Mystery Valley
Mystery Valley
5
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Located in Monument Valley, this region features magnificent scenery, including many ruins and examples of rock art.
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5.0
21 reviews
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3
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0
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0
BT3rd
Datchet, UK7,402 contributions
July 2022 • Couples
A quieter valley than Monument because only true 4WD vehicles and hikers can get into the canyons. This makes it a serene place to ponder. There are many caves with signs that older civilisations were here long before. There are dwellings in the rock formation caves too. Hieroglyphs and pictographs are still visible. A very historical area.
Written 10 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Esty666
Wickenburg, AZ6,103 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
I'd been to Monument Valley many times, I've also taken the guided back-country tour several times, as well as driven the 17-mile public loop trail, but I'd never been to Mystery Valley, so I'd decided that on this year's road trip to the Four Corners Area was going to be it.
At 8:30 a.m. We waited outside the camp ground office for our bus to pick us up – those ubiquitous - for Monument Valley – converted pickup trucks with rows of seats across the back for about 20 or so people. Luckily on our tour there were only five other people.
Our guide Carol introduced herself and off we were, first down to the highway and then south down highway 191 for a few miles. During that part of the ride, Carol told us about life on the Rez for the Navajos, their schools and medical facilities, etc., just a lot of background information. Finally we turned east off the highway onto an unpaved sand track, first past some residencies of natives, then into a secluded microcosm which seemed a step b back in time or into a world of serene tranquility. In addition to providing lots more background information about local Navajos, living inside Monument Valley, their sheep and cattle and horses and lifestyle, their traditional way of life in the canyon, Carol was also unbelievably knowledgeable about the fauna as well as flora, explaining what you could do with the different plants, what the Natives used them for, and what if any their medicinal qualities and effects were.
The views into sheltered and secluded side canyons and valley changed constantly, there were a gazillion scurrilously formed rock formations as if sculpted by a very imaginative artist. There were arches and hidden pools, as well as ancient Anasazi cliff dwellings nestling in protective rock niches and under overhangs, with the obligatory pottery shards and petroglyphs. We were even allowed to climb around the sandstone and onto the arches and into the shelters – a great adventure. Well, most of our group chose to stay down below by the truck, but anyway.
We finally had lunch – burgers with the trappings freshly prepared on a BBQ at the bottom of a vertical, tall sandstone rock face in a dead end canyon. We also saw some feral donkeys and horses, as well as the tracks of many denizens of the area.
From there Carol cut across on a sandy track to the visitor center without returning to the highway first. This was one bumpy ride. A word of warning: do NOT take this trip if you have a serious back problem. Walt and I were sitting on the two back seats, more or less over the back axle I guess, and a few times when Carol bounced through a wash or a dip I was catapulted off the seat a foot in the air or so, no kidding.
Walt and I were the only two of the seven passengers who were on the 5-hour tour, the rest had a full-day tour and would proceed to Monument Valley proper after a half-hour stop at the Visitor Center. This meant we disembarked at the Visitor Center. Carol called someone to come and pick us up to take us back across to Goulding's. I guess this was special circumstances as we were the only two that morning for the five-hour tour and were thus taken together with the full-dayers. That was okay and no big deal at all. It was just a tiny bit annoying that it took over half an hour for our ride to come and get us; I mean, the visitor center is like 5 miles from Goulding's, plain sailing, and Carol had called the guy a good ten minutes before we ever got there.
To recapitulate: if you love Native history and ancient sites, breathtaking sandstone and fascinating landscape, take this tour, it is very, very well worth it; it's just awesome. With its small, hidden valleys and secret corners, great rock formations as well as towering mesa walls, Mystery Valley nicely complements the sheer-infinity of vast and endless Monument Valley with its sandstone behemoth mesas and buttes. Mystersy Valley is a truly unforgettable excursion.
At 8:30 a.m. We waited outside the camp ground office for our bus to pick us up – those ubiquitous - for Monument Valley – converted pickup trucks with rows of seats across the back for about 20 or so people. Luckily on our tour there were only five other people.
