Jay Dash Photography
- Home
- Places To Go
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
- Winter in Monument Valley
Need a reason to visit Monument Valley in the winter? We’ll give you two: no crowds and no heat. This Navajo Tribal Park at the Utah-Arizona border showcases colossal mesas, wind-swept buttes and sandstone spires that leap out of a vast desert. Sure, a Monument Valley winter is chilly, but the dramatic landscape — sans crowds — warms the winter traveler’s soul.
Learn more about Monument Valley Visiting Native Nations
Winter Weather in Monument Valley
December and January bring the coldest weather to Monument Valley. Snow can fall anytime between November and March, however, it’s typically light enough to melt in a day or two without impeding road traffic on the scenic 17-mile Tribal Park Loop. Because of this, a dusting of snow sprinkling the red rock is considered a photographic fortune.
As with any region in Southern Utah, flash flooding can occur due to extreme weather. This is infrequent, but winter-visitation best practices advise visitors to check weather reports frequently.
Average Daily High and Low Temperature
Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Jan. | Feb. |
69/46 F | 53/34 F 12/1 C | 42/25 F 5/-4 C | 42/25 F 5/-4 C | 48/29 F 9/-2 C |
Winter Camping & Lodging
Monument Valley’s landscape is massive, but winter accommodation options closest to the park are thin. A handful of unique campgrounds sprinkle the Utah side of Monument Valley including the KOA, Hummingbird Campsite, Monument Valley Airbnb and Monument Valley Tipi Village. Goosenecks State Park is another winter camping option that's about 35-40 minutes away from Monument Valley.
Within the community of Monument Valley, Goulding’s Lodge offers the most amenities including WiFi, a sundeck, gym, history museum and market. The Stagecoach Dining Room restaurant serves up southwestern and Navajo cuisine. Choose from rooms, suites, villas or the RV campground with full hookups.
A little farther away, San Juan County hosts motel, hotel and resort options. The San Juan Inn in Mexican Hat is a 40 minute drive from Monument Valley. The town of Bluff offers the Desert Rose Resort and Bluff Dwelling Resort & Spa that are an hour away. Both towns have limited restaurants and amenities, and no grocery stores, so plan ahead in the winter months.
Winter Camping
Winter Travel Tips
- Check weather apps frequently to avoid sudden extreme weather.
- Pack a warm hat, gloves, insulated coat, waterproof hiking boots or trail shoes, and traction cleats like Yaktrax. (Read: "Stay Warm in Southern Utah: How to Pack for a Winter Trip")
- The entrance fee for Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park overlook is $20 per vehicle up to four people ($6 each additional).
- Private vehicles are allowed to enter the park as far as the main viewpoint at the visitor center. In addition, 25 private vehicles at a time are allowed on the 17-mile Tribal Valley Loop (SUV required). Entrance to the loop is regulated by a free permit upon arrival; permits are first come, first served. Winter loop drive hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guided tours are available, and may be a quicker way to gain access to the Tribal Valley Loop.
- Permits are required for backcountry hiking, camping, filming and various special uses such as weddings.
- This is a Navajo Nation Park on sovereign Navajo Nation land — not a national park — so national park passes will not grant access.
How to Visit Southern Utah in Winter
Monument Valley
The Complete Winter Camping Packing List for Staying Warm in Southern Utah
Written By Jeremy Pugh
For most travelers, Southern Utah winters prevent comfortable camping, and occasional snowfall can make outdoor adventure a little more challenging. With a little extra planning, good layers, and the right equipment, however, you can enjoy Utah's national parks in the solitude of winter.
Winter in Southern Utah, Southeastern, Southwestern, Solitude, Responsible Travel, Camping and Backpacking
Read More
Winter Inspiration
- 5 Festive Activities to Brighten Your Utah Holiday Written By Visit Utah 3 minute read Planning a holiday ski escape to Utah? Here's five festive activities to brighten your travels and raise the bar on holiday spirit.
- A Winter’s Desert: Visiting Southern Utah in the Slow Months Written By Brinley Froelich 7 minute read Experiencing the peace of canyon country in the winter is an attraction of its own.
- Across a Snow-Covered Desert Written By Matcha 5 minute read Follow this itinerary for a week-long winter road trip across the snow-covered desert of Southeastern Utah.
- An Uncommon Confluence Written By Melissa Fields 5 minute read A solo sojourn where snow and desert meet in a lesser-known corner of Utah’s red rock country.
- Best Hikes in St. George During Winter Written By Matcha 5 minute read While Utah's Greater Zion offers a few hundred trails, we’ve highlighted seven of the best hikes in the state's southwestern corner, from deep canyons to high peaks.
- Explore the Tushars on Snowshoe Written By Jeremy Pugh 3 minute read Ready to experience snowshoeing in Utah? Eagle Point is a Utah favorite location. Check out this snowshoe excursion then plan yours today for fun and adventure.
- Find a Winter Refresh in a Utah State Park Written By Rosie Serago 4 minute read The best Utah state parks will entice you with ice fishing, white sand and snow-dusted scenery. Take a winter break to refresh with a visit to a few of these places.
- Gravity and Water: Mark Making in a Winter’s Desert with Anne Kaferle Written By Brinley Froelich 3 minute read Finding Helper at a time when she “needed it the most,” landscape artist Anne Kaferle has put down roots in Utah, thanks to plein-air painting and the healing power of time alone in the landscape.
- Ice and rock, snow and splendor: Winter in Southern Utah Written By Jeremy Pugh 10 minute read For an extraordinary adventure, plan winter hikes in Utah’s Zion National Park. Winter rewards hikers with stunning sights of stalactites and snow covered mountains.
- The Complete Winter Camping Packing List for Staying Warm in Southern Utah Written By Jeremy Pugh For most travelers, Southern Utah winters prevent comfortable camping, and occasional snowfall can make outdoor adventure a little more challenging. With a little extra planning, good layers, and the right equipment, however, you can enjoy Utah's national parks in the solitude of winter.
- Top Ski Towns in Utah Written By Andrew Dash Gillman 5 minute read The best ski towns in Utah tout easy access to The Greatest Snow on Earth®, along with lively culture, fine dining and off-mountain activities.
- Turning the Lens on a Wintry Southern Utah Written By Tiffany Nguyen 4 minute read Discover some of the most picturesque places to photograph in Southern Utah, and learn some tips for how to shoot and travel responsibly.
- Winter in Southeastern Utah: Arches and Canyonlands Written By Jeremy Pugh 3 minute read Want to avoid the Utah national park crowds? Plan a winter Southeastern Utah trip. Experience more peace, quiet and solitude.
- Winter in Southern Utah Like a Local Written By Andrew Dash Gillman 4 minute read Southern Utah comes alive in winter with unexpected experiences for those who are well-prepared and solitude for those who want to expand their view.
- Winter Wonders in Greater Zion Written By Matcha As you’re mapping out your winter trip through southeastern Utah, consider adding the following parks and natural wonders to your itinerary.
- Yurt Camping in Utah: How To Have a Wintertime Yurt Excursion 4 minute read Whether you’re glamping or choosing a simpler option, yurt camping in Utah during the wintertime is a fun, unique experience you won’t want to miss out on.
