How to See the Best Monument Valley Sunrise in 2024 for a Stunning Experience (Complete Guide)

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Are you looking to see the best Monument Valley sunrise? Well, you’re definitely in the right place and we have lots to say about it! Experiencing the sunrise in Monument Valley is an experience that will stick with me forever, most likely due to the fact that I got to go horseback riding in the backcountry and around the buttes at sunrise! 

Monument Valley Navajo tribal park is located in Oljato in the United States and expands over the states of Arizona and Utah (more on this below, including on the confusing time difference!). Monument Valley is home to gorgeous sandstone rock formations called “buttes” and deliver incredible sunrises with the sunlight hitting the ocher colours of the buttes. 

Whether you are on a US 2 week West Coast road trip or road tripping from Arizona to Utah, sunrise at Monument Valley is a majestic spectacle that you should definitely add to your itinerary.  

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Is Monument Valley sunrise a good experience for couples

There are, in my experience, few experiences more romantic than watching Monument Valley sunrise with your partner (even Monument Valley sunset isn’t as romantic though close). Beyond the obvious beauty of the spectacle of the sun rising behind Monument Valley’s famous buttes, Monument Valley at sunrise is the perfect spot to relax and spend privileged time together away from tourist crowds. Just like spending a romantic night at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, seeing the sunrise in Monument Valley is a must for couples!

Romantic sunrise Monument Valley experience

Whether you decide to hike, take a tour, drive or ride horses at sunrise, Monument Valley at that time of the day is the perfect experience to share a moment suspended in time with your partner. While enjoying the quietness of the early morning, you’ll feel like the world has stopped! This is one of the most authentic experiences you can have with a small budget in the USA so definitely go for it.

How to handle the early morning grumpiness of your partner

At first, I felt like this section wasn’t necessary to add but after thinking about it, it might actually help other couples! As you may know, I (Marie) do not do so well with really early morning. Anything before 7am usually triggers some sort of grumpiness in me. If your partner is the same, here are a few things that help to start an early day on the right foot:

• Bringing food: I’m never hungry that early but will definitely be 30 minutes to an hour later and we all know that being hungry that early in the morning does not help the mood lol.
• Giving your partner time to wake up without hassling them with questions or anything talking related: If you’re going to ask me to wake up that early (which in fairness, is usually my idea anyway), I’m going to need 15 minutes where I don’t have to talk to you and that I can use to just wake up and remember who I am, where I am and why the heck I decided to wake up that early!

Those are simple things that definitely help with waking up early! Some will say coffee helps too but I don’t drink coffee so can’t testify! 

Romantic stay near Monument Valley

There are a couple of gorgeous places to stay at in Monument Valley that will take this romantic experience to the next level:

• First, this lodge is located right by Monument Valley, allowing you to wake up with incredible views and making you feel like you spent the night in the Valley, but without having to camp!
• Second is this stunning hotel, which I stayed at and loved. Though located about 50 minutes from Monument Valley, this hotel offers incredible views on nearby rock formations and is one of the closest to the park.

Budget to see Monument Valley sunrise

Seeing the sunrise Monument Valley Utah offers doesn’t require a big budget in itself outside of the expenses to get there. 

Monument Valley entry fee

Without any booking any tours, Monument Valley entrance fee is $8 per person as of 2022. You can book tickets on the Navajo official website here. Note that there used to be a fee of $20 for a vehicle inclusive of 4 visitors but that fee doesn’t seem to be an option anymore and you’ll have to pay per person rather than per vehicle. Fees may vary from one year to another so we recommend checking the website for updates. 

Accommodations to see the sunrise in Monument Valley

In addition to the Monument Valley entry fee, you’ll need to account for a minimum of a one night stay in the area to be able to see the sunrise. As sunrise can be quite early, we recommend staying in a perimeter of about 30 minutes. In this area, a hotel room or lodge will cost between $170 and $250 depending on the hotel. The following two hotels are offering some of the best value in the area (note that I have stayed at the second one before):

• this lodge is located right by Monument Valley, allowing you to wake up with incredible views and making you feel like you spent the night in the Valley, but without having to camp!
• this stunning hotel, which I stayed at and loved. Though located about 50 minutes from Monument Valley, this hotel offers incredible views on nearby rock formations and is one of the closest to the park.

