Holy smokes, we were unprepared for how amazing this place was! I had tried without luck to find a…read morehotel a few hours from the Grand Canyon, to get closer to Denver. I found this through the national Parks site, had to rank several choices and wait to hear back, so I didn't remember which one we chose or anything about it. After driving three hours through barren desert, Goulding's Lodge was like an oasis! The setting is absolutely stunning. It was other worldly and familiar at the same time, because the old westerns were filmed here! The staff was friendly and peppy. The cabin was clean, relatively new, and complete with a kitchen. The restaurant was quaint and vintage. The best part was the bonfire that the staff built for us! Sitting around stargazing was so memorable with our kids. We were all sad that it was a quick stop, but said we would love to come back to stay longer! If you're used to four or five star places, maybe you won't be impressed. But in context for the area it was pretty great! Also has laundry, on site grocery and gas. We went home and watched John Wayne in Stagecoach, and vowed we would go back!

I'm giving this hotel a 4 because of the views, the museum on site and the grated pool hours…read more The hotel room needs a need some TLC. The pillows were lumpy. The bathroom didn't have a fan. The walls were thin and you can hear people walking upstairs. Our upstairs neighbors didn't stop walking until after midnight. Worst night at a hotel. The patio is nice with great views. I wish this facility had a complimentary coffee and hot water like other hotels. I would have given them a 5 even after my terrible night.

This place has like 5 different names. LOL. Red flag. The hotel here is funky and old, which is…read morefine with me, but don't stay here if you expect some kind of high-end place. It's Mexican Hat, after all! :) We rented a suite (#14) - no dishtowels or paper towels, dishes still in the dishwasher, vinegar and cleaning stuff out on the counter. Not a big deal, but you get the sense that someone forgot they were cleaning the unit. The food in the restaurant was good (we just had breakfast one morning), but the one staff person there seemed super unhappy to be there and service was slow. Maybe they were the only person working there. If you, like we do, enjoy having an adult beverage after a long drive and exploring: bring your own. Even though the website says they have a liquor license, they do not sell any alcohol. There's a 7-11 half a mile away that sells beer and "spiked" low-alc drinks.

Pretty cool hotel built into the side of a cliff directly along the San Juan River. We stayed here…read morefor one night on our way to Monument Valley. The rooms are clean and good sized, and the bathroom included a full tub. We have a fridge in our room, and we appreciate that there are laundry facilities for guests as well. Really liked all of the outdoor spaces. There are lots of tables and chairs set up overlooking the river, and several balconies as well. Mexican Hat is really small - there are just two restaurants and one is here at the hotel. We ate dinner here and the food was pretty good and reasonably priced. I would stay here again if we end up in the area at another time.

Lone Rock campground/Beach is located on the border of Arizona and Utah. It is located on Utah…read moreHighway 89, two miles south of Big Water, Utah, and 12 miles north of Page, Arizona. A massive, monolithic rock on the lake Powell is called the Lone Rock. This free-standing sandstone rock is the namesake of one of the most popular beaches in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This spot is very special because you can drive directly to the water's edge and camp on the shoreline. The campground is very big so there will always be a perfect spot for you. At Lone Rock Campground, you can swim in the crystal blue waters. You can also boat -- both motorized and human-powered -- or enjoy the only designated off-road area in Glen Canyon. The beach can be used for kayaking, jogging, swimming, fishing or sun bathing. Lone Rock provides more of a dog/family-friendly experience. Often. Campers over campfires is a regular occurrence. The area accommodates RVs, pickup campers, and tents alike. Unlike the developed campgrounds at marinas or in Page, Arizona, this one offers better access to nature and has a much more spectacular sunset and sunrise mountain/lake view. Yet, you will still be able to quickly and easily make it to popular destinations such as Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. At Lone Rock Beach Campground or anywhere throughout the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, you must pay $12 per night per car to camp on a first-come first-serve basis. There are restrooms and an outdoor shower for use on the beach. Camping is permitted just about everywhere in the park. Lone Rock Campground seems to be open year-round; perhaps , not during the winter. Weekends and especially holidays can be quite busy for camping. However, there is plenty of room to camp and there are no limitations to the number of campers allowed, If you are up to be off the grids, this is definitely your dream destination. Enjoy!

