A beautiful slot canyon, carved out by mother nature (literally!) Antelope Canyon is a natural phenomenon created by flash floods. Its perfectly smooth, orange sandstone walls are a result of water running through it for hundreds of years.

One of its most iconic features are the swirling canyon walls that rise 120 feet up from the ground. And of course the famous sun light beam shining down right between them.

But is visiting Antelope Canyon really as awesome as the pictures make it out to be? Or is it just another beautiful place ruined by tourism after going viral on social media? Keep reading to find out more so you know what you are getting yourself into!

Don’t forget to check out our blogpost on USA ROADTRIP: 15 Places to See in the West or check out the full YouTube video below!

Book Ahead!

So we got to the U.S. We figured out our route. And we knew roughly when we’d be in Arizona. Great! Next we wanted to figure out how to get into Antelope Canyon. We were in for a BIG SURPRISE!

It turns out you have to book weeks ahead (if not months during peak season). There was absolutely no way for us to get in! And besides, even if we could get a date, I can’t think of anything worse than losing all your flexibility to work around this time slot. We felt gutted!

Click here for the list of companies offering Antelope Canyon tours!

You might get lucky

Two months later, whilst riding across Arizona, we suddenly saw a sign post for ANTELOPE CANYON. No way! We stopped the motorbike, nodded to each other, and immediately turned around.

Can you imagine the surprise when we realised we could join a tour in half an hour? We were over the moon! And of course we felt super lucky. Although I found it was rather odd just how many time slots they were able to offer us. They were obviously not fully booked, yet I couldn’t buy a ticket several weeks before. VERY STRANGE !!!

Be prepared to spend a lot of money!

As we couldn’t even get a time slot online, we hadn’t really paid attention to the price. And Antelope Canyon doesn’t come cheap! We had to fork out 70 USD each for this tour. It wasn’t an easy decision. We had already visited other beautiful slot canyons which WE LOVED and didn’t have to pay for. Was Antelope Canyon actually worth spending so much money on?

We were here now and somehow we felt it was meant to be! So without paying much attention to our budget we went for it. There was no queue for paying and we were able to join a tour to Upper Antelope Canyon almost immediately!

Upper Antelope Canyon is much MORE EXPENSIVE than Lower Antelope Canyon

WHY you might ask. Well, the famous light beams can ONLY be seen in Upper Antelope Canyon. This makes it more popular and as a result … you guessed it … much more expensive!

But before you choose to follow suit, bear in mind that the conditions need to be right. The light beams ONLY occur in high season (March – October). And only around midday. And only if the weather is good. So it’s a bit like the Northern Lights … only visible at certain times of the year but never guaranteed!

Generally speaking the walk through Upper Antelope Canyon is completely flat and quite short (100 yards). The walk through Lower Antelope Canyon is much longer (600 yards) and requires you to climb up and down a series of ladders and step over some boulders.

You may only enter Antelope Canyon with your camera and a bottle of water

You need to leave your belongings with the tour operator! The only items you can carry with you are your phone and/or camera. In addition you may carry a bottle of water.

I couldn’t even enter with my hydration pack. Instead, I had to purchase a bottle of water. Personally, I don’t like hiking while carrying water in my hand. Little did I know that I need not have worried …

Visiting Antelope Canyon involves ZERO hiking

So we had our tickets sorted and the tour was about to start. I quickly applied some sunscreen and put on my sunglasses, ready to hike! But as it turns out we were rushed into a 4×4 vehicle instead. After a 2 miles off-road ride they dropped us RIGHT OUTSIDE the entrance of the canyon.

That’s really not how I had imagined our visit. In addition the walk through the canyon is short so even if Lower Antelope Canyon is significantly longer (600 yards) it can barely be considered a hike. As soon as we exited the canyon we drove straight back to where we had purchased our tickets. The whole experience felt commercial and underwhelming – but more details below!

Get ready for the crowds inside Antelope Canyon

We generally make an effort to avoid crowds. Naturally this is not always possible. Some places simply require a guide and visiting Antelope Canyon was one of them!