Rental car around Monument Valley

These days, renting a car around Monument Valley is costly to be honest! During our trip, we rented a car at the Durango (Colorado) airport as this is where we landed. There are a couple other options depending on where you come from such as Salt Lake City, UT and Phoenix, AZ. All together, we would recommend budgeting around $1563/€1600 for two weeks. For example, this is how much you’ll pay by renting a car at Durango Airport in August and dropping it off in San Francisco. You can save a couple hundreds of dollars by traveling in September or renting the car from Las Vegas, NV or Phoenix, AZ. 

Sunrise tours in Monument Valley

Sunrise tours in Monument Valley costs around $115 per person. That includes the sunrise tour and a tour of Monument Valley with a Navajo Guide. The Navajo Guide can also take you in the backcountry which is otherwise not open to visitors. The Monument Valley fee is usually included in the price of the tickets. 

Where to stay to see the sunrise in Monument Valley

Staying in Monument Valley for sunrise

If you wish to stay in Monument Valley, you’ll have to be okay with camping. A few campgrounds that are popular are Hummingbird Campsite and Monument Valley KOA Journey Campsite. If you wish to camp, we would recommend booking in advance and checking opening dates as well since some of them close in the winter!

Staying outside of Monument Valley 

Staying outside of Monument Valley is a great option. The only drawback is that it will increase your travel time early in the morning.

The closest accommodation to Monument Valley is The View Hotel. You can check availabilities here though the hotel is often sold out months in advance. The hotel is right at the entrance of Monument Valley and also offers cabins and a campsite. 

Otherwise, we would highly recommend this stunning hotel, which I stayed at and loved. Though located about 50 minutes from Monument Valley, this hotel offers incredible views on nearby rock formations, including Twin Peaks and is one of the closest to the park with the best value.

If you wish to stay closer to the park, then this lodge is located right by Monument Valley, allowing you to wake up with incredible views and making you feel like you spent the night in the Valley, but without having to camp!

Monument Valley sunrise times

Located in both Arizona and Utah, Monument Valley time can be quite confusing so this section covers everything you need to know to not miss the sunrise in Monument Valley.

What time is it in Monument Valley vs in the rest of Arizona vs in Utah?

Monument Valley is officially in Arizona but in reality it is spread across Northern Arizona and Southern Utah. Note that Arizona and Utah are not always on the same time as Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time (for temperature reasons). However, the Navajo Nation in Arizona does observe Daylight Savings which means that from March to November, Monument Valley, which is on Navation Nation grounds is on the same time as Utah but not on the same time as the rest of Arizona. Confused? Don’t worry everyone is! 

If you are coming from Page, AZ, which is a common stop before or after heading to Monument Valley, note that Page does not observe Daylight Savings Time so it is on the same time as the rest of Arizona (which can differ from the time in Utah) but not on the same time as Monument Valley though they are both considered on Navajo Nation’s grounds. 

The bottom line is to always check the time where you are and the time where you are going so you don’t miss any tours that you may have booked. 

Sunrise times Monument Valley

Sunrise time in Monument Valley varies throughout the year. The earliest Monument Valley sunrise time is in June at 6am. The latest sunrise time there is November at 7:45am. From November to March, sunrise happens about 10 to 30 minutes earlier every month. You can check this website for the exact sunrise times in Monument Valley. 

What does sunrise look like in Monument Valley?

Sunrise in Monument Valley is one of the most beautiful spectacles one can ever experience. Monument Valley in general is one of Mother Nature’s pieces of arts. Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park handled by the Navajo tribe and separate from the US national parks (though often thought to be one of them). Having experience Monument Valley sunrise (trust me I remember getting there at 5am lol), I can testify that there is no other experience I’ve had that felt more authentic than discovering Monument Valley at sunrise.

First, Monument Valley sunrise is absolutely beautiful. With the sun rising behind the main three rock formations (called “Buttes”) Merrick Butte, West Mitten Butte and East Mitten Butte, it’s a stunning view that sunrise delivers. Colours of the buttes come to life, and it feels like the world is slowly waking up.

Second, spending the sunrise at Monument Valley offered me a feeling of freedom I had never felt, most likely due to the unbelievable experience of horseback riding as the sun rose with Adel, a Navajo (more on this below). The park feels incredibly authentic that early in the morning. It feels like you are in one of the most secret and remote places of the world (though it’s not really) and that you are experiencing a different time, almost like in a movie. 

