We decided to wake up to views of Monument Valley, so spent the night at Goulding's Lodge in one of their "hillside suites." Here you are surrounded by jaw dropping cliffs of endless shapes. Just see the picture above. We had little time to linger at Goulding's, though I highly recommend this historic, 100 year old establishment. Previously owned by area pioneers, Harry and Leone Goulding, the complex has been owned by the Navajo Nation since 2024. Here several John Wayne Westerns were filmed (and shown in the Goulding's theater on alternate nights - Stagecoach, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Searchers.) There is also a cafe, restaurant, gift shop, museum and John Wayne's old cabin. It is also right next door to the Monuments Valley scenic drive and Visitor Center.
The visitor center is run by the Navajo Nation and features authentic pottery, jewelry, rugs and the obligatory refrigerator magnets (those are probably made in China). I had the pleasure of picking out a small beautifully etched pot and a picture frame made of Navajo sandstone.
Then it was off to the dirt road of the scenic drive. I learned from my pamphlet that all the cliffs are formed from erosion, and the different shapes result from different degrees of erosion. The large flat topped cliffs are mesas, the buttes (pronounced bee-utes) are mesas that are further degraded, and finally you have the spires, the most eroded.
My favorite spires were "The Three Sisters." Can you spot them in the pics?
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