Don’t get fooled by ‘small group sizes’

Our group consisted of only Fiona and I. We felt super excited about our ‘private tour’. Unfortunately we quickly had to join other ‘small groups’ as they split us into 4×4 vehicles. The group quickly grew to 8 people. Still, not too bad I thought to myself. But once we started driving towards the entrance of the canyon, we started seeing more and more off-road vehicles filled with tourists.

We soon realised that no matter who you book your tour with, you’ll end up as one huge crowd. The more vehicles joined our convoy, the less excited I became about this entire experience. But the worst was yet to come!

There might be a queue to get inside Antelope Canyon

Given our allocated time slots I was gobsmacked to discover there was a queue to enter the canyon. Really? Initially I thought we had to wait for the group in front of us to finish before we got in but I was wrong. We simply joined the very end of the queue.

The queue NEVER disappeared! The entire ‘hike’ is nothing more than walking through the canyon at a ridiculously slow pace. If not for the crowds, you could walk it within a couple of minutes. But because of the crowds and constant stop and go it took around 45 min. By this point, I deeply regretted our decision to spend so much money on this highly commercial experience.

Once you reach the end, you have to turn around right away. The walk back is brisk and you cannot take ANY more pictures! The main focus is basically to get you out of there as soon as possible.

The guides will RUSH you through it

How can they rush me if I’m walking at a snail’s pace you might wonder? Well despite the crowds the canyon is actually very beautiful. And no matter how many people are in front or behind you EVERYONE is taking photos.

As soon as there is a gap when people start moving forward someone will try and pose for a picture. The guides of each group (EVEN YOUR OWN!) will prevent this and quickly close those gaps. This makes it very unlikely, if not impossible, to take a nice picture.

There is just one exception! One single spot where guides will take a photo of you, so that everyone can walk away with at least one picture! That picture will be taken as quickly as possible and of course you can’t review it, let alone ask them to retake it!

The only people that really got the chance to take pictures, are those that were part of a special PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR. They paid a premium for their tour and in return the guides would block traffic and throw sand in the air for them to capture the perfect shot!

Fiona and I stopped a few times just before the canyon curved around to take a photo without the crowds. We got SHOUTED AT! By the visitors, the guides … so yes we got a few shots without people in it but at what price?

Photography Tours were banned in 2020

Shortly after our visit, and following many complaints and negative reviews, the popular Photography Tours got banned! Photography tours interrupted the natural flow of regular visitors but were also disappointing for those who paid for them.

Given the price tag around 200 USD I can’t blame them! The only way to visit these days is by booking a standard “sightseeing tour”. However, you may no longer enter with tripods or even monopods.

Your Guides know the best PHOTOGRAPHY SETTINGS on your Phone

All tourist guides are EXPERTS on which PHONE SETTINGS work best for photography inside the canyon. It doesn’t matter if you have an iPhone, Samsung or Google phone.

While you queue to get into the canyon, they will grab each phone and pre-select the best setting to take pictures. Great service? Or just another reminder of how commercial this tour is? You tell me!

In any case that doesn’t mean they won’t rush you through as previously mentioned! You can still take beautiful pictures of the canyon walls pointing your camera up, even if you are sandwiches between a dozens other people.

Don’t make this RIDICULOUS MISTAKE

I feel a little foolish to even share this, but if it is saves just ONE SINGLE person from doing it, I figure it’s worth it. Remember how I thought we were going on a hike and put on sunscreen and sunglasses?

Well that’s pretty dumb because you can’t see much with sunglasses inside the canyon! And why would you want to miss out on those beautiful colours it’s so famous for? Unfortunately for me, I was wearing prescription sunglasses and as I wasn’t allowed to bring my hydration pack (which contained my regular glasses) with me, I was stuck with them for the whole trip!

The walls of the canyon are pretty high and create a lot of SHADE! It actually felt a little cool inside. Not cold, but pleasantly cooler compared to the hot weather outside. Only towards the end could we see the blue sky as we got closer to the exit.

Conclusion: Is Antelope Canyon worth it?

If like us you have already visited other beautiful slot canyons without the crowds then you are more likely to be disappointed. Especially given the steep price tag!

But despite all that, you cannot deny that Antelope Canyon is a particularly spectacular slot canyon. Is it worth seeing? Of course!

How off putting has this blogpost been to you? If it’s put you off going, then I guess your decision is already made. And rightly so! But if you think you still want to see it, despite everything you’ve read, then perhaps you should go.

Personally, if someone told me all these things before I went in, we would have skipped this! BUT sometimes knowing what to expect ensures you don’t set your expectations too high. So perhaps if you decide to visit with lower expectations, you might like it and feel less disappointed!

TO SUM IT ALL UP

If you don’t like highly commercialised tourist attractions, give it a miss!

If you are dying to see it and can get over the fact how commercial and busy it is, go!

So if Antelope Canyon isn’t all that, which slot canyons are worth a visit?

Our absolutely favourite slot canyons were Peekaboo and Spooky slot canyons in Utah. If you want to find out more about our visit or how to get there check out USA ROADTRIP: 15 Places to See.

Was this blog-post helpful? Do you still want to visit Antelope Canyon? Or have you been and want to share your experience? Please share your comments below – we’d love to hear from you!

The post Antelope Canyon: Commercial, Overrated but Beautiful appeared first on ADV Travelbug.

The USA has so many different, unique landscapes to discover. There is something about the vastness and immensely diverse landscape in the USA that simply screams out for a roadtrip! I have never been to anywhere else where the landscape can change so quickly and so drastically. Our roadtrip through the USA took 3 months in total. Determined to take in as much as we could, we were pretty much on the move every single day. During one of our longer riding days, we even crossed three time zones in a single day!

Overall, our USA roadtrip was even more incredible than either of us could have imagined! We hiked across untouched sand dunes, squeezed through beautiful slot canyons and even visited some pretty impressive cultural sites of Native American tribes.

If you want to make the most of your USA Roadtrip, make sure you don’t miss our Top 15 recommendations!

1. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in America and one of the most pristine in the world! Why? Because there are no rivers flowing into or out of it. The entire volume of water consists only of rain and snow!

Fiona and I felt incredibly lucky that we made it here on a sunny and virtually cloudless day! We spend a while sat in the snow, watching the crater’s perfect reflection in the water. Although we were not the only visitors, it was somehow pretty quiet as everyone was captivated by the magical views.

Crater Lake is certainly the biggest highlight but the ride up to it was pretty spectacular too! Imagine yourself driving up some bending roads with a two meters high snow wall to each side. It certainly gets a little colder with the gradual elevation so make sure to layer up. You should also check for closures online before visiting as opening times can be effected heavily depending on the weather. Make sure this magical place features on your USA roadtrip itinerary!

2. Redwood National & State Parks (California, USA)

After visiting Crater Lake, Fiona and I continued on Highway 101 which goes directly through Redwoods National and State Parks. They run along the north coast of California and feature old-growth rain forests. What makes it so unique are its humongous trees. They are so gigantic that they made us feel like tiny ants. The highest tree is about 115 meters (379 feet) high. The trees are among the oldest in the world and the tallest which can be found on earth!

The weather changed rapidly as we drove into Redwoods National Park and it got very foggy. But we kept driving and it eventually cleared up. It’s actually very common to be foggy and misty here. But I felt it added to the sense of mystery and quite liked it!

It also feels slightly cooler inside the woods so we felt very comfortable walking in our motorbike gear for once. You don’t need to wander far to completely surround yourself by trees and forest. And what we loved most is that it’s easy to pick a trail where you won’t bump into anyone else and have it all to yourself!

3. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, USA)

Do you want to explore a world of erupting geysers, colourful hot springs, bursting mudpots and hissing steam vents? Then make sure Yellowstone features on your USA roadtrip itinerary! In fact, 50% of the world’s geysers are located right here – inside an ancient volcano caldera.

As we rode through we saw loads of wildlife and thermal features. We enjoyed stopping for all the bisons crossing the road but the main draw were the geysers of course! Walking around we’d pick up the most bizzare, odd smells, followed by steam suddenly shooting out from somewhere in the ground. The colours of the water and ground surrounding the geothermal areas are really vivid and fascinating too. Even on a dull, cloudy day!

Apart from wildlife and thermal features, you can also find lakes, canyons, rivers and stunning mountain ranges all around. Unfortunately, we were a little unlucky with the weather when visiting though. We ran into very cold weather, a ton of rain and even a little snow. As a result, we didn’t explore as much of the park as we had wanted to. However, if the weather cooperates it’s truly a hiker’s paradise.

4. Zion National Park (Utah, USA)

Zion was for me personally the most beautiful and scenic National Park to ride through! Get ready for this twisty road leading you past beautiful, red, rugged sandstone cliffs centred around the Zion Canyon. We found the red, tan-coloured canyon walls really impressive and truly stunning! Hike up to Angels Landing and it will reward you with one of the most spectacular sunsets overlooking Zion Canyon.

Zion is the fourth most popular National Park in the USA and can get pretty busy if you are planning your USA roadtrip anywhere from February to November. We visited in May and were lucky to find it wasn’t too busy though.

5. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)

Fiona and I visited Bryce directly after Zion National Park. If you start early and don’t have the luxury of time, it’s very easy to combine. For some odd reasons it receives far less visitors than Zion. We found this surprising as it is quite different but every bit as impressive. DON’T MISS IT!

We loved the distinct, giant rock formations and its vivid, red, orange and white colours. Bryce is significantly smaller than Zion and there are many hikes that will reward you with stunning views. However, the most spectacular is no doubt from Sunrise Point overlooking Bryce Ampitheatre.

6. Peekaboo & Spooky Slot Canyons (Utah)

Peekaboo & Spooky were our absolute favourite slot canyons! And, brace yourself, far more scenic and enjoyable than our expensive and highly commercial visit of Antelope Canyon. Why? Well, first of all getting here is super fun! Then the hike to the slot canyons itself is absolutely breathtaking. Last but not least, you don’t require a guide to visit (let alone pay an entrance fee). And the best part yet, you don’t need to queue or squeeze past anyone else. We bumped into very few people out here. So how do you get here?

The Hole-In-The-Rock-Trail, is a super fun and scenic gravel road! There is quite a lot of washboard and a few sandy patches but otherwise it’s a pretty easy ride. It has many different trailheads but to discover Peekaboo & Spooky head to the Dry Fork Overlook. From here it’s a 3.5 miles circular hike through stunning landscape.

Click here if you want to find out more about our visit of Antelope Canyon !

7. Arches National Park (Utah)

North of Moab in Utah lies Arches National Park featuring 2,000 natural sandstone arches. By now Fiona and I had spent quite a bit of time in Utah and seen many stunning red sandstone rocks and features, which are so common for this state. Still, the arch formations make this National Park very unique! It actually has the highest density of natural arches in the world, including the well-known Delicate Arch. We found the drive-through very scenic with many beautiful viewpoints across the way. However, if you want to get really close up to the arches you need to hike. It’s by far the best way to truly appreciate this stunning National Park.

8. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park (Utah/Arizona)

Many Western Movies have been filmed across Utah but no other location has been imprinted into my mind like Monument Valley. So naturally it was pretty high on my list of must-see places during a USA Roadtrip. The desert like landscape with its deep red sandstone rock formations are like something straight out of a Western movie. And Monument Valley makes you feel like you are right in it! There are many different shapes and sizes of rock formations, some as high as 300 meters (1,000 feet). Even the drive itself to get to Monument Valley is super scenic and offers breathtaking views. But the highlight was of course riding on our motorbike straight through the valley!

Monument Valley is a tribal park, owned by the Navajo Nation – the largest American Indian tribe. Unlike most other National Parks you cannot just walk or drive wherever you please. So to avoid disappointment make sure to check out our Monument Valley: Know Before you Go guide.

9. Spider Rock, Canyon de Chelly (Arizona)

Spider Rock is located inside the Canyon de Chelly National Monument which also belongs to the Navajo Nation! There are currently about 40 Navajo families living in the park. This means you might only be able to access certain parts with a Navajo guide or park ranger. The exception to this is the White House Ruin Trail which Fiona and I hiked during our visit.

Spider Rock and the White House ruins were the absolute highlight of our visit to Canyon de Chelly. Imagine standing on top of the valley overlooking a sandstone spire that rises 229m (750 feet) up from the ground. Fiona and I felt absolutely spoilt being the only ones here, sat on the cliffs and taking in the views.

