When people travel to Arizona, most often the Grand Canyon is their must-see. When I rode out there several years back, that’s what I did too. After about two minutes of gazing down into what was admittedly a very large hole, I made sure I got the requisite snap and hit the road. Next stop, Monument Valley. And if you’re in the area, I think you should go there too. The scenery is incredible, and it’s a staging area for some of the best street and off-road riding in the US.

Getting there

To get to Monument Valley, head to Route 163 on the Arizona/Utah border (it’s a quick jog over from Route 191 in northeastern Arizona). Turn north when you get to Kayenta, if you’re coming from the Arizona side; turn south at Mexican Hat, if you’re coming in from Utah.

The visual spectacle as you ride into Monument Valley is unforgettable. Although the road is straight, you won’t mind, for once. Photo; canadastock/Shutterstock.com

Personally, I recommend getting there from the southern side, although the riding through Arizona’s byways to get there isn’t really that spectacular. But when you go around the corner at Kayenta, the scenery unfolds like an impressive set from an epic Western film.

That’s because Monument Valley is the set of many impressive Westerns—and other films, too. I didn’t really watch John Ford’s movies, so when Monument Valley was recommended to me, I didn’t know what to expect. But I was immediately in awe of the towering pillars I saw in the desert, as film directors have been ever since John Ford made the area famous with Stageoach in 1939.

This movie was hot stuff when it came out. It won two Academy Awards and more significantly, it was the movie that really made John Wayne a star. Ford continued to shoot westerns in Monument Valley for decades, so you’ve definitely seen this scenery. When color films took over, the visual magnificence of this region stood out even more, with the red rocks against the blue skies. It’s no wonder they kept running back to shoot new films.

Sergio Leone, who knew a good thing when he saw it, used Monument Valley in Once Upon A Time in the West:

And it’s not just a familiar scene from these and many other oaters. Monument Valley was in Forrest Gump. Vertical Limit. 2001: A Space Odyssey. Thelma and Louise. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Like I said, if you’ve watched your share of films, you’ve seen Monument Valley.

For that reason, I believe it’s one of the most unique locations in North America. Instantly recognizable, very accessible—you can ride your bike directly through scenery from some of history’s most famous fictional adventures. But there are some rules you should keep in mind while you’re visiting—or at least one big rule. Much of this area is Navajo reservation land, and if you want to get off the road and explore,  there are excursions you can do through the tribe’s management, or solo hikes—more on that here. If you want to explore the dirt roads via motorcycle, the official line is that it’s forbidden, but ADVrider inmates have experienced some leeway with that in the past. YMMV, and I certainly wouldn’t travel to Monument Valley expecting permission to go off-pavement.

Most of the riding in this area isn’t very technical, but as you head north, you can choose Utah’s epic off-roading, or the challenges of the Rockies. Photo: haveseen/Shutterstock.com

But what about the riding?

The roads here aren’t particularly twisty; just the opposite! But if you head north to Mexican Hat (where the breathtaking scenery continues), the roads get a few more curves. Head in any direction here, and fun awaits, whether you want more unforgettable landscapes in Utah or you want to head into the twisties of the Rockies.

Scoot northeast to Durango, and you’ll find yourself at the bottom of Route 550, aka The Million Dollar Highway. If you’re anxious to get back into some technical riding after the scenic straights of Monument Valley, your wish will quickly be granted…