The dramatic eroded landscapes of Monument Valley have been immortalized — largely because of John Wayne.  You read that correctly, actor John Wayne.  It was in this valley that director John Ford filmed the young movie star in a series of Westerns, the drama and action framed against Monument Valley, scenes that for many people around the world defined what the American West was like.<\/p>\n

Monument Valley is fairly high altitude, around a mile above sea level (1500-1800 m).  It’s landscapes are characterized by colorful sandstone buttes, banded and eroded.  Monument Valley is close to the Four Corners region and is a park within the Navajo Nation.<\/p>\n

I’ve only been to Monument Valley once, and that was on a gray drizzly day.  I’d really like to visit it when a thunderstorm is moving through.  I think the drama of the storm set against these beautiful landscapes would be incredibly memorable.<\/p>\n

(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \t