If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. West Mitten Butte, East Mitten Butte, and Merrick Butte The West and East Mitten Buttes (also known as the Mittens) are two buttes in the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park in northeast Navajo County, Arizona. This route takes you past the western fringes of Monument Valley as well as The Valley of the Gods. Monument Valley is a symbol of the American Wild West. This Monument Valley hike is particularly beautiful at sunrise and sunset. The valley was abandoned by the Ancestral Puebloans in the 1300’s, as were other areas in the Four Corners region.The date of the first Navajo settlement in Monument Valley is unknown. The buttes, spires, and towers are geological monuments resulting from centuries of erosion and uplift. We stayed at The View Hotel and had a room with a “premium starview.” This would have been great had it not been so cloudy the day we were there. Archeologists have identified more than 100 ancient Ancestral Puebloan (also known as Anasazi) sites and ruins dating prior to 1300 A.D. If you get motion sickness easily you’re probably not going to enjoy it very much. Goulding’s Campground comes with a fire pit and picnic table that are nestled under the beautiful red mountains of Monument Valley. Monument Valley in northern Arizona is one of the most enduring and familiar landscapes in the American West. Entrance to the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park costs $20 and is payable with cash only. I cried that Kris and the twins didn’t want Sonic too. There are two main types of erosion: chemical and physical. Monument Valley is one of the most recognized vistas for the iconic Old West. This land is part of the Navajo Nation Reservation. It’s actually pronounced bee-ute. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. Enjoy this beautiful land. We snacked on Navajo fry bread covered in cinnamon and sugar and enjoyed shopping for jewelry with the girls. Part of the Colorado Plateau, Monument Valley spans 91,696 acres. When a mesa is no longer more wide than it is tall, it's considered a butte. A recorded geological event at the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park reminds us that these monuments are finite and cannot escape the forces of gravity and erosion. I know, I know. to raise higher than the surrounding area. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. Turns out, here we enjoyed one of our favorite meals of the trip! Welcome to Five Happy Campers. Many of Earth’s key processes function in cycles and rock cycle is no exception. Monument Valley is an area that contains a group of tall cliff like individual formations, known as ‘buttes’ and ‘towers’, made of sandstone, found in the Colorado Plateau, in the south western area of the United States of America, on the border of Arizona and Utah. tall, thin structure, often on top of a building. In physical erosion, the rock breaks down but its chemical composition remains the same, such as during a landslide or bioerosion, when plants take root and crack rocks. If I were doing this trip again I wouldn’t stay overnight in Monument Valley. If it is heated further, the rock will melt completely and reform as an igneous rock. Three main layers of Organ Rock shale, de Chelly sandstone, and Moenkopi shale are visible in many of the buttes. A plateau is a flat, elevated landform that rises sharply above surrounding area on at least one side, An escarpment is an area of the Earth where elevation changes suddenly. Caused mostly by the burning of fossil fuels, acid rain is a form of precipitation with high levels of sulfuric acid, which can cause erosion in the materials in which it comes in contact. On May 18, 2006 a huge slab on the East Mitten butte came loose and made a thunderous roar as it tumbled down the talus slope. A drive through Monument Valley is a fun way to explore another iconic stop in the Southwest U.S. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. All of this harmoniously combines to make Monument Valley a truly wondrous experience. Each of these formations includes a thick tower of rock with a thin spire alongside it, … Allow yourself approximately two hours to complete the drive. Mexican Hat is easily seen from the road. We took the Monument Valley Drive which is a 17-mile dirt road that winds past many notable features. Merrick Butte, on the other hand, was named after one of the two explorers who discovered Monument Valley. You’d probably want to leave your sedan at home and opt for something higher off the ground. act in which earth is worn away, often by water, wind, or ice. … Empower your students to learn about the rock cycle with this collection of resources. Wildcat Trail is the best hike in Monument Valley to do without a guide. Explore how they show up in various landscapes. It’s not hard to miss. Subscribe to be notified by email when a new blog entry has been posted. 2. Hiking Among the Hoodoos in Bryce Canyon National Park, Chilly Hikes & Kolob Canyons, Day 3 in Zion National Park. I put my big girl pants on and gave it a try. I don't want to miss a single opportunity to be outdoors and exploring with my family. Keep in mind you are not allowed to park or hike along the road. Washington, DC 20036, National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. accumulation of broken rocks, boulders, and other material at the base of cliffs or other tall rock formations. Total miles hiked since our Southwest vacation began: I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with my husband and three daughters. Chemical erosion occurs when a rock’s chemical composition changes, such as when iron rusts or when limestone dissolves due to carbonation. I think it’s totally manageable as a little side trip rather than allotting an entire day. Code of Ethics. The elevation of the valley floor ranges from 1,500 to 1,800 meters (5,000 to 6,000 feet) above sea level. Monument Valley, Utah (and Arizona) is a place to realize just how small we are in this world. The geological history in the valley has left many stories of the Navajo ancestry and traditions that are still practiced today. Looking back through pictures and retelling stories from our crazy adventures makes me the happiest. 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