We heard about Monument Valley while we were in Zion National Park and decided since it was on our way home we might as well do it! We stopped on our way north, but if you are headed south down US-191 to US 163, you will pass through Mexican Hat and come up on Forest Gump Point. This spot is popular because it was in the movie Forest Gump where he suddenly decides to stop running and says, "Guess I'll go home now." So when you get to this spot, if you notice people taking a picture in the middle of the road, that is why! After Forest Gump Point, you will start to see Monument Valley. To the right will be a stop to see John Wayne's Cabin from the movie She Wore A Yellow Ribbon. This cabin takes about 5 minutes to see and is free of charge. There is also a small gift shop nearby you can get some souvenirs. Since Monument Valley isn't really a place you stop and hike and instead you mostly just drive through it, it doesn't take very long. When we drove through it, we stopped numerous times to get some pictures of rocks formations that were in the famous John Wayne movies and we visited the cabin. The views were stunning and we were glad we were able to make a quick drive through it!
Overall, if Monument Valley is on your way, you should definitely drive through it and stop for a few pictures. We enjoyed the quick break from driving and Sam loved seeing some scenery from the John Wayne movies!
This is the main road you drive on through Monument Valley
Check out the first 30 seconds of this video to see some neat shots of Monument Valley!
One thing you need to know about my husband Sam, is that he loves cars, specifically his 2014 Toyota 4Runner SR5. And since Moab is what he describes as the "off roading capital of the world" he couldn't pass up the opportunity to do a little off roading himself! Since he wanted to go in his own vehicle, he decided to off road right inside Arches National Park. Of course he didn't exactly give me all the details, so I went into this adventure thinking we would be doing some driving on sand or gravel roads. Boy was I wrong! There were A lot of HUGE rocks I did not think we'd make it over without flipping our vehicle! But I must admit I had a good time, as the views were incredible and it was pretty remarkable watching Sam make it over, around, and through some of the things he did! Sam had a BLAST and we managed to get out alive without any casualties!
Since Sam knows much more about this adventure and I was just along for the ride (literally), I had him write up his thoughts and tips on the off roading in Arches! Keep reading for Sam's review and his video that really says more than words!
Sam's Review Off Roading in Arches
The trail we chose to do was inside Arches National Park and we started on Salt Valley Road and finished at Balanced Rock. We did the trail north to south. It is recommended to do it this way because it is easier and mostly downhill. I have a 2014 Toyota 4Runner SR5 with all season road tires. I also used A-TRAC and had a spotter (my wife) help. I couldn't have done it with anything less. Below is a map of the route we did. The solid line is a dirt/sand road that any car can drive on. If you take the first left, you will hit the dotted line as shown on the map. The dotted line is for 4X4 high clearance off road vehicles only (Jeep Wrangler, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota 4Runners, or similar vehicles). Stock 4Runners can make it, but you have to go slow and take the easiest paths.
The map below, focuses on just 1 section of the off roading we did. The circled area is a section we did not do. Many people do this part so they can pull over and hike to Tower Arch and Marching Men, as designated by the green dot trail. Instead, we turned south at the red arrow and didn't do the additional section. The most difficult section is the beginning first 2 miles before you turn south. The trail becomes a lot easier once you start heading south and is more like a dirt road with random large boulders. *Note: If you are in a car and want to do the hike to Marching Men or Tower Arch, make sure you take the second left. DO NOT take the first left! Follow the blue arrow on the map!
It is important to know that there is no cell service anywhere on this route. We saw a few other vehicles, 2 tours and 2 other jeeps/trucks on their own. So if you do get stuck you may have to wait a while for help! It took us about 3-4 hours to complete this route and we didn't do the extra section to Tower Arch. The views are amazing and this is one of the less popular off roading trails in Moab. We were there during Easter weekend, which is a popular time for jeeps in Moab, but still didn't see many people. If you have a built up vehicle for off roading then this trail is still fun because there are more difficult lines you can take. If you want to make it even harder you can go counter clockwise, south to north, to make it more difficult. Overall, this is a great off roading adventure for anyone up for the challenge!
