When visiting the Four Corners region, a drive through or overnight stay at the Valley of the Gods should certainly be on your list. Often referred to as a “mini” Monument Valley, this otherworldly location within the Bears Ears National Monument can enchant you for as little as a couple of hours or many days.
What Is Valley of the Gods in Utah?
Valley of the Gods, located in southeast Utah not far from Mexican Hat in San Juan County, features sandstone formations that will pique your curiosity and set your imagination afire to describe what you see.
The Cedar Mesa Sandstone from which the formations were created was deposited back in the Permian period, about 250 million years ago when this now arid land was a shallow sea. The rich red and purple colors you see on some formations are the result of iron mixing with oxygen to form rust. Erosion has sculpted the formations in this scenic valley into incredible mesas, buttes, towers, and fins.
- What’s the Difference Between Monument Valley and Valley of the Gods?
- Touring Valley of the Gods
- Activities at Valley of the Gods
- Dispersed Camping at Valley of the Gods
- Famous Formations
- Getting to Valley of the Gods
- Valley of the Gods on TV
- Planning Your Visit to Valley of the Gods
- Why It’s Worth Visiting Valley of the Gods
- Valley of the Gods Essentials
What’s the Difference Between Monument Valley and Valley of the Gods?
Because these two Four Corners area destinations are only 35 miles apart, it’s to be expected that there are similarities to the sandstone structures you’ll see. They both provide stunning views of dramatic Cedar Mesa Sandstone formations and have a rich cultural heritage.
Monument Valley is the more famous and rightly so: the Navajo Nation Tribal Park is carefully protected, is much larger, and the iconic buttes are easily recognized from the many films in which the park has been featured.
Valley of the Gods’ scenic beauty is protected by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It is less traveled and provides plenty of room for quiet reflection. Rather than entering at a pay kiosk like Monument Valley, you can make a sharp turn from U.S. Highway 163, drive down a slope, and go through a wash to start your explorations.
Touring Valley of the Gods
The graded gravel road through Valley of the Gods sometimes crosses washes, or dry creek beds. However, if you visit after a rain, those washes may be running high and make the road impassable, so checking road conditions before visiting is important.
There’s a lot of red sand on the road and rain will quickly turn it into mud. If you visit during the summer monsoon season, keep an eye on the weather because rain can come down hard, fast, and in large quantities.
Do you need a four-wheel drive or high-clearance vehicle to traverse the Valley of the Gods loop road, which has a few sharp turns? No, passenger cars can handle the road in dry conditions but be aware that some sections are more rugged than others and you may find yourself wishing your vehicle had higher clearance.
You can find the entrance to the Valley of the Gods from Highway 163 or below the windy, gravel road that is the Moki Dugway on Highway 261. You can enter from one highway and drive through to the other, making it a loop, or just drive through a portion, turn around, and go back the way you came.
Activities at Valley of the Gods
During the day, you can drive the road and stop at any location that catches your eye. Go hiking among the sandstone formations and have a picnic. Be sure to look at the variety of plants growing in this rugged landscape and look for hidden beauty in blooming wildflowers.
You may spot a lizard scurrying for cover when you go by and, of course, keep your eyes open for rattlesnakes that may be sunning themselves or staying cool under a rock. Give them wide berth!
Along with hiking, some people choose to experience Valley of the Gods by bicycle. In addition, star gazing will be fantastic here if you have clear night skies.
Dispersed Camping at Valley of the Gods
If you want to dry camp, there is no fee, and you can stay for as long as 14 nights at a location that has been previously disturbed (there are plenty of good turnouts where you can camp). You’re sure to have a stunning view no matter which spot you choose!
Famous Formations
While you won’t find any signage identifying the formations in Valley of the Gods, many of them have been named by imaginative visitors. Names include the Seven Sailors, Setting Hen Butte, Rooster Butte, Franklin Butte, Battleship Rock, Castle Butte, Lady in the Bathtub, and Bell Butte. This map shows the location of some of the formations you can see in Valley of the Gods.
Getting to Valley of the Gods
Valley of the Gods is about 15 miles from Bluff, Utah. Head south from Bluff on Highway 191. Continue straight as the road becomes Highway 163. Go about 12 miles and Valley of the Gods will be on your right. Alternately, if you’ve braved the Moki Dugway on Utah Highway 261, you’ll find the west entrance to your left.
Valley of the Gods on TV
While it hasn’t been featured in films nearly as much as its larger “cousin” Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods has showed up on two episodes of the BBC television series Doctor Who and in the 1980s series Airwolf.
Planning Your Visit to Valley of the Gods
Plan for an hour at a minimum and up to half a day if you want to take your time to explore. And, of course, if you’re traveling in an RV, you can choose to stay the night. Watch the road conditions, though, and be aware that there will be a few sharp turns and several washes to navigate. Inclement weather, like heavy rain, would be a good reason to postpone your visit. Dry weather is ideal.
There are no facilities at Valley of the Gods, so be sure to top off the gas tank and bring water and snacks with you.
In summer, it can be blazing hot in the Four Corners region, so drinking plenty of water and protecting your skin from the sun is always essential.
Why It’s Worth Visiting Valley of the Gods
One reason that it’s worth visiting Valley of the Gods is to enjoy the scenic landscape without the crowds. While you’ll surely see other visitors driving the road and camping at pull-outs, you’ll have plenty of room to yourself.
Another reason is that it is free to visit Valley of the Gods and no permits are required. Just take the turnoff and start exploring while you escape the crowds.
And, of course, due to the dramatic sandstone formations, Valley of the Gods on BLM land in Utah is a photographer’s paradise. If you time your visit early in the day or around sunset, during the Golden Hours, you can capture especially beautiful images.
Valley of the Gods Essentials
It is important that you treat the land with respect. Keep in mind that there are no bathrooms, water sources, or trash receptacles available, so pack out what you bring with you. Watch for gas stations as you get close and top off your tank. Bring water, food, and carry emergency supplies to this remote location as you need to be self sufficient.
Do not damage plants or rock formations, and only park or camp on previously impacted sites. Stay on the road when you drive unless pulling into a previously disturbed location for a hike or to camp. Off-road travel and campfires are not allowed.
Check with the Bureau of Land Management about road conditions before your visit. Although it is open year round, you don’t want to get stuck on the graded gravel road as you’ll be crossing several washes and making some sharp turns. You can reach the BLM’s Monticello Field Office at 435-587-1500. Remember there is no entrance fee or cost to camp at Valley of the Gods.
Conclusion
Valley of the Gods is a rugged and beautiful destination to visit while in the Four Corners. From here, you are close to other destinations like the Moki Dugway, Goosenecks State Park (a great place to camp after your visit if you want a different view and restrooms), and nearby Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Take a look at Mexican Hat, which looks like an upside-down sombrero, as you drive by. Be sure to make Valley of the Gods part of your Four Corners trip itinerary!