Southern Utah - March 17 & 18, 2006 (Re-run)

 Not far from Monument Valley is another scenic drive through a similar valley, also on Navajo land, called Valley of The Gods.  While lesser known and visited, it also offers some impressive sandstone formations and the benefit of being less crowded.

Also nearby is Goosenecks State Park featuring the spectacular bends in the San Juan River as it winds its way to join the Colorado.

The word "moki" comes from the Spanish name for Native Americans, so many objects associated with them have been described as "moki".  "Dugway" is a term for the steps or footholds the Ancestral Puebloans dug into the face of a cliff in order to climb to the top.  So, when uranium miners built a road to the top of Cedar Mesa, some 1200 feet of rise, they chose the name Moki Dugway.  This three mile long unpaved road terrifies some people due to steep drop offs.  However, the road is plenty wide, so is safe for normal size vehicles. It does have some hairpin curves, so larger vehicles are advised to find a better way.  Down below, the Valley of The Gods B & B is the only structure for miles.

Once on top of Cedar Mesa, the Abajo Mountains are seen in the distance.  Also, a turn off leads to Muley Point, a nice camping area with distant views of Monument Valley, Valley of The Gods and Johns Canyon below.