This place is hard to find. Here are the directions via website…read more Directions: Lone Rock Beach Campground is located on Utah Highway 89, 2 miles south of Big Water, UT and 12 miles north of Page, AZ. If you're coming from UT: a few short miles after Big Water look for signs to Lone Rock Beach--the turn off is on the left. If you're coming from Page: Drive through Page and pass the Glen Canyon Dam. In approximately 12 miles look for signs to Lone Rock Beach. The turn off is on your right. You'll be required to enter through the park gate and pay Glen Canyon entrance / usage fees. Once through the toll booth, drive until you see a small parking lot next to the restrooms / information pavilion. You can choose from among several dirt roads to the beach area. Be sure to stay on improved dirt/sand roads and away from soft sand, as vehicles can get stuck easily. Pay attention to that last part of the directions. I entered the beach after 8pm when the rangers had left and there was nobody to warn me about which way to go. I got my car stuck and needed to trek down to the beach and ask some nice people with big burly vehicles to help tow me out. Apparently they were accustomed to such requests as people get stuck quite often. When you enter take the path the farthest left you can. The sand is more compact there. There is no running water. Campgrounds are primitive but you have the most amazing view of lone rock and the beaches. Apparently Hugh Hefner and his bunnies like to beach themselves here and a certain infamous video by Ms Pam Anderson and Mr Lee was made here. It's a close drive to Lake Powell I camped two nights here and used this as my basecamp for exploring Lake Powell and the Antelop Canyons. The campgrounds here are much better than the ones in the Marina in my opinion if you want seclusion and nature. If you desire more civilities like running water, toilet, grocery store etc then I'd recommend the Marina.

I'm a working photographer and needed a good guide for monument valley. Ray Begay, from Mitten View…read moretours in Monument Valley was highly recommended by other photographers I know. The first full day we toured Monument Valley from before sunrise until after sunset, going to various points of interest. I was exhausted but got some incredible shots! The next day two friends and I left with Ray to go on an overnight trip up to Hunts Mesa to shoot sunset and sunrise pictures of Monument Valley from that point of view. Not only did Ray put us in some amazing locations, but the food that he made, both dinner and breakfast were wonderful. I really can't recommend Ray Begay more highly. He's lived in Monument Valley, his whole life, he's a photographer, and he really knows how to help you find exactly what you're looking for. If you're a photographer, or just looking for an exceptional experience in Monument Valley, call Mitten tours!

We just finished a great tour of the Monument Valley with Amory of Mitten View Tours. We spent…read moreyesterday on our own checking out the front section of the valley and loved it (did the 17 mile loop twice). Today we elected to do a guided tour so we could see areas closed unless you have a guide. We were particularly interested in learning more about Navajo Culture. Our guide Amory was great. He interspersed bits and pieces of his own experiences with details of Navajo history and practices. We learned of the days of his youth - herding sheep and goats, as well as tales of how the Navajo people communicate their culture and values to children. He has a great eye for photogenic opportunities and taught us some clever tricks to use with our iPhones. The front of the park, where you can do a self guided tour is phenomenal. You can easily spend four to eight hours taking in the unique geological formations. But, you can't see some of the truly amazing sites deeper in the park unless you hire a guide. (I'll attach photos of Big Hogan, Ear of the Gods, and a few other spots only viewable with a guide.)

