A Personal Amateur Photography Blog
The trip along Burr Trail continues in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.
A few miles after reaching the top of Burr Trail Switchbacks you transition from Capital Reef National Park, where the road is gravel, to the GSENM and the road becomes paved again.
The views remain outstanding.
The road trip continues with a ride along Utah Highway 95. Known as the Bicentennial Highway since it was completed in 1976, Highway 95 is one of the few routes north and south through southern Utah.
The scenery makes this route a must if you are in the area.
The small town of Mexican Hat is named after a nearby rock formation that resembles a sombrero.
Mexican Hat is about 25 miles north of Monument Valley. We had toured Monument Valley a few months ago so we passed by this time, however our visit is detailed here.
Instead we chose to go to the less visited, but just as impressive Valley of the Gods, which is about 30 miles north of Monument Valley.
As with Monument Valley you travel throughout the area on a bumpy dirt and gravel road, only with far less traffic. Other than a few campers, we only saw a couple of other vehicles during our visit.
We arrived just after dawn, which provided great lighting.
If you want to get away from the crowds and still experience an amazing natural setting head on up to Valley of the Gods after your Monument Valley visit.
The drive from Cameroon, Arizona to Mexican Hat, Utah goes through Diné (Navajo) Nation for about 100 miles, with 20 miles of it being in Monument Valley. The landscape along the way is amazing.
On an earlier trip this year we went through the Navajo Park in Monument Valley which can be found here.
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As you start the trip north of Camaroon you go through some of the Painted Desert.
Just beyond Tuba City is Elephants Feet Rocks.
Once you are north of Kayenta, Arizona you begin the trip through Monument Valley. The drive along the road is impressive enough.
Eventually you arrive at the town of Mexican Hat, Utah. This small town has 3 motels, 2 restaurants and a gas station, but amazing views. Note the balanced rock in the center of the photo – giving the town it’s name (more on this in the next posting)
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