Monument Valley

[Gonzo42]

Considering a trip to the North Rim of Grand Canyon. Afterwards taking in Monument Valley and the East Entrance to the South Rim.

What's the best route (scenic but not too mountainous) from North Rim?

[Heap64]

Utah has to have some of the best Boondocking check out the Valley of the God's Area.



and our view!

[vermilye]

2gypsies wrote:
You could do the North Rim then the South Rim then Monument Valley and work yourself north to Canyonland and Arches National Parks if you have the time.

I'm not sure why you would backtrack to the South Rim unless you're finished touring and will return home.

Anyway.... from the North Rim to Monument Valley, take 89 to Page and continue south on 89 to AZ 160 (Tuba City). At Kayenta pick up AZ163 taking you to Monument Valley. There are only two places to stay right there - Gouldings for hookups and at the Monument Valley Visitor Center/Entrance is a dry campground. Both are expensive.

To get back to the South Rim just backtrack to AZ 89 south and pick up 64 at Cameron (the East Entrance to the park).

Have a good trip!

While the campgrounds near Monument Valley are expensive, 50 minutes north of the valley is Goosenecks State Park, low cost dry camping on the edge of a set of goosenecks:

View from a campsite -



If you are willing to camp a bit further away from Monument Valley, the Valley of the Gods is similar, and allows dry camping all along the 17 mile road through the valley:
Valley of the Gods Camping

There is lots to do in the area - do a Google search for hikes, ruins, etc.

[TenOC]

If you are in to bird watching, go by way of Alt 89 North Rim to South Rim and stop and see the condors at Navajo Bridge.


Click For Full-Size Image.

[Gonzo42]

DW & I did the South Rim a few years ago before we were RVers. Did the train from Williams. Great trip. Shuttle doesn't go to the East Gate so we didn't see the watchtower.

Now she wants to do the North Rim so I thought I would add in the other stuff I mentioned.

Oh, that other trip I call the "holes in the ground tour" as we also visited the Caverns of the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and Painted Desert, Meteor Crater, Roswell UFO museum (you can see my cousins in there), and Carlsbad Cavern.

[enblethen]

US 89A is the best route. From North Rim east, the highway drops down a fairly long grade.
It doesn't really matter which way you go there is down hill grades. That means they are uphill toward the North Rim.
Once you get down, it is fairly flat.

[2gypsies1]

You could do the North Rim then the South Rim then Monument Valley and work yourself north to Canyonland and Arches National Parks if you have the time.

I'm not sure why you would backtrack to the South Rim unless you're finished touring and will return home.

Anyway.... from the North Rim to Monument Valley, take 89 to Page and continue south on 89 to AZ 160 (Tuba City). At Kayenta pick up AZ163 taking you to Monument Valley. There are only two places to stay right there - Gouldings for hookups and at the Monument Valley Visitor Center/Entrance is a dry campground. Both are expensive.

To get back to the South Rim just backtrack to AZ 89 south and pick up 64 at Cameron (the East Entrance to the park).

Have a good trip!