Get a Closer Look: The Wildcat Trail of Monument Valley
The Wildcat Trail is the only self-guided trail in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Trail Guide
Difficulty: Moderate due to sandy sections
Start: Wildcat Trail trailhead sign at the northwest corner of the visitor center parking area
Distance: 3.2 miles to end of the loop with return trip totaling nearly 4 miles
Hiking time: 2 to 3 hours
Trail type: Sand, dirt, and rock trail
Multi-use: Horseback riders
Dogs: Leashed dogs permitted
Seasonality: Spring and fall
Fees and permits: Park entry fee required
From the parking overlooking the scenic drive at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, you'll see a handful of towering buttes rise from the desert floor and reach for the expansive sky. Two buttes
But first, a message:
The Navajo Parks and Recreation Department, which manages Monument Valley,
Monument Valley is sublimely beautiful. Unfortunately, many tourists only experience a quick viewing of the area’s famous mittens and buttes from a designated viewing platform in the visitor’s center. It usually goes like this: point and shoot ... get in the car and head to the next far-away destination. Others take the scenic drive. But hold on! There’s some great hiking to be had here.
"The Navajo people have a custom that has endured. Whenever visitors come they are always treated as honored guests. "
– The Navajo Parks and Recreation Department
That said, there are travel restrictions in place, so backcountry and off-road travel
If you take this lasso loop trail around the West Mitten you can catch views of the nearby East Mitten Butte and Merrick Butte, along with the rest of the north end of Monument Valley. Once you set foot on the trail, you’ll be surprised to leave the hordes of tourists from all over the world behind — likely, you’ll see very few other people on Wildcat.
Wildcat is great for hikers of all ages, including families with children old enough to walk three-plus miles, appreciators of beautiful buttes and seekers of relative isolation in a Bucket List Utah destination.
Be a Part of Western Lore
Wildcat lets hikers feel like they stepped back in time into the Wild West. For some visitors, it’s time to get all John Wayne and wander around the Mittens and talk in a drawl. Or you can just hike and enjoy the scenery — whatever is your pleasure. This iconic place has been on the silver screen and on landscape posters around the world. Monument Valley is one of the most-visited attractions in the west with tourists coming in from around the world. Whether or not you have this starkly beautiful landscape all to yourself, you'll likely have extended moments of solitude during which you can stop and absorb this landscape's majesty — just plan to carry lots of water, snacks, sunscreen and good protection from the sun, especially if hiking in summer. Double the majesty with hikes during the "magic" hour around sunrise and sunset.
This hike is a 3.2-mile lasso loop (4 miles total including return) hike that takes about three hours to complete. You will hike around the West Mitten Butte on a flat, sandy trail. As you continue along the self-guided trip, you’ll meander through cactus and sage as you look upon world-famous buttes, including East Mitten Butte and Merrick Butte.
Hikers will travel around some of the most famous rock buttes in the park, and will at one point find themselves standing in a spot where three towering buttes surround them.
GPS Coordinates, Parking and Regulations
GPS Coordinates
(36.985333, -110.113350)
Park at the visitor center and walk to the trailhead across from the cabin/campsite check-in. The best and most comfortable time to visit is March through early-June and October through September; summer months, due to the excessive heat and lack of shade, can be too hot. Hike the Wildcat Loop Trail any time of day for spectacular views, but try to catch it at sunset if you can; the long shadows and brilliant red hues will not disappoint.
Entrance fee into the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is $20 per vehicle up to four people with an additional fee of $6 per person over that allowance. There is no permit or additional fee required to hike the Wildcat Loop Trail. Dogs are allowed in the
