I’ve never been to Monument Valley but am quite familiar with the towering sandstone buttes seen in various photos and movies. I was ready to see the area with my own eyes but after reading about the various restrictions and fees I wasn’t quite as pumped to go. If you read this blog long enough, you’ll come to realize we prefer to camp in the most remote, unrestricted areas we can find. Where we are miles from the next person, where our dogs can run free and we can enjoy nature at it’s best. Our truck camper fully functions off the grid so all we need is a semi-level place to park. Enter Valley of the Gods. Mark had been once before and it was exactly what we were looking for. Like a little brother to Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods had the breath-taking sandstone buttes without the rules, restrictions and crowds. There are no established campgrounds at Valley of the Gods, just dispersed camping sites with no amenities. Most sites are just pull-offs off the side of the road but we managed to find one off the road a few hundred yards. The sunset, sunrise and star-gazing was one of a kind.
We are planning on a couple of nights in the Valley of the Gods the first part of OCT. because there will be a new moon, as in no moon. I figured that would be best time for star gazing. Where can we find camp firewood? I know nights in OCT will be quiet chilly if not down right cold.
The star gazing should be quite incredible during a new moon. I’d try the nearest towns of Mexican Hat or Bluff for firewood. Be sure to have everything you need when you get there as there is nothing around for miles. Have a great trip!
We are heading that way this weekend – not sure I’ll receive a reply in time, however do you recall which road you pulled off in order to find your site only a few hundred feet in? We are curious to do a similar spot having two kiddos under the age of 2. Thanks!
We usually enter off Highway 163. I’m bad with distance, but the spot we’ve camped in is about one half to one mile down the road from the highway. I hope this helps! Have a great trip!
[…] Valley of the Gods in Southern Utah is always a stop we make on the way to Arizona. It’s exactly half way between our house and my hometown of Lake Havasu City. The views, weather and peace & quiet never disappoint. […]