But i love utah s weird geology as much as i love arizonas, so roadside geology of utah was the next read in the stack. The road bumps, grinds, rises, and falls for 17 miles, winding past most of the dozen or so major formations that climb above the valley floor. Formerly part of bears ears national monument, valley of the gods is located north of monument valley across the san juan river and has rock formations similar to those in monument valley with tall, reddish brown mesas, buttes, towers and mushroom rocksremnants of an. Valley of the gods is a scenic drive in southeastern utah, near bluff and mexican hat. Monument valley arizona, utah and new mexico, james, h. Besides detailed road logs, the guidebooks contain many well written, edited, and. I read roadside geology of arizona first, because i live in arizona.
A visitor center provides exhibits on the geology, ecology, prehistory and history of the park and nearby region. Aug 27, 2017 valley of the gods is found in san juan county southeastern utah. Jul 18, 2018 so, we pushed off from mexican hat headed to bluff, utah, along us 163with a quick side trip to visit valley of the gods. We spent close to 2 hours in this area enjoying the 16 mile stretch of unimproved roads that take you through some amazing wind worn rock. Pictures of utah valley of the gods, southwest scenic.
After spending the night in bears ears national monument, i headed south toward the town of mexican hat along the way, i was treated once again to commanding and expansive views of the regions colorful geology. Save on popular hotels near valley of the gods, utah. Every fall since 1950, the new mexico geological society nmgs has held an annual fall field conference that explores some region of new mexico or surrounding states. Nov 08, 2017 exploring southeastern utah is one wow moment after another.
I recommend taking the unpaved road from the west to the east in the mornings since then you have the sun shining on all the beautiful red sandstone monuments as you go. This rocky valley lies at the base of cedar mesa, and the rocks were deposited by the invasion of a shallow sea about 250 million years ago. Stock photos, pictures, and fine art print images of the utah southwest desert region valley of the gods, goosenecks state park, mexican hat, muley point, and including the san juan river, red rocks cliffs, sandstone, geology, canyons, scenic landscapes, nature, travel and tourism destinations, vacation lifestyles, sunsets, deserts, and other related images. Many factors have determined the changes the state has undergone through time. The statuesque formations are sculpted from cedar mesa sandstone dating to the permian period, around 250 million years ago. The trail is primarily used for scenic driving and off road driving and is best used from april until november. Sep, 2004 while you can catch a glimpse of the valley from the highway, the best way to explore is on the narrow, gradedgravel track of the valley of the gods road county road 242. As part of the rei coop family, were dedicated to making websites and mobile apps that help outdoor enthusiasts connect, share information and get out into the places they love to play.
Valley of the gods mexican hat all you need to know. This wonderful book is not only the leading and best introduction to the geology of utah, but it is also an excellent introduction to the long, strange history of the earth. The inspiration for is the beauty and unsurpassed geologic exposures of utah and the colorado plateau. Aug 23, 2019 entrance to the valley of the gods is free. The iron oxide in the weathered siltstone gives the valley its red color. The valley of the gods road is marked, and mexican hat is totally obvious on the south side of the highway. I am now addicted to halka chronics roadside geology books. Hoodoos, spires, buttes, buttresses, forming and collapsing arches, and towers are all visible along. Furthermore, being blm land, there arent the restrictions on hiking and camping associated with monument valley. Top 10 hotels closest to valley of the gods in utah from. Always well attended, these conferences provide a guidebook to participants. In november, emily reinsel and i completed a quest to summit all 22 freestanding formations we identified in the valley of the gods vog of southeast utah. Valley of the gods download this royalty free stock photo in seconds.
A 17mile loop courses through the valley of the gods, taking visitors past rock formations with names like the seven sailors butte, castle butte, sitting hen butte, and lady in. It is a hidden gem with scenery similar to that of nearby monument valley. A valley is a low area between hills or mountains typically with a river running through it. While you can catch a glimpse of the valley from the highway, the best way to explore is on the narrow, gradedgravel track of the valley of the gods road county road 242. Based om bluff, youll find renown guide services that can take you on an unforgettable journey into bears ears. Today, utah is a land of great diversity and scenery. The massive red rock formations are a geology fans dream.