I would highly recommend visiting Monument Valley at sunrise as it remains, to this day, my number one favourite experience (and I’ve travelled quite a bit!). 

Horseback riding at sunrise in Monument Valley

In my experience, the best way to experience Monument Valley at sunrise is to book a horseback riding sunrise tour. When we arrived to Monument Valley, I had this dream of going horseback riding between the buttes at sunrise but had no idea whether that was possible and decided to check once on site. 

Our experience Horseback riding in Monument Valley

We arrived at Monument Valley at the end of the day and discover how majestic the site looks! There was no doubt, we HAD TO go horseback riding in the morning. I came across a couple of small wooden cabins handled by Navajo Guides. After chatting with them, we booked a horseback riding tour at sunrise for the next day at 5am.

I will argue forever that the best place to photograph sunrise in Monument Valley is in the midst of the valley where most visitors do not go. What a beautiful experience we had and I’m about to tell!

On the morning of, we left our hotel at around 3:30am to drive about 30 minutes to Monument Valley. We had a rendez-vous with a Navajo Guide on the parking lot. From there, he took us in his truck all the way down to the ranch where the horses are. The drive down was quite an experience in itself. His car had definitely seen a lot and the suspensions weren’t the best but the experience was totally authentic. As the very early morning light started to appear, we were totally taken to a different world. After about 15 minutes down the dirt road, we arrived at the ranch. 

At the ranch, we met Adel, who was going to be our guide. It seems that another unit of people was supposed to join us but were late so we ended up doing a completely private tour with Adel, something I’ll remember for a long time. But before I get into this, I need to talk about the washroom, because, yes, there are toilets on site of the ranch. Note that the toilets were dry and had no door and it was grand! I definitely recommend going pee before hoping on your horse!

Then, we each were given a horse (not a pony, just to be clear), and we headed into Monument Valley with Adel. Let me tell you, this is nothing like driving through the valley. By horseback riding, you get access to areas where no-one goes, and where you get incredibly unique views of the whole site. 

We also learned so much from Adel. His knowledge of the trees, the site and everything that goes with it was amazing. It felt like we could connect to the Navajo Tribe and their history. It was truly inspiring and quite cool to be honest! Obviously, Adel could definitely ride horses well and was willing to let us sort of free ride as well. We weren’t put in a line or babied along the way. He let us have an authentic experience and encouraged us. 

After going across the John Wayne trail, small rivers and more, we entered an area where Adel encouraged me to gallop. I cannot tell you how free it felt to gallop by myself with literally no-one else around us while being surrounded by some of the most majestic rock formations in the world. This is an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world! 

Practical information about horseback riding in Monument Valley

• The cost was $80 per person, and let me tell you, it was absolutely worth it!
• We booked the night before when we arrived at Monument Valley for sunset. You can book the day before at the cabins on the parking lot. 
• Wear pants and closed shoes with socks to be comfortable. In the early morning, you may need a light sweater even during summer.
• The tour lasted for 1h30min though it felt much longer!
• When we arrived at the meeting point, we initially were told that we needed to wait pay for the shuttle which would arrive 30 minutes later. Right away, I explained that this wasn’t how the tour was explained to us and that we were told the person would drive us down (as we were told). This was quickly resolved and that’s how we ended up in the truck!

Taking a Monument Valley sunrise tour

Due to the limited access to the backcountry, hikes and number of cars allowed in Monument Valley, a number of visitors opt to go on a Monument Valley group tour at sunrise with a Navajo guide. This is a great option if you:

• would like to learn from a Navajo guide’s experience and knowledge
• would like to explore the backcountry
• would love a mix of safari ride and walking
• would like to be driven to some of the best photo spots
• would like to see some petroglyphs
• don’t want to have to plan anything

Whether you are visiting in the midst of summer or winter, you will be able to hop on one of the tours proposed in Monument Valley. Tours usually operate in a similar manner. First, you will have opportunities to watch the sunrise over the buttes with purple and orange colours coming through. Once the sun has risen, you’ll embark on a safari style ride  to discover some of the most famous parts of Monument Valley but also some of the backcountry, only accessible with a Navajo guide. Tours usually lasts at least 2,5 hours. 

