertise than Monument Valley.
Plus, it’s free to go to, and you will discover some remoted tenting spots for true serenity underneath starry skies.
It was one of many extra off-the-beaten-path areas on our American southwest highway journey, however it’s solely an hour north of the spectacular Monument Valley, the place Pure Bridges Nationwide Monument is situated.
It’s additionally fairly much like Monument Valley, though not as dramatic, and doesn’t have the identical religious magnetism. However to be truthful, that’s on an entire different degree in Monument Valley.
Within the Valley of the Gods, we LOVED the expansive views we had all the best way again to Monument Valley the place we had simply come from. The rocky cliffs surrounding us made the right playground for the youngsters.
When you have a great deal of time and simply desire a peaceable expertise in a shocking location, I’d suggest tenting right here for a number of days and simply benefit from the views. That is the form of place it’s. Gazing out at these views made it one thing particular.
The place is the Valley of the Gods situated?
In case you are touring between Moab and Monument Valley, the Valley of the Gods is straightforward to get to. It’s solely about 32 miles from Monument Valley on the Utah/Arizona border.
Drive north alongside the US-163. You’ll want to cease alongside the best way and switch again to get the traditional Forest Gump image of Monument Valley behind you.
In the event you’re driving into Monument Valley from the north, you received’t miss it. We drove up from the south so had it behind us. I used to be not paying consideration, nor didn’t notice this was the traditional picture second and so we missed it.
Simply north of Mexican Hat is the doorway to the Valley of the Gods on the US-163.
There may be additionally the opposite different entrance on UT-261, which is the place we entered once we did the scenic drive coming from Nationwide Bridges Nationwide Monument to return to our campsite (extra on that under).
Mexican Hat is a tiny city, so that you received’t discover an excessive amount of. You’ll need to be fully self sustaining to remain right here and there might be no web (principally).
The boys in our tenting crew did pop down into city to observe some sports activities and have been completely happy sufficient with the meals at The Swingin Steak, the native pub there, however it was very quiet.
Valley of the Gods Scenic Drive to Pure Bridges Nationwide Monument through Monki Dugway
There’s a 17-mile loop highway by way of the Valley of the Gods Utah, which includes a number of hills, washes, and bumpy dust roads.
It provides to the journey and the fantastic thing about this USA scenic drive, however you don’t want a 4X4 automobile to do it in, simply drive slowly as you’ll kick up some mud and stones.
In case you are driving a rental automobile, you might need to rent a 4X4 so that you don’t harm the paint with rocks.
The colours and rock formations within the Valley of Gods are beautiful. There are not any actual climbing trails right here, which I truly loved for a change.
The next map has the route you’ll take round Valley of the Gods, earlier than turning off onto Monki Dugway in direction of Pure Bridges Nationwide Monument, with essentially the most well-known sandstone monoliths marked.
Devils Window
Earlier than you attain the East entrance, look over to see for those who can spot the Devils Window, a clear sq. reduce in a towering rock formation.
Seven Sailors Butte
After you’ve pushed by way of the East entrance to the park, the primary butte you see on the Valley of the Gods loop is the Seven Sailors Butte, which is a large monolith with seven rock formations on the highest.
Setting Hen Butte
The Setting Hen Butte, also referred to as Franklin Butte, is the place the rock formations begin to tackle a extra dramatic form.
This butte stands mightily in opposition to a desolate desert backdrop, with Rooster Butte within the distance.
Battleship Rock
You received’t miss Battleship Rock, an enormous purple rock formation which towers 600 ft above the valley flooring.
Citadel Butte
Citadel Butte is a 1,737-meter butte, so named as a result of it seems like an enormous rock fort.
Girl within the Bathtub
Lastly, look out for the girl within the bathtub, which seems simply earlier than you attain the west entrance of the park.
Valley of the Gods opening hours & charges
Valley of the Gods is open 12 months spherical and doesn’t have any entrance charges.
Tenting in Valley of the Gods
There are a great deal of free tenting spots, however you’re higher getting into from the east entrance (US-163), because the west may very well be fairly tough for some RVs to get by way of on that dust highway.
All of us agreed we most likely wouldn’t have towed our 37-foot journey trailer by way of, or would have pressured about doing a little harm.
Take the drive and discover a pullout off the facet of the highway and your excellent camp spot.
If there are a number of of you, you might need to ship somebody forward to scout it out. The smaller rig in our crew did simply that.
There is no such thing as a Wi-Fi, in order that they needed to come again and get us, however it labored higher than us not realizing the highway situations correctly and getting caught.
We drove a few miles in till we discovered a stunning secluded spot on the left hand facet, it was simply on the start of the bend within the Valley of the Gods highway the place it begins to loop round to the west.
Our campsite was nestled into the cliffs, so have been superbly protected and secluded and felt like we have been the rulers of the dominion, particularly once we climbed as much as the highest of the cliffs.
