Mexican Hat Utah to Page Arizona

Road Trippin’ from Mexican Hat Utah to Page Arizona

This week’s road trip takes us from Mexican Hat Utah to Page Arizona via northern Arizona through the Navajo Nation. Highlights of the trip include the Mexican Hat rock formation, Forest Gump Hill, Monument Valley, El Capitan, Navajo National Monument, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend. We will highlight a few other points of interest on the map that are either showcased in other articles or will be in future stories.

Details are available in the tabs below.

Mexican Hat Rock

Located 26 miles south of the town of Bluff is a rock formation that resembles a sombrero. Watch for the dirt road you can take to get a closer look and where a trail that is just under one mile out and back but considered a challenging route will take hikers right up to the base of the rock. The San Juan River is located a short distance east of the rock formation.

San Juan River

Forest Gump Hill

Monument Valley

Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii (Navajo), means Valley of the Rocks. The formations and landscapes of this tribal park, dubbed Monument Valley by movie director John Ford, are very recognizable as the backdrop for many movies and commercials. The 17-mile loop road takes visitors up closer to the formations including John Ford Point, Sisters, Mittens, Merrick Butte and others. There is a fee to enter the tribal park and tours are available from various tour operators located within the park and from Gouldings Lodge.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park | Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation

El Capitan

Agathla Peak aka El Capitan located in the Navajo Nation rises 1,500 feet above its arid surroundings 20 miles north of Monument Valley and seven miles north of the town of Kayenta Arizona. It is easily seen from miles around and is just a short distance from highway 163. Agathla derives from the Navajo name aghaałą́ meaning ‘much wool’ and is sacred to the Navajo. By geologic terms, Agathla is an eroded volcanic plug, which are scattered throughout Northeast Arizona and northwest New Mexico with Agathla and Shiprock in New Mexico the most prominent.

Navajo National Monument

This park is often overlooked by visitors traveling to Monument Valley and Four Corners. Access is easy! The park is just nine miles north of the US-160 / AZ-564 junction and 20 miles west of Kayenta AZ. The highlights are three cliff ruins the park protects, Betatakin, Keet Seel, and Inscription House that date back to 1300 AD. From the visitor center there is short hikes under 1.5 miles to an overlook of the Betatakin ruin with other trails found throughout the park. This in non-fee park that is worth the stop to explore. Navajo National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Antelope Canyon

Located in the Lechee Chapter of the Navajo Nation east of Page Arizona, Antelope Canyon is divided by highway 98 near where the Navajo Generating Station used to be located, with lower and upper sections. Both sections are accessible by guided service only. It is not possible to go on your own.

Upper Antelope Canyon, also known as Corkscrew Canyon, is the most popular canyon that requires taking a shuttle to the entrance through a deep sandy dry wash. Lower Antelope Canyon or The Crack, is da short walk away from the offices that operate the tours. It also requires descending and climbing ladders, where Upper Antelope Canyon does not.

Visit our Antelope Canyon page to learn more about the tours and other details. Antelope Canyon – ROADTRIPPINwithBobandMark

Antelope Canyon

Horseshoe Bend

The trail to the overlook is 1.5 miles out and back. Although the trail is not lengthy summer temperatures frequently exceed 100 and will feel much hotter with the sun reflecting off the surrounding sandstone. TAKE WATER A flat (ADA) trail leads visitors to an observation area with railing offering a safe viewing of the Colorado River 1,100 ft below. However, the railed area is just a small section of the overall viewing area, visitors are welcome to hike along the rim. Lather up with sunscreen, doesn’t take long to get burned in our desert climate. Keep an eye on your little ones!

Visit our Horseshoe Bend page to learn more. Horseshoe Bend Charges Fees for the First Time – ROADTRIPPINwithBobandMark