• At 1525 m (5,000 ft) altitude

How, Where, What

You can’t be in such a hurry on the way from the natural wonders around Moab to Monument Valley that you could miss this spectacle of the San Juan River: 500 m (1,640 ft) below the viewpoint at the end of the access road, the river has cut its way through the gray Hermosa Formation in four complete loops over a distance of 8 km (5 mi). As the crow flies, it covers just 1,6 km (1 mi). The precision with which the river has done this work is particularly remarkable: the steps along the slopes appear geometrically exactly parallel. The overall image is more impressive for its sheer size than for its romanticism – a perfect foreground for a real panorama with the Monument Valley formations on the horizon.

If the normal 35mm format is used, no matter how small the focal length, you will never get all four windings together in the picture. You can combine individual parts into one image or focus on details with the telephoto.

The State Park is accessible every day of the year (5 $ fee) and is located 6,5 km (4 mi) north of Mexican Hat and another 6,5 km (4 mi) off Rt-163. There are no services on site, but you may also camp around the overlook for another 10 $.

Muley Point is outside the state park and offers spectacular views of the river landscape below and the Monument Valley formations in the distance. It is accessible via a 6,5 km (4 mi) dust road off Rt-261 that crosses the Moki Duckway, gaining 100 m (330 ft) in elevation in a series of sharp turns over the 5 km (3 mi) to the top of Cedar Mesa. The route to Muley Point is unpaved. Information on the condition is available at Mexican Hat or Natural Bridges National Monument. High points, like this one, are always most attractive very early in the morning or at sunset. The landscape to be seen from here is so wide, wild, and dimensionless that it is probably nicer to enjoy the view than to look at „empty pictures“ later.

Photo Tips Valley of the gods

• Elevations between 1372 m (4,500 ft) and 1688 m (5,540 ft)

Valley of the Gods resembles Monument Valley in it’s scenery, but doesn`t have the former’s tribal restrictions. It is located on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and therefore open for hiking, backpacking and camping.

The valley is located in the pointed triangle between Rt-163 and Rt-261. It’s red sandstone monoliths have their own character, are plainer than in Monument Valley, and of not so great diversity. The strongest experience here is one of solitude, almost isolation. But it is also a landscape not yet fully photographed, where one can sharpen one’s eye for new images. The afternoon sun in particular sets the rock cathedrals in spectacular light, while at midday they rise ghostly out of the haze.

Valley of the Gods Road, a dirt road, arcs 27 km (17 mi) from Rt-163 onto Rt-261 through the formations. In dry weather, it is easily passable for normal passenger cars and smaller RVs. Allow about 2 hours for the round trip. In the afternoon, it is best to drive from west to east with the sun behind you. There are no services or overnight accommodations.

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