Our guide Carol introduced herself and off we were, first down to the highway and then south down highway 191 for a few miles. During that part of the ride, Carol told us about life on the Rez for the Navajos, their schools and medical facilities, etc., just a lot of background information. Finally we turned east off the highway onto an unpaved sand track, first past some residencies of natives, then into a secluded microcosm which seemed a step b back in time or into a world of serene tranquility. In addition to providing lots more background information about local Navajos, living inside Monument Valley, their sheep and cattle and horses and lifestyle, their traditional way of life in the canyon, Carol was also unbelievably knowledgeable about the fauna as well as flora, explaining what you could do with the different plants, what the Natives used them for, and what if any their medicinal qualities and effects were.
The views into sheltered and secluded side canyons and valley changed constantly, there were a gazillion scurrilously formed rock formations as if sculpted by a very imaginative artist. There were arches and hidden pools, as well as ancient Anasazi cliff dwellings nestling in protective rock niches and under overhangs, with the obligatory pottery shards and petroglyphs. We were even allowed to climb around the sandstone and onto the arches and into the shelters – a great adventure. Well, most of our group chose to stay down below by the truck, but anyway.
We finally had lunch – burgers with the trappings freshly prepared on a BBQ at the bottom of a vertical, tall sandstone rock face in a dead end canyon. We also saw some feral donkeys and horses, as well as the tracks of many denizens of the area.
From there Carol cut across on a sandy track to the visitor center without returning to the highway first. This was one bumpy ride. A word of warning: do NOT take this trip if you have a serious back problem. Walt and I were sitting on the two back seats, more or less over the back axle I guess, and a few times when Carol bounced through a wash or a dip I was catapulted off the seat a foot in the air or so, no kidding.
Walt and I were the only two of the seven passengers who were on the 5-hour tour, the rest had a full-day tour and would proceed to Monument Valley proper after a half-hour stop at the Visitor Center. This meant we disembarked at the Visitor Center. Carol called someone to come and pick us up to take us back across to Goulding's. I guess this was special circumstances as we were the only two that morning for the five-hour tour and were thus taken together with the full-dayers. That was okay and no big deal at all. It was just a tiny bit annoying that it took over half an hour for our ride to come and get us; I mean, the visitor center is like 5 miles from Goulding's, plain sailing, and Carol had called the guy a good ten minutes before we ever got there.
To recapitulate: if you love Native history and ancient sites, breathtaking sandstone and fascinating landscape, take this tour, it is very, very well worth it; it's just awesome. With its small, hidden valleys and secret corners, great rock formations as well as towering mesa walls, Mystery Valley nicely complements the sheer-infinity of vast and endless Monument Valley with its sandstone behemoth mesas and buttes. Mystersy Valley is a truly unforgettable excursion.
Written 19 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
xicolopes
Plymouth, MI164 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
You'll need a Navajo guide to lead you through Mystery Valley, so named because no one knows what happened to the original inhabitants of the area who disappeared many, many years ago. A good time to visit is in the evening where you'll see beautiful sunsets and the outcroppings from Monument Valley in the distance. There are several Anasazi ruins that provide excellent opportunities for photographs---especially if you have the expertise of a guide who can lead you to the best vistas. The trek through the valley can be tough, as you'll need to traverse tough terrain, some of which you'll wonder how your guide will manage. Our guide played his flute in one spot. if yours does, let yourself go and join with the spirits of those whose path you follow.
Written 25 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
niels-j
Aarhus, Denmark343 contributions
July 2013 • Friends
If you are in the Monument Valley area, visiting the neighbouring Mystery Valley is also highly recommended. The local tour operators offer half day tours of the Mystery Valley and you will need to go on one of the tours. You cannot find your way around Mystery Valley on your own – and you must be with a Navajo guide to have access.
At first glance the landscape of Mystery Valley is perhaps less spectacular than Monument Valley – but it is beautiful nevertheless and has many spectacular sights. The rock formations resemble saucers in some places – and petrified sand dunes in other places, some orange colored and some darker red. Everywhere you see beautiful and smooth sandstone with lots of potholes, caves and arches.
The area has many attractive natural arches, some with impressive one thousand years old Anasazi ruins and petroglyphs. One of them is the so-called Honeymoon Arch where you can climb to the top and walk across the arch fifty feet or more above the ground. Other spectacular arches are Skull Arch, Stout Arch and Eye of the Needle Arch.