The White House Ruin Trail leads through the valley of Canyon de Chelly and descends nearly 600 feet down the cliffs. At the bottom of the valley, you’ll need to cross the muddy waters of the Chinle Wash via a footbridge. You should see the ruins by this point. We found the ancient dwellings 50 feet up in the alcove most impressive.

This was one of our favourite hikes we did during our USA Roadtrip too!

10. Grand Canyon (Arizona)

You can’t go on a USA roadtrip and not visit the Grand Canyon! Crazy as it may sound, my first impression was a little underwhelming. The National Park was completely overrun by tourists lingering along the viewing platforms to take in the views and take photographs. Given that we had just visited a bunch of breathtaking places across Utah and Arizona which we had largely to ourselves, this felt like such a let-down!

It didn’t take long for us to break free from the crowds though. After a little hike we found a cliff edge awarding us the most spectacular views of the canyon. Our initial disappointment was quickly forgotten about!

The South Rim is much busier than the North Rim! It caters way more to tourism and is closer to the airport and larger cities. The lower elevation also provides better views of the canyon walls of the opposite rim. The North Rim is much more rugged, unspoilt and more popular with campers and hikers.

Getting from the South Rim to the North Rim is a 5 hours ride (or 2-3 days hike). So most people choose to visit either the North or South Rim. We only visited the South Rim, but next time we really want to check out the North Rim. I suspect the smaller crowds and trails instead of perfect footpaths would be more enjoyable for us. Besides, it’s easier to set off for longer hikes as the temperature is much cooler on the North Rim.

11. Horseshoe Bend (Arizona)

Horseshoe Bend has become so popular on social media that you’ve probably seen countless pictures of it. So it’s barely surprising that it’s the most visited place in Glen Canyon National Recreational Area!

We’ve been dying to see it and were surprised to discover just how easy it is to access. The parking lot and trail is located just off US Highway 89. Pay for parking, take a 5 min. walk and you will be standing right in front of it! We always thought we’d be needing to hike up to it and didn’t expect such a commercial welcome. To tell the truth, the ease of access did take from it a little!

Nonetheless it’s undeniably breathtaking to stand right in front of it. Sure, it can get pretty busy but there is no barrier separating you from the 1,000 foot drop, so you can still get a completely unspoilt view! An absolute must-visit for any USA roadtrip!

12. Death Valley National Park (California)

Death Valley … the hottest place on Earth! It’s probably already high on your USA Roadtrip List, right? It lies in the northern Mojave Desert, borders the Great Basin desert and is less than a two hours ride from Las Vegas.

I recommend you time your visit better than us. Riding through it at 46 degrees Celsius was extremely challenging! When we reached the Badwater Basin salt flats, the heat was really unbearable! Upon arrival we encountered a red STOP SIGN: “WARNING. EXTREME HEAT DANGER. Walking after 10 am not recommended!”

It was about 2pm and we were exhausted from the ride. But there was nothing going to stop us from exploring the salt flats. We barely walked 50 meters when I suddenly felt really sick from the heat. I had never experienced this feeling before, turned around immediately and walked back towards the car park. With no shade in sight Fiona asked another visitor if we could sit for a moment in their air conditioned car. Those two minutes with air con felt like such a relief!

We continued towards the Mesquite Sand Dunes next. They are located at the northern end of the valley floor surrounded by mountains from all sides. You can access them easily from the road and the heat was much more bearable here.

There are around 25 places of interest to visit in the Death Valley area. One of our favourite things was how quickly the landscapes kept changing. It offers everything from sand dunes, salt flats, colourful rocks, tall mountains and rugged canyons! Make sure you bring plenty of water when visiting, start early in the morning and avoid the hottest months. If you don’t want to suffer as much as we did that means avoiding June – September.

13. McWay Falls, Big Sur (California)

We discovered McWay Falls by accident as we were riding along the Big Sur coast. An absolute stunning stretch of coastline with breathtaking views! This part of our USA Roadtrip was just about riding down the coast and stopping off to take in the views. Oh and unfortunately also quite a few traffic related stops due to ongoing building works (that part was annoying)!

Then we stumbled across McWay Falls. I have never seen a waterfall pouring straight into the sea before! It’s incredibly BEAUTIFUL! We parked up the bike to get closer and soon discovered that you can’t actually access the beach.

And that’s exactly why it’s so PICTURE-PERFECT. I actually appreciated that we couldn’t access the beach, in order to have this magnificent unspoilt view! Swipe right to see the actual viewing point. It’s located just 5 min. walk from where we had parked the bike.

14. Taos Pueblo World Heritage Site (New Mexico)

Do you want to find out more about Native Americans? Then visit Taos Pueblo and meet one of the oldest communities in the United States! A Native American guide will show you around and you’ll learn some super interesting things about their fascinating culture, traditions and architecture.

Speaking of which, have you ever come across a 100% organic house? Believe it or not, but all houses in this community consist of only 3 ingredients: water, mud and straw! This also means that the outer layer of the adobe houses needs to be rebuilt every single year. But that’s only one of many interesting facts you’ll learn during your visit.

Visiting Taos Pueblo is a privilege! The Taos community is considered one of the most private, secretive and conservative pueblos. Even their native Taos language has never been written down. Therefore much of their culture remains unknown to the rest of the world! There are still many Native Americans living in Taos Pueblo today. This means that you cannot roam around wherever you want. Instead, a local guide will show you around, teach you a lot of interesting things and answer any questions you might have. You’ll even be able to try their local cuisine. Don’t underestimate the unpretentious food stand – the food was absolutely delicious!

15. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)

White Sands National Park was definitely out of the way but we were both dying to see it! The snow-white sand dunes are unlike anywhere else on earth and were a huge highlight of our USA roadtrip. They are also considered the world’s largest gypsum dunefield!

This place gets SERIOUSLY HOT with temperatures exceeding 100°F (38°C) in the summer. You should generally plan your hikes in the morning or late afternoon. Starting a hike around 2pm can be pretty dangerous as we discovered first hand. No one will stop you, but it’s not recommended and seriously … WE SUFFERED!

Once you pass the entrance you’ll ride mainly on sand (and some washboard) to one of various parking lots. It’s an incredibly beautiful ride! From here you can go on a short boardwalk across the dunes or ride further in for longer hikes. Despite our poorly timed visit, we decided to ride further in as we really wanted to experience walking on the dunes!

Timing aside we were soon caught up by our SECOND BIG MISTAKE! Lack of water! We hugely underestimated how much water we may need, carrying only 2 liters for two people. Significantly less than the 4 liters (one gallon) per person the National Park recommends. We got really thirsty on our walk, feeling quite unwell halfway through and a little worried too. When you can just see desert all around you, following some sticks in the sand for directions, and no other hikers, you’ll quickly question your sense of direction!

So please be smarter than us but don’t miss out on the wonderful White Sands during your USA roadtrip. It really is SPECTACULAR! Just remember to time your visit better than we did and bring way more water than you think you might need

Planning your USA Roadtrip yet?

Hopefully this blog-post provided some inspiration to explore the Western part of the USA. Or perhaps you found some tips for your upcoming USA roadtrip? If you enjoyed this blog-post or have any questions let us know in the comments below please. What are your favourite places to see in the USA? We’d love to hear from you

The post USA Roadtrip: Top 15 Places to See in the West appeared first on ADV Travelbug.

HERE ARE OUR TOP TIPS TO MAKE SURE YOU DON’T RUN INTO ANY SURPRISES !!

It’s a little out of the way

Monument Valley isn’t really close to any airports, major cities or other National Parks. The nearest airport is Flagstaff (176 miles). It’s a small airport though and doesn’t have great connections. And you are unlikely to find yourself nearby from visiting other National Parks. No matter where you are coming from, you’ll need to factor in a little extra time. BUT of course it’s totally worth it and shouldn’t be missed. Just be aware and plan ahead !!

You WON’T be able to enter Monument Valley with your U.S. National Park Pass

You probably already know that you can purchase an annual pass which allows you to visit hundreds of National Parks in the US. Sure, that’s probably more than you would, or perhaps even could, visit during your stay. But if you are planning on visiting more than 4 National Parks, it will already pay off to buy an annual pass instead of paying the individual entrance fee at each site. It’s even valid for an entire vehicle for up to 4 adults. That’s awesome value – less so if calculated per motorbike of course but we were still pretty pleased with that deal! However, there are some exceptions and Monument Valley is one of them!