Pictures of The Grand Canyon truly do not do it justice! This National Park is definitely one everyone should visit at least once in their life! Unless you plan on backpacking down into the canyon, 2 days is plenty of time to see the park. We spent 2 nights and a day and a half here and we found it to be just right. There are a few hikes you can do here depending on your skill level. All the hikes provide different breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon! The Grand Canyon has 2 forms of transportation. You can drive through most of the park, with the exception of a few locations that do not have parking. You can also take the bus system that runs frequently throughout the day. There are a few bus lines, so you must look at the bus routes to make sure you get on the correct one.
Tips:
Utilize the bus system. Unlike Zion National Park, the bus system in the Grand Canyon is quick and you do not have to wait long to hop on a bus!
Also utilize walking! We walked down a ways to a different bus stop so we wouldn't have to go on 2 different buses and we were glad we did. There are a few nice paths you can take through the woods and we enjoyed the quiet scenery.
Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. It is hot! We went in the spring and were still pretty warm! It started off chilly, but quickly warmed up. The sun in the Grand Canyon feels a lot hotter than what we are used to!
Check out the NPS page for important information regarding traffic, weather conditions, etc.
South Kaibab Trail Hike
***Highly Recommend
We originally thought it would be a fun experience to backpack to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, spend the night, and hike back up in the morning. Unfortunately we decided on this vacation very last minute and the only place to stay at the bottom of the Grand Canyon (Phantom Ranch) was completely booked. We also found out that in order to get a backcountry permit you have to apply 6 months to a year out. They are VERY strict in the Grand Canyon about permits and will make you hike back up in the dark if they catch you staying without one. So we decided to hike as far down the Grand Canyon as you can in one day instead!
We chose to hike the South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point and back. Most websites and hikers say that Skeleton Point is the farthest you should go in order to make it back up all in one day. However, after having it done it, we probably could have gone an hour or so further and been just fine. The biggest thing to know about this hike is that it is opposite what a normal hike is like. Normally the first leg of the hike is hard, because you are hiking up to the top of a mountain. Then the hike back down is easy because it is all downhill. This hike, since you are going down into the canyon, is the opposite. The first leg of the hike is easy. It is all downhill and on average it takes about 2 hours. The way back however, is 3 times as hard!! You have to hike all the way back up and it is tiring!!! It usually takes double the amount of time to get back up the canyon as it does to get down. On average it takes most people 4 hours to get back up. So, the entire hike with stopping time can take anywhere from 6-8 hours. That being said, if you are someone who likes to hike and are in good physical shape, you can probably do it in 4 hours total. It took us about 1 hour 23 minutes to hike down into the canyon. We stopped a few times on the way down for pictures and a few water breaks.
Once we got to Skeleton Point, we enjoyed lunch with a view for about 45 minutes (this is not included on our time down or back up). The hike back, though it was difficult, only took us 1 hour and 32 minutes. That being said, it was very hot and our philosophy was to just book it back up and not prolong our suffering! So we were moving quick and we tried not to stop other than for drinks of water! So, it is possible to do it quicker and depending on your pace and the time you started, you may be able to go further than Skeleton Point.
Tips/Things to Know:
Honestly be prepared for the pure exhaustion it takes to hike back up! Though we did it quickly, it was hard and tiring!! It is ALL uphill through steep switchbacks and stairs. It is not easy!!!
There is no water on the trail. Bring plenty of water and be smart about it! We drank a lot of water and most of it on the way back up. Do not drink all your water on the way down! You will need it to get back up the canyon! I would also suggest bringing Gatorade or something to give you more energy!
There are no bathrooms on the trail! Use them before you go!
Bring snacks or even a lunch! You will need energy! Pack food!
There is little to no shade on this hike. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat! It gets very warm!
Good hiking shoes or boots are a must! I wore my high quality mid height hiking boots and I was so glad I did! The trails are sometimes slippery and rough. You will not want to do this in an average tennis shoe.
A camelback is a must! I was so glad I had my camelback and could drink as much water as I wanted while hiking and not have to stop.
Start this hike early. It gets busy and hotter as it gets later in the morning. There are also not a ton of places to pass people. It is much more enjoyable without the crowds and cooler weather. We started about 730 AM and were by ourselves the entire way down. We also wore jackets and pants, as the temperature was in the 40s. Hiking back up was a different story. There were A LOT of people starting the hike and hiking down, as we were hiking up. We were glad we were not stuck behind all those people! It was also pretty warm! It got up into the 70s and we shed our jackets and put on hats!
This hike is not recommended in the summer months. We did it in early April and it was still warm!
