I wish I was writing about the ‘Valley of the Kings’ in Egypt but alas, not today. ‘Valley of the Gods’ is in Southern Utah and along with the famous Monument Valley and Mexican Hat is part of the Western topography of the region.
Like the Monument Valley, Valley of Gods sports similar scenery of red rocks, tall buttes, monoliths and large rocky open spaces. However, unlike the Monument Valley, Valley of Gods has much less restriction and no entry fee. Valley of Gods is also smaller than the Monument Valley but in my opinion is more interesting and has more vistas packed in than the expansive Monument Valley. Not to mention, Valley of Gods is deserted, way less traveled than its famous neighbor.
I would recommend a high clearance SUV like the one we had but a 4X4 isn’t necessary.A 17-mile drive cuts through the arid landscape as it navigates the geological structures. It’s hard to believe that the buttes are remnants of large portions of land eroded by ice, wind, and water.
Valley of Gods is deserted. There are no facilities & for long stretches, we didn’t see a soul, i.e. take enough water and gas. But it is a photographer’s paradise. I wish I had a telescopic camera to take the close-ups. Without it, I settled for wide-range panoramas.
We would have completely skipped this hidden gem had it not been for some good advice and encouragement from fellow travelers. To those unknown travelers: A BIG THANK YOU!
My Pravas 