Monument Valley is a tribal park fully owned and operated by the Navajo Nation – the largest American Indian tribe.

Fiona and I didn’t know this upfront but were more than happy to pay the 20 USD entrance fee. It’s very reasonable and also a lot less than most other National Park charges!

You can ONLY drive into Monument Valley with a 4×4

So if you arrive in a regular car you will only be able to park up at the visitor centre. Sure, it’s got a super nice view of the valley (picture above) but you will most likely want to ride through it. Fiona and I assumed this wouldn’t be a problem on our Adventure Motorbike. After all, the whole point of owning one, is to take it off-road. And our bike had all the customisation one could want for off-road adventure too. When we realised we couldn’t drive in, we were genuinely gutted. And the worst part was yet to come!

Guided tours are VERY EXPENSIVE

When we found out that we couldn’t drive ourselves, we looked at taking a tour of course. I’m really not a fan of guided tours in general. But on this occasion I felt like I could look past it as all the guides were Native Americans. I was super keen to learn about their culture and learn about Tse’Bii’Ndzisgaii (tribal name for Monument Valley) from them. But the enthusiasm quickly faded when we realised that tours here cost around 80 USD. To tell the truth, that was out of our budget and there were no alternatives for cheaper / shorter tour options.

Fiona and I felt really disappointed when we decided to turn around. After all, we only checked out the visitor centre and the view from the car park. We expected more from our visit and so did our BMW F800 GS. We didn’t get why a 4×4 could self-drive into the valley but we couldn’t. But just as we were about to head back we got chatting to one of the guys working there. Lucky, he felt a little sorry for us and pointed out the dirt road leading into the valley. Happy ending?

You need to be comfortable riding through sand if you want to ride through Monument Valley

Okay, so this was my first time riding on sand! The first part of riding into the valley was super fun. A little windy dirt road, but not too steep with stunning views. Soon we reached the iconic Mitton and Merick Buttes, our first stop. You can see them from the visitor centre already. But standing in front of them and looking at them from within the valley still felt pretty impressive. It is that classic postcard view of Monument Valley that we were dying to see with our own eyes!

From here on it quickly started getting sandier though. I have to admit that I was soon out of my comfort zone. In the beginning I walked the bike through some patches with deeper sand. I was way too scared to just throttle on and as a result, we had to turn around. Although we didn’t complete the whole Valley Drive, we were still super happy though. I mean, we would have nearly missed out on it altogether. I still think that doing half of it by ourselves was more fun than doing it all as part of a tour!

If it rains, roads can become very muddy and challenging in Monument Valley

Okay so logically with rain the dirt roads, especially the sandy parts, will get pretty muddy. Tours generally take place even if it rains. However, if the road conditions are very bad, they could also be cancelled altogether. I was struggling with the sand in super good weather conditions already. I reckon I’d be fine if I was riding through it again now. After all, we did quite a bit of sand riding since then. But mud? Errr … I would struggle again for sure!

You can take a self-guided hike in Monument Valley

Generally speaking, you are not allowed to freely walk around the valley as you please. You are also required to stay on designated roads at all times! BUT there is one super nice trail, about 3.2 miles long that you can hike without a guide. The Wildcat Trail leads to the first stop of the Valley Drive. It does actually offer you some of the most iconic and beautiful scenery.

So if you LOVE HIKING or if you DON’T HAVE a 4×4 and DON’T want to fork out 80 USD for a guided tour, this is a great option!

Summary

So here we are. These are the main things to keep in mind when planning to visit Monument Valley. I’m still unsure if motorcycles are banned completely these days or if there is just a push towards taking expensive tours. I do know many riders did it before us! But I haven’t heard about anyone riding through it more recently. Hopefully this information was helpful to a few of you out there. We hope other ADV Riders can still ride their bikes through the valley! And hopefully a little more skillfully than I could

If you have any questions, comments or advice we left out then please let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you !!

The post MONUMENT VALLEY: All you Need to know before you go appeared first on ADV Travelbug.