One of the most stunning Anasazi sights in Mystery Valley is The House of Many Hands with both significant thousand years old ruins and strange petroglyps and drawings showing animals, human figures and imprints of many human hands.
Our guide for the half day tour was Ron of the Majestic Monument Valley Touring Co. – and if you love the Red Rock Country in Utah and Arizona a tour of Mystery Valley is not to be missed.
At first glance the landscape of Mystery Valley is perhaps less spectacular than Monument Valley – but it is beautiful nevertheless and has many spectacular sights. The rock formations resemble saucers in some places – and petrified sand dunes in other places, some orange colored and some darker red. Everywhere you see beautiful and smooth sandstone with lots of potholes, caves and arches.
The area has many attractive natural arches, some with impressive one thousand years old Anasazi ruins and petroglyphs. One of them is the so-called Honeymoon Arch where you can climb to the top and walk across the arch fifty feet or more above the ground. Other spectacular arches are Skull Arch, Stout Arch and Eye of the Needle Arch.
One of the most stunning Anasazi sights in Mystery Valley is The House of Many Hands with both significant thousand years old ruins and strange petroglyps and drawings showing animals, human figures and imprints of many human hands.
Our guide for the half day tour was Ron of the Majestic Monument Valley Touring Co. – and if you love the Red Rock Country in Utah and Arizona a tour of Mystery Valley is not to be missed.
Written 23 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jigiindia
Mumbai, India455 contributions
Feb 2013 • Family
The Mystery Valley is adjoining the Monument Valley - we did both as a full day tour from Gouldings - Monument Valley in the morning and Mystery Valley in the afternoon. What surprises me is that there is no previous review for Mystery Valley! The mystery valley is yet another different world - a world full of arches - arches to climb and see! Its fun to climb up on the arches and see some hidden rooms in cave-like formations. There are some ancient ruins too. It runs on an unpaved road - through cows, donkeys and horses grazing! The rock formations are more rounded, not as magnificent as Monument Valley, but just as special! Look out for the Honeymoon Arch, the Skeleton Arch...:) It was fun to light a bon-fire and have grilled lunch in the midst of the valley. One can see how different the erosion is here as compared to Monument Valley....places which are merely a few miles apart, yet entirely different! Visit both!! You will not regret it!!!
Written 31 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ThePajamahadeen
Fairfax County, VA90 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
We stayed at the Kayenta Hampton Inn and drove to Monument Valley. We did the first part of the tour in the morning using a native guide service. We got to see all of the "off-the beaten-track" sights - including petroglyphs, arches, caves and historic landmarks such as John Ford Point (yes, the movie director). The same afternoon we used the same guide and went into "Mystery Valley". Here we were able to see an entire wall of petroglyphs left behind by natives from @1300 AD. We climbed into arches and caves not normally visited by tourists. The scenery was spectacular. Climbing the "slickrock" is not for the timid, and the climbing was arduous in spots, but the views and pictures were incredible. All of my pictures will be posted soon.
If you want a fun time, littered with history and a bit of excitement, take the time to hire yourself a native American guide. We used the Monument Valley Dineh Bikeyah Tours. They were extremely informative and knowledgable about all aspects of Navajo tradition and history. We would use them again when we need another Navajo tour.
If you want a fun time, littered with history and a bit of excitement, take the time to hire yourself a native American guide. We used the Monument Valley Dineh Bikeyah Tours. They were extremely informative and knowledgable about all aspects of Navajo tradition and history. We would use them again when we need another Navajo tour.
Written 5 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LoveToTravelTerrie
Frisco, TX1,304 contributions
Mar 2017 • Family
We visited Mystery Valley with a combined overnight trip to Hunt's Mesa with Navajo Spirit Guides. We visited at least 6 different stops and each was a little different. I was amazed that these dwellings and drawings still existed and I found myself trying to imagine the area bustling with Anasazi life back in the day. We were allowed to go up into the dwellings and explore though a few required rock scrambling to get there. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in this valley. FYI, there is one stop with a primitive restroom if you need it. However I recommend taking care of your business beforehand if possible!
