You know the feeling. You’re driving down a long, dusty stretch of Highway 163, the air smells like sagebrush and sun-baked grit, and suddenly the horizon opens up. There they are. The Mittens. Those towering red sandstone monoliths that look more like a painting than actual geology. Honestly, it’s one of the few places on Earth that actually lives up to the hype.
But here’s the thing. Most people don’t just come for the rocks. They come because they’ve seen this place a thousand times on a screen. Whether it’s John Wayne squinting into the sun or a DeLorean kicking up dust, Monument Valley filming locations are the DNA of the American West.
But if you just plug "Monument Valley" into your GPS and hope for the best, you’re going to miss the good stuff. Most of the iconic shots aren't even inside the park loop. You have to know where to pull over, which dirt roads require a Navajo guide, and why some of the most famous "valley" scenes were actually shot 20 miles away.
The John Ford Obsession: Where the Western Was Born
If you want to understand why this place matters, you have to talk about John Ford. Basically, he "discovered" the valley for Hollywood in 1939 with Stagecoach. Before that, it was just a remote corner of the Navajo Nation that nobody in LA knew existed.
Ford didn't just film here once; he shot nine movies in the valley. He loved it so much there’s a spot literally called John Ford’s Point.
It’s that rocky outcrop where you always see a lone rider on a horse overlooking the Three Sisters and the Mitchell Mesa. It’s arguably the most photographed spot in the entire park. If you visit today, you’ll often see a local Navajo rider out there in full gear, ready for your photo. It feels a bit touristy, sure, but when the light hits those spires at 4:00 PM? It’s pure magic.
What most people get wrong is thinking The Searchers (1956) was shot entirely at that one point. Nope. Much of the "Texas" homestead in that movie was actually built in Mystery Valley. You can’t get there on your own. You need a permit and a guide from the Navajo Nation. It’s quieter, more haunting, and home to actual Anasazi ruins that Ford used as backdrops.
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The Forrest Gump Point Reality Check
Let’s talk about the hill. You know the one.
In Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks finally stops running and tells his bedraggled followers, "I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now."
That spot is Forrest Gump Point, and it is technically not in Monument Valley. It’s about 13 miles north on US-163, near Mile Marker 13. If you’re coming from the town of Mexican Hat, you’ll see it.
What to expect at Mile Marker 13:
- The Crowd: It’s a zoo. Seriously. People literally stand in the middle of a high-speed highway to get "the shot."
- The Safety Factor: Please, don't be that person. Trucks fly down this road at 65 mph. There are pullouts on the side—use them.
- The Lighting: Go at sunrise. The sun comes up behind you and hits the buttes in the distance, turning them a deep, glowing crimson. At sunset, you’re looking into the sun, which makes for a cool silhouette but loses the detail of the rocks.
Back to the Future and the "Pohatchee Drive-In"
Remember the beginning of Back to the Future Part III? Doc Brown hides the DeLorean in a cave, and Marty has to drive it through a 1955 drive-in theater to get back to 1885.
That theater, the Pohatchee Drive-In, never existed.
The crew built the entire set right in the middle of the valley floor. They chose a spot near the Arizona-Utah border, specifically because the wide-open space allowed the car to hit 88 mph without any modern buildings in the background. Once filming wrapped, they tore it all down. You can still find the general area near the Mitten Buttes, but don't expect to find any leftover popcorn buckets.
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Interestingly, the scene where Marty gets chased by Indians (and subsequently the U.S. Cavalry) was shot in the same general area. It’s a weirdly small "backlot" when you see it in person. You realize Zemeckis just kept spinning the camera around to make the desert look endless.
The Modern Era: Transformers and Westworld
Hollywood hasn't moved on. While the "Golden Age" of Westerns is over, big-budget spectacles still flock here.
In Transformers: Age of Extinction, Michael Bay used the valley to introduce the "new" Optimus Prime. There’s a scene where the Autobots gather near the Totem Pole—a slender, 450-foot spire that is sacred to the Navajo.
Speaking of the Totem Pole, it’s actually off-limits for climbing now. Clint Eastwood and his crew were the last people legally allowed to climb it for The Eiger Sanction in 1975. Part of the deal for filming was that they had to remove all their climbing bolts and never come back. Today, the Navajo Nation strictly forbids climbing any of the formations.
Then there’s Westworld. While a lot of the HBO series was shot near Moab (specifically Dead Horse Point), they used Monument Valley for those sweeping "Arrivals" shots. It’s the visual shorthand for "The West." If a director wants you to know you're in a frontier, they show you the Mittens. Period.
Why You Might Be Disappointed (And How to Fix It)
A lot of people show up, drive the 17-mile "Valley Drive" loop in their rental sedan, and leave feeling like they saw it from a distance.
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Don't do that.
The 17-mile loop is a dirt road. It is bumpy. It is dusty. If it rained recently, your Nissan Altima is going to get stuck.
To really see the Monument Valley filming locations, you have to get off the main loop.
- Book a Backcountry Tour: This is the only way to see the "Big Hogan" or the "Ear of the Wind." These are massive natural arches and amphitheaters where movies like The Lone Ranger (2013) were filmed.
- Stay at Goulding’s Lodge: This isn't an ad; it's just history. Harry and Leone Goulding were the ones who convinced John Ford to film here in the first place. Their old trading post is now a museum, and it’s where John Wayne used to stay. They even have the "John Wayne Cabin" on-site.
- Respect the Land: This isn't a National Park. It’s the Navajo Nation. People live here. Don't go wandering into someone’s backyard because you think you found a "cool angle" for your TikTok.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you're planning to hunt down these spots, here is the realistic way to do it:
- Check the Permits: If you are a professional photographer or Youtuber, you need a commercial permit from Navajo Parks & Recreation. They take this seriously.
- Time Your Drive: The park gates usually open at 6:00 AM or 8:00 AM depending on the season. If you want the "movie look," be the first one in. The dust from other cars ruins the visibility by noon.
- Fuel Up in Kayenta: There is no gas inside the valley. The nearest reliable stations are in Kayenta, AZ, or Mexican Hat, UT.
- Download Offline Maps: Cell service is non-existent once you drop down into the valley floor. Your GPS will fail you right when you’re looking for the turn-off to North Window Overlook.
The valley is more than just a backdrop. It’s a character that has outlived every actor who ever stepped foot on its red sand. Standing at the base of the North Mitten, you realize that the scale of this place is something no IMAX camera can truly capture. You just have to be there.
Next Steps:
Pack a high-clearance vehicle if you plan on driving the 17-mile loop yourself. Otherwise, budget for a guided tour ($75–$150 per person) to access the restricted filming sites in Mystery Valley. Check the current weather on the Navajo Nation Parks website before heading out, as flash floods can close the valley floor roads without warning.