The Valley Of The Gods

I enjoyed driving the Valley of the  Gods in southern Utah far more than the much more controlled and organized drive around Monument Valley. 

I grant you the natural sculptures in Monument Valley are more varied and spectacular but this place has its own charm.  

Not least because once again it’s BLM land and the Bureau of Land Management is a hands off Federal agency when it comes to coddling visitors. There are signs warning that messing with the monuments will lead to prosecution, despite the warning law enforcement does exist here I believe the reason this place is so pristine  is because each of us who visits appreciates how unusual and rare this place is.  

There are two entrances to the valley and each entrance has a pit toilet. Facilities? You want facilities? This is BLM so manage yourself. Get in the dirt at the bottom of the Dugway or turn off the paved road coming from Cortez and you have two hours of gentle dirt driving with lots of dirt pullouts, no signs other than those banning fires or fireworks. This place is all yours. 

Flat gray stone cleaned by floods in the wash: 

Imagine spending a night here, not in summer perhaps and being alone by the side of the road. It’s on my list, here and Muley Point wild camping.  

Don’t be an ass and drive where you’re not wanted, let the stones gently remind you to stay on the track. I hope they never need chains and padlocks here. 

I really enjoyed this drive through the rocks, stopping as we wanted unbothered by anyone. 17 miles of extraordinary views.  

President Obama included this place in the Bears Ears national monument and the next year President Trump was lobbied by the uranium industry to reopen the area so he did. So far so good here though other areas are being opened to mining and grazing. 

We stopped here for lunch, a casual turnout with a pleasant cool breeze blowing up the valley and tucked into Layne’s tuna salad wraps. 

After lunch Rusty and I went for a walk as you do.  It was hot, there was no shade and the silence was a blanket over the trail. 

Most of the road was easy driving but there were some deep arroyos we climbed into and out of, and some of the washes flooded the dirt away. This road is said to be near impassable when soaked as the mud is slick and they apparently close the gates sometimes. 

This butte is supposed to be a sitting chicken: 

This is pure art: 

And this is where the dirt road meets US 163. Turn left to Cortez Colorado; turn right to Bluff Utah. 

Up and out…

…and back to reality. Road works and slow downs on the highway. Good job as they are improving the road way.