Dion and Nelson were our light-hearted and hardworking tour guides on our recent 2-hour sunset…read morehorseback tour. We enjoyed tremendous views of Monument Valley as well as interesting and thoughtful stories and explanations of how this area holds deep meaning to the Navajo. Our group was small, and our leaders were patient, funny, and helpful for those of us with next to no horseback riding experience. My husband, who can be difficult to impress, was awestruck by the views and the perspective that comes only with being on a trail, not in a vehicle. If you go, bring a full water bottle and cash for tipping, plus remember to wear your sunscreen and a hat. Special thanks also to Mack and Sideburns, our trusty steeds! We had a little trouble locating the starting point at the stables -- we thought we were supposed to park in the Navajo Visitor Center parking lot and check in at the tour booth at the far end of the parking lot. Turns out that tour booth is for vehicle tours. The folks there advised us to drive down a short gravel road next to the visitor center and park next to the stables that we could see in the distance. Easy enough, but this could have been clearer in the directions; a simple map or drawing would have been very helpful. We also didn't realize we'd have to pay a $10 per person entry fee to the Visitor Center parking lot before even getting to the stables. Maybe that was mentioned in the instructions and I just missed it? Either way, not a deal-breaker for us.

We booked a 1-hour horseback riding tour for 1:00 PM. Before it was our turn, another group arrived…read more(most likely booked for the 11:00 AM tour), so the same horses had already been out riding for 2 hours before it was our turn. The horses were given no break - not even a water break, before we were put on the same horses and started our 1-hour tour. The horses we rode walked slowly and appeared tired and dehydrated. We did not see any water in the horses' enclosure. We also noticed that the horses had no shelter from the sun or rain inside the fence area where they were kept. Otherwise, the horses seemed OK, they were fed and our guide was OK. I would have given Sacred Monument Tours better rating if I had observed that the horses had access to water and were given a break between rides before a new group of people went out.

Amazing scenic tour you pay for at the RV Park. The trip was $89/person and is 3 &1/2 hours long…read more You can drive the tour in your own vehicle but I enjoyed the trip narrative and our driver/tour guide. There is only one pit stop with bathroom facilities so don't over hydrate before you get on the bus. LOL It is a very bumpy and very dusty ride. The tour guide spoke to us throughout the ride and was very personable and informative. We made several stops for photos and some of these had local Navajo venders selling hand made jewelry and crafts. One stop was at a Navajo Hogan. A Native American lady was inside and went over how to weave from raw wool to make clothes, rugs, etc... She also wanted over their native culture past and present. Overall I feel the tour was worth the money and we had a good time.

Took an amazing 3 1/2 hour tour. Such a great tour guide (Herbert) this tour was beautiful and…read moretour guide very knowledgeable. Would highly recommend.

Amazing tour! Our guide Richard was super fun and trying to accommodate all our requests. He made…read moreamazing pictures for us, and showed us very unique places. The best part was when he played the flute when we were exploring one of the arches - it was so touchy and I felt the connection to this native Navajo lands. We are very grateful for this experience and will be happy to return for another tour. highly recommend!

Great tour and worth the experience to see off tour features. Wayne our guide was friendly, funny…read moreand knowledgeable. Highly recommend

I highly recommend Jeepy's to anyone who wants to explore Monument Valley! Our reservation was for…read morehalf a day, from 2pm to 8pm, but we were traveling in a motorhome and were running a bit late. We got there around 4pm, not knowing that the 17-mile scenic loop we were going to do (and the whole reason why we rented the wrangler) would close at 4:30pm. "Doc" was very helpful and kind from the very beginning. Apparently we made a mistake in our reservation, and we actually booked it from 8am to 2pm instead. But he not only let us use the car in the afternoon but also gave us great tips about the area. Unfortunately we didn't make it in time before the scenic drive closed for the day, so we only briefly drove around the area and went back to return the car. As we were about to head to our next destination (Moab), Doc was kind enough to offer us a site in their RV campsite AND 4 hours with the wrangler the next morning so we could do what we went there to do - all free of charge! He did not need to do that at all, he did it out of the kindness of his heart and we couldn't have been more grateful. We had a wonderful experience the next morning and got to explore the area really well. Next time I'm in MV I'll definitely rent from them again! Worth every penny.