MONUMENT VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

On a scenic road trip through Northern Arizona, Monument Valley’s iconic landscapes inspire visitors.

The Colorado Plateau area encompassing the Arizona-Utah border features some of the most scenic drives in the United States. Covering more than 27,000 square miles of desert landscape around the Four Corners region, Navajo Nation has many treasures to explore.

The indigenous cultures that called Arizona home as long as 12,000 years ago have left their mark on the state in important and significant ways—from ancient petroglyphs and sacred ruins to traditional foods, art and handmade goods.

I took a sunset and night photography tour with a private Navajo guide. This gave me access to tribal lands not open to the public.

On the sunset tour we visited Sun's Eye, Big Hogan, and Totem Pole with sand dunes in the foreground.

Sunsets took on a totally different look with the red tinted clouds against the orange red rock of Monument Valley.