Written 27 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kmz88
Plon, Germany390 contributions
Nov 2021
Beautiful and peaceful place. You can see amazing rock formations, get stunning views of monument valley, see arches, see Pueblo dwellings and granaries, petroglyphs and pictographs. Very few people go here, so you can have the place to yourself. Must go with a guided tour.
Written 8 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lmardo
West Wareham, MA128 contributions
Aug 2019
A amp guided tour that must be scheduled online. Ride in covered open rear of truck to various sites on the reservation accessed on rough dirt roads. Off road I g possible so be prepared. Saw ancient dwellings, arches, and petroglyphs. Our guide was fighting a severe cold so not as informative as she could have been but still interesting none the less. Tour lasted 3 hours and water provided.
Written 2 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
akommers
San Diego6 contributions
Nov 2016 • Family
Mystery Valley was an enjoyable complement to Monument Valley. Mystery Valley can only be see via a Navajo guide. We toured Monument Valley in the am, had lunch, then Mystery Valley in the pm. I find it just as enjoyable to learn about the Navajo of the present as much as the past. Ray knows the area well, and specializes in photographic stops. He drove a Suburban with two rows of seats. Great for our family of 5. Ray can be reached at 928-429-0042.
Written 28 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derald R
Sun Lakes, Arizona
My wife and I will be departing Moenkopi Legacy & Suites the morning of July 8, 2015 and going thru Kayenta enroute to the View Hotel. We would like to visit Mystery Valley on the way. How do I go about doing that? How much time do we need? Do we need a guide?
Thanks.
Derald Radtke
Written 29 June 2015
(1) We used a native Navajo guide service associated with Monument/Mystery Valleys. See the review written by "ThePajamahadeen" for the name of the guide service. Contact the Monument Valley resort staff or the guide company directly for the best service and appointment date/time.
(2) There is a cost for the guide service - the Monument Valley Tour is usually in the morning and the Mystery Valley tour is in the afternoon. You may want to reverse it - -this way you get to see the petroglyphs in Mystery valley in the morning light and the sandstone monuments in Monument Valley in the afternoon light. A full day tour is about $350.00. (It's worth it).
(3) Yes, you will need a guide as it is all on Navajo nation land. You can't go in without either tribal permission or a tribal approved guide.
I hope this helps you.
Regards,, ThePajamahadeen
Written 9 June 2016
Hi - Overall I wanted to ask about the Mystery Valley tour, perhaps who your tour operator was. My husband does kind of have a bad back, it's fine but if he gets jostled around too bad then it could be an issue. So I am wondering if all the tours involve really bouncy rides off road or...? Also If we stay at The View hotel, is there enough to do in the area for 2-3 full days? Thinking about spending 3 nights. We'd probably spend a day at Natural Bridges? Much to see in Monument valley to occupy another day? On the day of departure we'd probably take off early. Thanks in advance for any suggestions or tips.
Written 26 January 2015
We stayed at the Kayenta Hampton Inn and drove to Monument Valley. We did the first part of the tour in the morning using a native guide service. We got to see all of the "off-the beaten-track" sights - including petroglyphs, arches, caves and historic landmarks such as John Ford Point (yes, the movie director). The same afternoon we used the same guide and went into "Mystery Valley". Here we were able to see an entire wall of petroglyphs left behind by natives from @1300 AD. We climbed into arches and caves not normally visited by tourists. The scenery was spectacular. Climbing the "slickrock" is not for the timid, and the climbing was arduous in spots, but the views and pictures were incredible. All of my pictures will be posted soon.
(1) The back trails by vehicle are extremely bouncy. If you husband has a bad back, this may not be the trip for you.
(2) If you stay at TheView, my answer is probably not. It's a great place - but not 3 days worth.
(3) Mystery Valley, for us, was the better of the two tours - but that's just us. We climbed the slickrock and other interesting areas and I managed even with my dodgey knees. We used the Monument Valley Dineh Bikeyah Tours. They were extremely informative and knowledgable about all aspects of Navajo tradition and history. We would use them again when we need another Navajo tour.
Written 9 June 2016
hi my name is blanca , I will like to dunes in arizona but I dont now what City a Have to travel to be close to the dunes , please help me , thank you very much for you attention
Written 16 December 2014
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