When you have children and camp on this spot, be vigilant about them being on the highway. Automobiles can come across the bend actually rapidly and they won’t see your children in time.
Campsites are often distant with no lavatory or bathrooms, so make sure to account for this for those who plan to camp the night time.
You may see the situations of us driving in from the east facet in our video:
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Moki Dugway
Pure Bridges Nationwide Monument was 45 miles away from Valley of the Gods, and takes about 1 hour quarter-hour to drive.
The Moki Dugway is an unbelievable bumpy journey up 3 miles of sharp flip switchbacks, earlier than reaching the Utah Freeway 261 escarpment.
The very tight switchbacks have been a thrill we weren’t anticipating. (not appropriate for RVs! Go through UT-95 as a substitute). Simply one more reason to like Utah.
The nationwide monument is situated in southeast Utah, off scenic Utah 95 through Utah 275.
From Monument Valley, comply with U.S. 163 north to Utah 261 (simply previous Mexican Hat); at Utah 95, go west to Utah 275.
We got here again into Valley of Gods from the West entrance after our go to to Pure Bridges.
Pure Bridges Nationwide Monument
Pure Bridges Nationwide Monument is one other religious surprise, sacred to the Hopi and ancestral individuals who occupied this complicated system of canyons from about 500 BC till round AD 1270.
Among the cliff dwellings of the later Ancestral Puebloans can nonetheless be seen right now.
Pure Bridges Nationwide Monument is has three pure bridges, Kachina, Owachomo, and Sipapu.
Not like arches, bridges are shaped when streams out by way of canyon partitions.
You may go to by the use of a a technique paved 9-mile scenic drive with view factors. Bridge View Drive results in overlooks and trailheads above the three bridges which are the park’s chief points of interest.
Or, you may hike down to every one. All three bridges are accessible by brief, steep, climbing trails.
There’s a loop stroll (10 miles) you are able to do that connects every pure bridge. That’s one to return again for, maybe a bit an excessive amount of with the youngsters.
It’s a very simple place to go to in only a few hours and makes an excellent day journey from the Valley of the Gods.
Don’t overlook to seize your Junior Rangers ebook earlier than exploring the Pure Bridges Monument so the youngsters can do their actions and get their badges.
Entry to the monument is $20 per car or $10 per particular person.
You may entry the monuments with an America the Lovely nationwide parks move, which supplies you entry to greater than 2,000 federal recreation websites throughout the US for an $80 annual payment.
Sipapu Bridge
Sipapu Bridge is the second largest pure bridge on the earth. In Hopi mythology Sipapu means the gateway entryway their ancestors got here into this world.
It’s troublesome to identify from the canyon rim overlook because it blends so nicely with the encircling canyon rocks. Because it’s so excessive it has little or no stream erosion.
We hiked 1.2 miles return down into the canyon to Sipapu Bridge, which was a brief adventurous hike that concerned a number of ladders and loads of views alongside the best way.
The path winds alongside cliff partitions which supplies sensational views of the White Canyon under. I liked the shady overhang spots and the forested sections of pinons and juniper timber.
Down the underside you’ll discover a small creek lined with cottonwood timber. Pack your picnic and eat underneath the shade of the bridge by the river. It affords an excellent perspective of the scale of the sandstone pure bridge arching throughout the sky.
We actually loved this hike, and solely had time to do the one. I feel this could be the decide of the bridges to hike to if you’re brief on time, or solely need to hike to at least one pure bridge.
Owachomo Bridge
The simplest hike is to the final bridge, Owachomo. It’s solely a half mile spherical journey.
Owachomo means rock mound, a function on high of the bridge’s abutment. Owachomo is the oldest,smallest and thinnest of the bridges and is not eroded by water however frost and seeping moisture continues to erode it.
No matter else you do, go away somewhat time on the finish of the drive and stroll the half-mile path to face underneath its huge span.
Kachina Bridge
Kachina Bridge is the youngest of the three and is sort of huge and ponderous. Floodwaters passing by way of White Canyon continues to erode and enlarge the bridge span.
Kachina is called for the petroglyphs on its facet that resembles the symbols generally used on kachina dolls.
You may hike 1.4 miles return to face beneath the widest, and doubtless youngest, pure bridge within the park. You may see Kachina Bridge from the perspective.
Greatest time to go to Valley of the Gods and Pure Bridges Nationwide Monument
The most effective time of 12 months to go to is from March till early June, when there’s good climate and it’s not too sizzling for hikers. September and October are additionally good instances to go to for good climate.
Summer time’s can get unbelievable crowded, in addition to scorching sizzling, so you’ll want to attempt to keep away from July and August if potential.
It’s finest to examine the climate forecast earlier than visiting, as if it’s not scorching sizzling it’s freezing chilly!
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