Day 6 - Monument Valley

Monument Valley!

Capitol Reef to Monument Valley was an incredible drive! It took nearly 3 hours but I felt like I was driving through a different planet’s landscape. It was all great until the road turned to dirt and rock as it became a mountain road, tight corners around the giant cliffs, pinhole turns with a steep decline (better than incline though), and a speed limit of 20 mph or less… not sure because I was going about 12 mph!

A view of Lake Powell along the drive

Monument Valley is beautiful. Even though I took a ton, pictures cannot do justice to the picturesque landscape. I got the first open tent spot, higher up towards the parking and with a fuller view of the picturesque valley below.

Monument Valley...wow.

Not the worst place to set up camp!

 My hike through the sandy terrain was exactly what I've wanted… desert wandering with a view! It was like walking into a scenic backdrop with every step.

Perfect day for a sandy hike in the desert.

I had to empty out my shoes a few times.

I finally cooked my first hot camp side meal and watched a beautiful sunset from some rocks that made a perfect spot to sit (and earlier a perfect counter for cooking). The sunset was perfect, and because I was finally at a lower elevation, the temperatures at night weren't too bad. It was the best night of camping, and I awoke on day 7 to a perfect sunrise. Off to the Grand Canyon.

Eating dinner by my tent watching this sunset begin

Sunset over Monument Valley

The sunrise I woke up to on Day 7... beautiful.