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Monument Valley UT/AZ

Monument Valley Tribal Park lies within the Navajo Nation. The area holds a deep spiritual connection for the Navajo people. From their website: Monument Valley’s collection of crimson mesas and towering sandstone buttes capture colors that appear only in nature. The astonishing scenic beauty of the desert landscape also reflects the reverence Arizona’s tribal communities have for the land.

Monument Valley served as the backdrop for many western movies and TV shows over the years. John Wayne said it was one of his favorite places on earth. It was also featured in the movie Forrest Gump, at the point in the movie where Forrest decides to stop running. Forrest Gump Point photo is on the Utah post.

A classic scene: The Two Mittens and Merrick Butte.
Our hotel showed a John Wayne movie The Searchers, set in Monument Valley, at night!
Sunset.
Sunrise on the Mittens.
Three Sisters.
Classic Monument Valley view.
The Thumb.
Our hotel, The View Hotel. All rooms face Monument Valley.
Sculpture inside The View Hotel.
Another sculpture inside The View Hotel.
John Wayne’s Cabin at Goulding’s Lodge.
Another Monument Valley scene.
Owl Rock, 1,000 ft. spire.
Agathia Peak, 1,500 ft. rise.

Southeast Utah

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
-Romans 1:20

Driving from Four Corners to Monument Valley, we took the northern route through southeastern Utah. Dramatic formations are all along the trip.

Bluffs near Bluff UT.
These bluffs are right next to the road.
Twin Rocks, Bluff UT
The bluffs side by side.
Mexican Hat UT
This is the scene from Forrest Gump.
Re-enactment of the Forrest Gump scene.

Four Corners Monument

Teec Nos Pos NM

We saw this formation on the way to Four Corners.
This is the only point in the United States where four states meet. Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
Standing in four states at one time.
Sitting in four states at one time.
Authentic Indian Fry Bread.

Mesa Verde National Park

Mancos CO

Mesa Verde is home to many cliff dwellings, pueblos and pit houses. This region was home to about 40,000 people as late at the 1200s AD. Current tribes who trace their ancestors to this area include the Pueblo, Hopi, Ute, Navajo and Apache. Many still consider this a sacred place and return to make pilgrimages to reconnect with their ancestors, share knowledge and gather medicines.
Point Lookout
Pit house, circa 595 AD.
Navajo Canyon.
Navajo Canyon.
Square Tower House, circa 1200-1300 AD.
Pit Houses and Pueblos, circa 700-950 AD.
Pit Houses and Pueblos, circa 700-950 AD.
Pit Houses and Pueblos, circa 700-950 AD.
Pit Houses and Pueblos, circa 700-950 AD.
Pit Houses and Pueblos, circa 700-950 AD.
This large, deep, and impressive kiva, built about 1074 AD, is part of the last village built at this site.
Sun Point Pueblo, circa 1200s AD.
Sun Point View. This is the Sunset House.
Oak Tree House, a fifteen room cliff dwelling.
New Fire House, twenty-two room cliff dwelling.
Fire Temple, circa 1250 AD.
Sun Temple, circa 1250 AD.
Sun Temple.
Sun Temple.
Cliff Palace. This is the star of the park. With park rangers, visitors can climb down and up ladders to see and walk through some of the rooms. We saw the palace from across the canyon.
Close up of the left side.
Close up of the right side.

One night in Durango CO

We spent one night at Historic Strater Hotel in Durango, an historic mining town in southern Colorado.

The Historic Strater Hotel, built in 1887.
Lobby of the Strater.
Diamond Belle Saloon.
At the Diamond Belle Saloon, this guy played ragtime favorites all night. He was really good!
Main Avenue.
The Durango & Silverton Railroad takes passengers to Silverton on a three hour train ride along the scenic Animas River. We had planned to spend a day on this tour, but unfortunately had to cut it out to shorten the trip.
This is Chimney Rock, near Pagosa Springs CO, on the way to Durango from New Mexico.