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Monument Valley

Friday – Sunday, March 29-31, 2013

I’ve driven past Monument Valley many times in the past but have never actually stopped in the park before. I decided to spend all day Saturday at the park so that I could photograph the Mitten Shadow at sunset. Since that was my main goal this trip, I’ll start this report with the photo I was after. Twice a year the West Mitten casts it’s shadow onto the East Mitten just before sunset and it’s something that I’ve wanted to try and photograph for a while. There were a lot of clouds on the western horizon at sunset and I almost thought it wasn’t going to happen this time, but the sun did peek out for a few seconds which gave me just enough time to capture the image below. I’d say it was a successful evening!

Mitten Shadow

Now let’s go back in time to the previous evening when I left work and drove down to the Valley of the Gods to setup camp just as twilight was fading. I quickly went to bed so that I was up in time to catch the sunrise on Saturday morning.

Saturday morning at my campsite as the sun came up.

Morning Jeep

Since Monument Valley doesn’t open up until well after sunrise this time of the year I drove the Valley of the Gods loop road after breaking down my camp. The moon was out this morning…

Reach for the Moon

The drive to Monument Valley.

The Road

After paying my fee to enter the park I drove the loop dirt road to checkout the park before the crowds showed up for the day.

A view of the Three Sisters from the road.

Three Sisters

Nice view from the North Window Overlook.

North Window Overlook

After taking my time completing the loop road I headed over to the closed campground and hiked the Wildcat Trail which loops around the West Mitten. It was a nice hike.

Wildcat Trail

Later in the afternoon I looked up and saw this sun halo above.

Sun Halo

Nice clouds over a typical view of Monument Valley from the Visitor Center.

Visitor Center View

While waiting for sunset with a friend that showed up, we wandered down to this tree and I liked the shadow it was casting on the ground.

Framed Mittens

Sunset getting closer… You can just barely see the shadow of the West Mitten starting to creek up the East Mitten in this shot.

The Mittens

When the sun was down I headed back to the same campsite in the Valley of the Gods and got back to sleep after reading for a while. The following morning I was up and driving the Valley of the Gods loop road again as the sun came up.

Morning Drive

Valley of the Gods

When I reached the highway I turned right and climbed up the Moki Dugway to the top of Cedar Mesa so I could visit and photograph a new ruin.

It’s a small circular granary tucked in the back of a larger alcove. Very cool!

Portal Alcove

There were a few handprints nearby, too.

Muddy Hands

This was a fun one to photograph…here’s two different views.

Portal

Ancient Portal

I spent quite a bit of time at this location and then explored a few nearby roads in my Jeep before starting the drive home. It was another nice weekend.

>> Monument Valley Photo Gallery

One Comment

  1. Amanda
    Amanda April 8, 2013

    I love Valley of the Gods. We’ve been there three times now and find something new to see every time. Beautiful photos, as usual.

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