The Amazing Monument Valley Tribal Park
As landscape photographers, we are at the mercy of mother nature regarding the weather and lighting, so we need to be able to travel in a way that allows us some flexibility in our schedule. In order to have this flexibility, we travel via an RV, so finding a place to stay is the first order of any trip. On our most recent Monument Valley Tribal Park trip, we stayed at Utah’s Goosenecks State Park.
Goosenecks State Park
Perched on the edge of a deep canyon, this small park allows you to camp along the edge of the canyon with impressive views of a series of river curves known as a gooseneck. Gooseneck State Park allows you to overview the most striking examples of an entrenched river meander in North America.
The San Juan River slowly makes its way through the meander, flowing a distance of over six miles while advancing only one and a half miles west on its way to Lake Powell.
Forrest Gump Point
Heading southwest from Goosenecks State Park on Hwy 163, you get your first glimpse of Monument Valley Tribal Park. The view at mile marker 13 is the first of many iconic scenes from this area. This view has been on the front of many Utah maps over the years but was an unnamed view along the road.
That changed in 1994 when it was featured in the movie Forrest Gump; this is the point where Forrest decides to end his cross-country run. Thanks to the film, the location is now known as Forrest Gump Point and has become a must-see for many folks.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
As we explored the park, Teresa spotted a Yucca plant in bloom. She captured this great up-close photograph of this Yucca flower using her excellent macro skills.
West Mitten and Sand — Monument Valley
The East and West Mittens are the two most iconic features within Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. The Mittens are typically photographed as two ends of a triangle, with Merrick Butte as the triangle point. I took a new approach to capture the West Mitten. As we exited the valley floor at the end of the day, I spotted the sun highlighting the waves in a small dune and lighting up the face of the West Mitten.
East and West Mittens with Merrick Butte — Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
As mentioned above, the alignment of the East and West Mittens forms two ends of a triangle, with Merrick Butte as the triangle point, which is the most iconic view of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.
This beautiful panoramic photograph shows the famous East and West Mittens in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. They form the two ends of a perfect triangle, with Merrick Butte as the striking point.
Taken at the end of the day, the image highlights the Mittens bathed in the warm glow of the late afternoon sun, while distant storm clouds add dramatic color and texture to the sky. This breathtaking scene embodies the timeless beauty and spiritual essence of one of the most recognizable landscapes in the American Southwest. A true statement piece for any space.
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About the Author:
Keith Peters, co-owner of T&K Images, is driven by a passion to explore and capture the world's beauty through light and lens. Our mission is to bring the extraordinary essence of Earth into your space through breathtaking art.
All images are the exclusive copyright property of T&K Images.