Roadtripping to valley of the gods, utah desertusa. In fact, the rocks forming this stark landscape are much older than the navajo. Emphasis will be placed on correlation with the utah core curriculum, the national science education standards, and the benchmarks of project 2061. One of six volumes generated by each gsa section for the decade of north american geology dnag project, this centennial field guide contains descriptions of 100 sites or site clusters representing outstanding geologic locations in northern arizona, colorado, idaho, montana, north dakota, new mexico, south dakota, utah, wyoming, and alberta. See pictures of zion, bryce canyon, canyonlands and arches national parks, just to name a few. The area is a part of the colorado plateau, a region that covers,000 square miles within northwestern new mexico, southeastern utah, and northern arizona. In april i toured the valley of the gods in southeast utah, east of utah highway 261 below the moki dugway. Abajo haven guest cabins, nestled at the base of abajo mountain in san juan county, utah, provides lodging and a variety of outdoor activities. Discover the stunning and unique landforms of this humble valley in southeast utah. Stew art williams abstract this report, covering about 450 square miles in southern cache vally, utah, is one of a series dealing with the geology of pleistocene lake bonneville. To help geology students learn the sequence of rock formations in the three geologic provinces of utah.
Unlike monument valley, you do not need a guide to visit and there is no cost. The utah geological survey ugs is a division of the utah department of natural resources. Often called a minimonument valley it has similar formations and geology, without the hordes of tourists. The valley of the gods is a scenic sandstone valley near mexican hat in san juan county, southeastern utah, united states. Valley of the gods is a scenic backcountry area is southeastern utah, near mexican hat. Feb 04, 2018 valley of the gods is the monument valley of utah. As of now, valley of the gods is a part of the bears ears national monument. Driving the valley of the gods loop from the east entrance on us highway 163. Named for the navajo spirtitual god and resembles a dancer emerging from.
These books have set the national standard for geologic guidebooks and are an essential. Through geologic time, utah has been covered by oceans and inland seas as well as completely dry land. To supplement courses in geology at the high school and college levels. Learn about the geology of southern utah with maps, photos and expert descriptions. A thorough discussion of the geology of utah, from precambrian to quaternary. This land is owned by the blm, the bureau of land management.
In a sense it could be said that utah has had many different faces. A brilliant alternative to its touristy and pricey next door neighbor, monument valley, the valley of the gods will provide just as good if not better views, and allows for free camping at your choice of the dozens of spots along the 17 mile dirt road loop. So, we pushed off from mexican hat headed to bluff, utah, along us 163with a quick side trip to visit valley of the gods. Most of the area that is visited by tourists is called the monument valley navajo tribal park. Valley of the gods, in the bears ears national monument, utah. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading valley of the gods. If youve hung around my itchy travel feet for very long, you know that alan and i enjoy nothing better than to take the road less traveled. Located on the utaharizona border, monument valley is part of the colorado plateau. Valley of the gods mexican hat mexican hat, ut tripadvisor.
Its underlain by the cutler formation actually its called lower cutler beds here because geologists cant agree on a names. Landforms of southern utah a photographic journey of the natural wonders of southern utah. It still moves me to the point of distraction, and i madly want to be there. Valley of the gods mexican hat 2020 all you need to know. After traveling through monument valley, we turned north into mexican hat, utah, and headed up a gravel road into valley of the gods.
Accueil usa utah bears ears nm valley of the gods album photo photos valley of the gods balanced rock valley of the gods balanced rock valley of the gods valley of the gods valley of the gods setting hen butte a droite valley of the gods valley of the gods valley of the gods valley of the gods valley of the gods valley of the gods. A silicon valley story kindle edition by wolfe, alexandra. Stock photography, photos, pictures, and images of utah s valley of the gods, goosenecks, and mexican hat southwest desert region, including travel destinations and scenic natural landscapes by gary crabbe enlightened images. Warriors frozen in time is how navajo legends are said to describe the eerie, red rock spires in valley of the gods in utah. Most valleys belong to one of these two main types or a mixture of them, at least with respect to the cross section of the. Monument valley is located on navajo nation land and visitors exploring. Monument valley, arizona and utah rocky mountain section of. Worldrenowned for its 40,000 acres of bright red aztec sandstone outcrops nestled in gray and tan limestone, valley of fire state park contains ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years.
