Scenic sandstone valley located north of Monument Valley across the San Juan River and has rock formations similar to those in Monument Valley with tall, reddish brown mesas, buttes, towers and mushroom rocks, remnants of an ancient landscape
How to Get There
From Page, AZ (155mi) Follow AZ-98 E to US-160 E in Navajo County. Take US-163 N to Valley of the Gods Rd in San Juan County. Continue on Valley of the Gods Rd.
Overview
Valley of the Gods is a valley of towering sandstone buttes and spires, like a miniature Monument Valley without the crowds, on BLM land near Mexican Hat. A 17-mile gravel road (San Juan County Road 242) winds around the formations, steep and bumpy in places but usually passable in a regular car when dry. There is no entrance fee, no services, and dispersed camping is allowed, so bring water. The valley floor sits at about 4,300 feet and the formations rise up to roughly 1,800 feet above it, with landmarks such as Seven Sailors, Castle Butte, Battleship Rock and Bell Butte visible from the road. The area is public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and lies within Bears Ears National Monument. Most visitors come to drive the loop, photograph the buttes at sunrise and sunset, camp under dark skies, or combine it with a trip to Monument Valley and the Moki Dugway.
Access
Valley of the Gods is in San Juan County in southeastern Utah, north of the San Juan River and Monument Valley, and about 9 miles from Mexican Hat on US-163. The 17-mile gravel loop, San Juan County Road 242, can be entered from US-163 on the east or from UT-261 near the base of the Moki Dugway on the west, so the valley is easily combined into a drive between the two highways. The road is steep and bumpy in places but usually passable by non-4WD vehicles in dry weather; rain turns it to slick mud and washes can flood, so high clearance is helpful and the road is best avoided when wet. There is no cell service, water, toilets or trash service, and the nearest fuel and supplies are in Mexican Hat and Bluff.
Seasons
Spring and fall are the best seasons, with mild days and cool nights that make driving, walking and camping comfortable. Summer is hot with little shade, and afternoon monsoon storms in July through September can flood the washes and make the road impassable. Winter is cold but often sunny, with clear skies for photography, and occasional snow or mud can affect the road. The area is open year-round at all hours, and sunrise and sunset light the buttes in deep reds and oranges in every season.
Things to Do
Drive the Valley of the Gods Loop
The 17-mile gravel road winds past the valley’s named buttes and spires and takes about an hour or two with stops. Pullouts along the way allow for photography and short walks among the formations.
Photography and Stargazing
The buttes glow at sunrise and sunset, and the remote location offers dark night skies for stargazing.
Explore on Foot
There are no formal trails, but visitors often wander the washes and walk toward the formations. Carry water, stay aware of flash flood danger, and respect other visitors and the fragile desert ground.
Camp in the Desert
Dispersed camping is allowed at previously disturbed sites. There are no facilities, and campfires are not allowed, so bring a stove and pack out all trash.
Visitor Centers
There is no visitor center in Valley of the Gods, and no services of any kind. Information on road conditions and regulations is available from the Bureau of Land Management and the Bears Ears National Monument offices in southeastern Utah, and visitor centers in nearby Bluff, Mexican Hat and Blanding can also help with trip planning. A BLM brochure for Valley of the Gods is available online.
Camping and Lodging
Dispersed camping is permitted at previously used sites, away from ponds and corrals, and there are no developed campgrounds or facilities in the valley. The nearest lodging is in Mexican Hat, about 20 minutes away, with motels and a few services. Bluff, about 40 minutes east, offers more motels, inns and restaurants, and Blanding and Monticello have a wider selection about an hour or more away. Across the state line, Kayenta, Arizona, and the Monument Valley area also have lodging within about an hour and a half.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Valley of the Gods", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Additional information from the Bureau of Land Management.
