Valley of the Gods

Valley of the Gods https://www.blm.gov/visit/search-details/269135/1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_of_the_Gods The Valley of the Gods is a scenic sandstone valley near Mexican Hat in San Juan County, southeastern Utah. Formerly part of Bears Ears National Monument, Valley of the Gods is located north of Monument Valley across the San Juan River and has rock formations similar to those in Monument Valley with tall, reddish brown mesas, buttes, towers and mushroom rocks—remnants of an ancient landscape.

Moki Dugway The breathtaking Moki Dugway winds 1,200 feet from top to bottom on three miles of graded gravel at an 11% grade. Most vehicles can travel the route safely, but caution is advised for motor homes or vehicles pulling trailers. What You Can Do to Protect the Cedar Mesa Special Area: Stay on Designated Routes Driving off road can damage sites Don’t Touch Rock Writing or Add Your Own Steer Clear of Walls Structures can be easily damaged GPS Reveals Too Much Remove location data for online photos Valley of the Gods & Moki Dugway Valley of the Gods ACEC Don’t Bust the Crust Stay on existing trails Leave All Artifacts Where You Find Them Don’t take or add to “Display Rocks” Steep switchbacks and expansive views make the Moqui Dugway a dramatic addition to your Cedar Mesa trip From the Top of the Dugway: On the horizon to the east lies Sleeping Ute Mountain, near Cortez, Colorado. To the southeast is the Shiprock near Shiprock, New Mexico. To the south the Carrizo Mountains straddle the New Mexico/Arizona border. Monument Valley is southeast on the Utah/Arizona Border. History: The Moki Dugway was built in the 1950s by Texas Zinc Minerals as a route for ore trucks hauling uranium and vanadium from Cedar Mesa to the processing mill near Mexican Hat. You will not see ore trucks today, but you may encounter passenger vehicles slowly moving along the narrow route. Caution: Please remain on the roadway or in the overlook areas. If you stop to take photos, please pull your vehicle completely off the road to a safe location in one of the pull-out areas along the Dugway, to allow others to pass. If you leave your vehicle to find a good spot for a photo, do so with great care. Know Where Pets are Allowed Pets are never allowed in archeological sites Enjoy Archaeology without Ropes Using climbing gear to access sites is illegal Camp and Eat Away from Archaeology No Fires in Valley of the Gods Use existing fire rings when on the rims Go to the Bathroom Away from Sites Pack out all toilet paper It is your responsibility to know the rules and regulations, as they may be different inside and outside the Bears Ears National Monument. For maps, trip planning information, and rules, regulations, and recreation permits, contact the BLM at (435) 587-1510. To Report an Emergency Call 911 Cell phone service is unreliable in this area - you may need to walk or drive out to a high point. Map & Guide The parking area near the top of Moki Dugway provides stunning views of Valley of the Gods. From here you will see sandstone formations with fanciful names such as Pyramid Peak, Rooster Butte, and the Seven Sailors. County Road B242 winds 17 miles through Valley of the Gods, skirting many of the formations. The road surface is graded gravel and clay, which is typically suitable for passenger cars. However, the road can be difficult or even impassable when wet. Plan on spending about two hours traveling the loop. 0 0.5 1 1 2 3 3 Miles Kilometers 5 4 Castle Butte Ka Ra ne G nge ulc rS h tati o 261 42 B2 Grand Gulch Wilderness Study Area Road Canyon Wilderness Study Area Moki Dugway Pyramid Peak Franklin Butte Balanced Rock Rooster Butte Valley of the Gods Road Setting Hen Butte B24 1 History: The small ranch house visible at the north end of the valley is the Valley of the Gods B&B. Originally Lee’s Ranch, it is the only home within the 360,000 acre Cedar Mesa Special Recreation Management Area. OF Li IL me A TR E TH EN CI Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Valley Bell Butte TS Muley Point AN the SC EN Seven Sailors of ,U Bluff Gods IC The Goosenecks of the San Juan River as seen from the State Park Muley Point (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area): Access near the top of Moki Dugway via County Road B241. The 1,200 foot cliffs of Muley point overlook Monument Valley and John’s Canyon. This road can be rough, and is impassable when wet. A Ceda r Point m C K W AY 316 North Th e N a rr ows RIVER Goosenecks State Park The Goosenecks Valley of the Gods B&B 15.5 miles historic Lee’s Ranch 17 miles SR 261/end of route Legend: Rid Distances Formation Name & (from US-163) Direction to Look Seven Sailors 1/2 mile on the left Setting Hen Butte 1.5 miles straight ahead Battleship Rock 5 miles on the left Rooster Butte 5.7 miles rear view mirror Castle Butte on left 7 miles 163 B244 Valley of the Gods Loop Road ge Sugarloaf Superloaf The Tabernacle Second Narrows Goosenecks State Park: This Utah State Park at the end of State Route 316 offers and astonishing view of the great meandering canyon carved by the San Juan River. The desert landscape reveals its underlying structure, exposing 300 million years of geologic activity below a 1,000 foot overlook. T 15 Flag Butte B Near the Dugway Valley of the Gods Road Mendenhall Loop SA B2 161 N JUAN Mexican Hat Rock Soda Spring Raplee Photography: As is usual in this stark land, morning and evening are the best time