Its a land of great beauty that epitomizes the american west and science fiction movie landscapes. The closest city is mexican hat, which is about miles away. Valley of the gods is a scenic sandstone valley that features stunning geologic formations. Often described as a miniature version of monument valley, valley of the gods is arguably, equally spectacular. This video contains sped up dashcam footage of traveling the 17 mile valley of the gods loop drive west to east. Monument valley is an exceptional place to study the geologic history of the colorado plateau. You can even take a little home in the form of handmade jewelry or a dyed wool rug.
The beautiful cedar mesa sandstone monoliths, moki. The definitive guide to the desert areas of utah west of i15 and north of st. Valley of the gods bluff, utah bluff utah bluff lodging. See pictures of zion, bryce canyon, canyonlands and arches national parks, just to. The area is located in southern utah near the more famous monument valley. Before starting this trip, i had reread for about the 5 th time the monkey wrench gang by one of the wests best known writers and environmentalists, edward abbey.
Bluff is the nearest town to the shash jaa unit and offers quality lodging, dining, shopping. Valley of the gods is publiclymanaged bureau of land management territory in a setting surrounded by four national monuments, two national and utah state parks, and the glen canyon national recreation area with fingers from lake powell. If you are visiting monument valley and have a half day time a visit to the valley of the gods is a must. Explore their history, their way of life, their cuisine and their art. Find cheap deals and discount rates among them that best fit your budget. It is not officially a national park since it sits within the navajo nation reservation. Valley of the gods is situated 2 miles southwest of valley of the gods. Camp in the valley of the gods, valley of the gods, utah.
So, we pushed off from mexican hat headed to bluff, utah, along us. Let me take you on a valley of the gods tour, one of my favorite offthebeatenpath utah destinations. Valley of the gods the valley of the gods is administered by the bureau of land management, monticello field office, monticello, utah. It is a hidden gem with scenery similar to that of nearby monument. Geology of the cedar mesaboundary butte area san juan county. During the process, we established nine new routes, including the first ascents of two buttes, and made first free ascents to the best of our knowledge of three other formations.
Browse expedias selection of 37 hotels and places to stay closest to valley of the gods. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. Until the 1930s, monument valley was an obscure, seldom visited location. The report summarizes in tab ular form the paleozoic formations that are exposed in the. Geology of the monument valleynavajo mountain region, san juan county utah. The valley floor is cutler red siltsone, or riverdeposited sand. Teaches principles of geology and pedagogy of teaching geology for teachers in public or private schools. Monument valley captured a larger audiences attention via director john fords westerns. Rock climbing in valley of the godsmexican hat, moab area. Photo about valley of the gods in utah located within the bears ears national monument. This site tries to compliment the incredible geologic exposures of the colorado plateau by supplying articles, information, products and data which will aid those seeking to understand the geology that makes utah amazing.
The state of utah is unique in having representative strata of every era, so the book from front to back is a more or less seamless journey through time. Bluff is the proud gateway to the bears ears national monument. Dirt road below red rock butte, valley of the gods, utah. Continuing on from our previous article of the tiny town of bluff that is surrounded by some of the most interesting hikes, petroglyphs and most recognizable landmarks in the southwest, today we are taking you on a tour of valley of the gods, known as a geological masterpiece.
My plan was to camp in valley of the gods, a collection of sandstone buttes and rock formations that many have likened to a little monument valley. It is very serene and has some beautiful buttes and other rock formations. What valley of the gods may lack when it comes to the size and volume of its freestanding monoliths, spires, and fins, it makes up for with solitude. I went to valley of the gods as a side trip when visiting monument valley. Valley of the gods is not a national park, but is is maintained by the bureau of land management blm, monticello field office, monticello, utah. Scenic drive fr 242 provides a 17 mile scenic drive through the. Feel free to use or modify this presentation however you choose. Abajo haven is located in the center a 100mile radius that includes monument valley, arches national park, canyonlands national park, and mesa verde. Valley of the gods offers isolated buttes, towering pinnacles and wide open spaces that seem to go on forever.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The terms ushaped and vshaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys. Valley of the gods bed and breakfast, mexican hat, utah. Valley of the gods mexican hat 2020 all you need to. Valley of the gods the valley of the gods area may be toured via a 17 mile dirt road that winds amongst the formations.
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