There are many places to stop along the way. The good thing is you can turn back at any time. Be smart and know your limits. If you are already feeling weak and tired on the way down, turn around because going back up is much more of a challenge.
The trailhead is near Yaki point and due to the popularity and limited space, you must take a bus to get to the trailhead. There is no parking!
Bring a camera. The views are AMAZING!
Once you see the sign for Skeleton Point, hike a little further to left around a few rocks for a one of a kind view of the Colorado River! You do not want to miss this beautiful viewpoint!
We highly recommend this hike and going all the way to Skeleton Point. The view of the Colorado River is not one to be missed! It is also a very exhilarating hike in terms of views. The scenery is constantly changing, giving you better views the further you go. You really get to experience the vastness and beauty of the Grand Canyon!
We started the hike at the top of the canyon around 7:30 AM
Camelback, hiking boots, and jacket! All needed on the way down!
About 30 minutes away from out stopping point!
Some interesting plants!
We made it to Skeleton Point in 1 hour 23 minutes!
Perfect spot for lunch!
And a great view!
View of the Colorado River!
Back up we go!
The whole way down we saw maybe 5 people.
Going back up we saw people everywhere!
It was MUCH warmer on the way back up!
Took off 2 jackets and added a hat!
We were cruising and made it back up in
1 hour 32 minutes!
Map of what we completed!
Sore and dusty feet, but we did it!
Bright Angel Trail
Bright Angel Trail is the alternative to the South Kaibab Trail, but considered easier and safer. This trail has water options, shade, and a place (about halfway down) to stop called Indian Garden with bathrooms and food. The views are said to also be beautiful, but not as good as South Kaibab. It does however have more wildlife and takes only 4-6 hours. It is similar to South Kaibab in that the way down is easy and going back up is hard and will also take twice as long! If you are wanting a longer more challenging hike but are not up for the South Kaibab trial, this is the trail for you!
Rim Trail
***Highly Recommend
The Rim Trail in contrast to Bright Angel and South Kaibab, are easy paved trails and great for families! They are stroller and wheelchair accessible and provide amazing views around the rim of the canyon. It is only about 3 miles, but can take up to three hours with all the stops and picture taking opportunities! It is a wonderful thing to do at night or later in the day. Though there are crowds, they don't take away from enjoying this hike. There are so many different places to stop for views that you really don't notice the crowds. We did this hike the same day as the South Kaibab trail, but much later in the day. We did it around 5 PM and it took us about 2 hours. We also didn't bring our camelbacks because you definitely don't need it on this hike. We just brought a simple waist pack called The Sierra Highland Pack. We highly recommend this product, as it has room for 1 water bottle (which is all you need for this hike), a phone, wallet, and a few small miscellaneous items. Perfect for a relaxing hike, such as the Rim Trail. Another perk of this hike is it is great for photography opportunities. We stopped and took hundreds of pictures. The views just kept getting better and better! Whether you are an experienced hiker or you have never hiked a day in your life, you must check out the Rim Trail!
Picture perfect view!
Breathtaking!
So many different views as you go along!
We couldn't get enough pictures!
One of our favorite waist packs we like to bring on short hikes!
Check out the link, we highly recommend it!
Stunning views every stop of the way!
Mather Point
Since we had already hiked part way down the Grand Canyon and hiked the entire rim of the Grand Canyon, we thought we had seen it all! But Mather Point proved us wrong! We decided we wanted to have a sunrise breakfast overlooking the Grand Canyon and woke up to find the perfect spot. While there are numerous places with stunning views, we decided on Mather Point. It had a parking lot and a 2 minute walk to a perfect spot with a stunning view of the canyon. Since we were there so early we saw maybe 3 people and basically had a nice sunrise breakfast of the Canyon all to ourselves! We highly recommend enjoying the Grand Canyon either at sunset or sunrise. The red, orange, and golden colors are something out of a watercolor painting that you must see in person! While I definitely suggest checking out Mather Point, you really can't go wrong with any of the viewpoints in the Grand Canyon! There are so many different places to stop, and each of them provides a miraculous view.
Final Thoughts
5 out of 5 stars!
There are really no words to capture the vivid colors, diverse views, and sheer size of The Grand Canyon. It truly is a sight to behold that you just have to come out and see it for yourself! Still not convinced? Check out the video below to get a glimpse into the beauty that is The Grand Canyon!