One of the most popular Monument Valley photo tour is “Phillips photography tours Monument Valley”. 

If you want to do a safari style tour of Monument Valley at sunrise, we recommend the following ones:

• This 3 hour sunrise tour of Monument Valley with the chance to see some petroglyphs and and the 360° view at John Ford Point.
• This 3 hour sunrise tour of Monument Valley with access to the restricted backcountry, the visit of a traditional Navajo home and a traditional ceremonial musical performance.

Alternatively, you can take a Monument Valley sunset tour if you’re not a morning person!

Driving in Monument Valley at sunrise 

One of the best budget-friendly ways to see the sunrise at Monument Valley is by driving the 17 mile loop drive into the park. The drive takes between two to three hours (though you can definitely spend more there is you’re anything like us and spend time taking photos and videos and appreciating every view!). It takes you through 11 marked points as follows:

1. The Mittens and Merrick Butte
2. Elephant Butte
3. The Three Sisters
4. John Ford’s Point
5. Camel Butte
6. The Hub
7. Totem Pole and Yei Bei Chei
8. Sand Springs
9. Artist Point
10. North Window 
11. The Thumb

The drive starts near Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Visitor Centre and takes you along West Mitten Butte and Merrick Butte first. Then you’ll drive between Elephant Butte and Camel Butte on your left and Mitchell Mesa on your right. You’ll follow the road to The Hub and drive around Rain God Mesa to Totem Pole and Yei Bei Chei. Once at Point 7 and 8, you’ll turn around and will go around Rain God Mesa before heading back to the Visitor Center. 

Road conditions in Monument Valley

The road into Monument Valley is essentially a dirt road that is more or less well maintained. Parts of it are flat and compact while parts of it have pretty deep potholes. Overall the road is large enough for vehicles. Because of the holes, rocks and sand, it is recommended to drive slow on the loop drive, which is great as it will give you time to admire the landscape at sunrise. You can also, of course, stop whenever you’d like.

Note that after the rain, due to the components of the road, the dirt road can be muddy, flooded and create difficulties for regular car of B and C classes. If the dirt road is muddy, we would recommend staying away from it unless you have a 4×4.

Can you do the Monument Valley drive with a regular low car?

The answer is yes, in dry weather conditions. However, after the rain, the road becomes muddy and cars other than 4X4 cars could easily sink or get stuck on the road.

Best Monument Valley sunrise spot on the loop drive

There are so many good spots on the drive of Monument Valley at sunrise; it is hard to go wrong here. That said, one of the best spots is Artist’s Point. From Artist’s Point, you get a perfectly framed view on East Mitten Butte and Merrick Butte with the sun shining onto the buttes as opposed to behind the buttes. This spot reveals the buttes under the light with colours popping and a view, few will ever see! 

Insider Tip: The park limits the number of vehicles that can enter the park. This should not be an issue at sunrise but if you plan on coming later during the day, it might be more appropriate to book a tour with a Navajo guide such as this one. 

Easy Monument Valley sunrise (no driving, no hiking)

We had to include an easy way to see Monument Valley sunrise for people who don’t or cannot drive, walk, hike or are not mobile. The best spot to see the sunrise in Monument Valley if this is your case is the Visitor Centre or The View Hotel. Both are located at the same spot, right by the Monument Valley parking lot. 

The only difference between the two is that you will need to pay park admission ($8 per person) to access The View Hotel area while access to the Visitor Centre and front is free. 

From this area, you have a clear and elevated view on Monument Valley sunrise behind the three main buttes called West Mitten Butte, East Mitten Butte and Merrick Butte. 

Hiking Monument Valley at sunrise

Hiking to see the Monument Valley sunrise is great for people who:

• can’t/don’t want to drive
• have a minimal budget 
• want to experience Monument Valley away from cars and with crazy views

Though there are many trails in Monument Valley, most are restricted to visitors accompanied by a Navajo guide. The only trail that is open to visitors without a guide is the Wildcat trail.

The Wildcat trail is a 4 mile loop hike and takes about 2 hours to complete without counting the stops and observing the sunrise. The trailhead is located at the Visitor Centre. The trail used to not be marked so well but it recently received new signs so it is really well signposted now. The trail itself is considered moderate with some sand in certain sections. The end of the trail goes a bit uphill and is the steepest part of the trail. 

The Wildcat trail first goes down and then takes you around the West Mitten Butte. The views on the walk are incredible and different from what you see on the loop drive. At sunrise, you’ll be walking towards the sun so we would recommend going early to enjoy it as much as possible and before the heat starts to hit. Though the trail is the only accessible one without a Navajo guide, it is likely that there will be very few people at sunrise, considering how early it is in the day. On top of seeing the sun rising behind the buttes, you’ll have the place all to yourself!

You do not need a backcountry permit to hike Wildcat trail. 

Insider Tip: If the park is advertising floods, it is best to avoid the trail as parts of it will be flooded. It is also possible to encounter rez (stray) dogs on the track. They usually stay away though. Finally, in case you decide to walk this trail during mid-day, note that it gets really hot and there is very few shade spots on the trail. 

What to bring to watch the sunrise in Monument Valley

Watching the sunrise in Monument Valley is all fun and all but there are some things you should be prepared for. 

Food and drinks

There are not that many stores in the area so if you don’t want to live off beef jerky for the day, we would recommend stopping for food and water before heading to Monument Valley

Clothes in the winter

In the winter, Monument Valley can be covered in snow, indicating that temperatures are low. We recommend dressing appropriately with warm sweaters and coats. For shoes, hiking boots are a good idea. 

Clothes in the summer

Though temperatures are warm in the summer, they can vary greatly especially after a thunderstorm. We would recommend bringing a light sweater with you and a rain jacket. We also recommend wearing pants if you’re going horseback riding and socks and closed shoes in any case. 

How to get to Monument Valley

The closest airports to Monument Valley are Durango Airport in Colorado, Flagstaff Airport in Arizona, Phoenix Airport or Salt Lake City Airport. If you are on a road trip across the USA, Durango Airport is a close one. 

Whether you are coming from Colorado, Arizona or Utah, you will need to hop on Highway 163 to head to Monument Valley. The highway is pretty much a straight road, really easy to drive and not very busy. The drive is quite enjoyable as you are surrounded by landscapes similar to Monument Valley.

Once you arrive on site, you’ll find a large parking lot at the visitor centre. You can leave your car here. As always, be safe and do not leave anything valuable in your car. 

From the parking lot, you can take photos of Monument Valley or follow the path to enter the actual site, either on foot or with a car. 

Monument Valley sunrise Q&As: Monument Valley sunrise or sunset?

Is Monument Valley better at sunrise or sunset?

Having been at Monument Valley for both sunrise and sunset, I’ll say it’s really difficult to pick which one is the best! Monument Valley at sunset can be quite spectacular, especially after thunder. Sunset at Monument Valley definitely makes for a great Monument Valley sunset photography as well. When we visited the sunset Monument Valley offers, it was quite grandiose with first a storm and then blue skies. With both pros and cons to each, my heart would say that sunrise is better as Monument Valley feels really authentic and quiet that early in the morning, almost like you’re on a different planet!

Where is the sunrise in Monument Valley?

The sunrise in Monument Valley happens behind the three main buttes which deliver an incredible spectacle! during sunrise, the sun rises behind West Mitten Butte, East Mitten Butte and Merrick Butte.

What is the best time of day to visit Monument Valley?

Sunrise is the best time to visit Monument Valley. During sunrise, Monument Valley is quiet with a low number of visitors. It is perfect to visit at your own pace, take photos and avoid crowds!

Is it free to drive through Monument Valley?

No, there is a $8 fee per person to enter the 17 mile loop drive. You cannot use the National Parks Pass to enter Monument Valley. 

What time is sunrise in Monument Valley?

In June, sunrise in Monument Valley is around 6am. In December, sunrise in Monument Valley is around 7:15am. Between these two months, it varies between 6am and 8am.

Where to watch sunrise in Monument Valley?

The best spot to watch the sunrise in Monument Valley is on your horse in the middle of Monument Valley. Other great spots include The View Hotel, the Visitor Centre and the loop drive. 

Is Monument Valley safe?

Yes, Monument Valley is very safe. That said, you should take the usual precautions such as not letting any valuable item in your car and locking your car.

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Any questions on how to see the best sunrise in Monument Valley? Drop them in the comments or on insta @twolostexplorers and I will get back to you asap.

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