We were in Monument Valley this March, 2022, and had two guided tours by Navajo Spirit Tours.
Our first evening there was an adventure - we were taken to the top of Hunt’s Mesa by Will, a Navajo guide. This included going into the back country of Mystery Valley, over rocks, deep sand and washes on the valleys’ “roads.” Will was an expert driver, as well as a wonderful chronicler of the Navajo spiritual beliefs, of which we knew very little. He gave a wonderful description of a sacred belief system that has been with the Navajo people for generations. We were grateful that Will was able to explain so much about something of which we knew virtually nothing. The endpoint of the entire trip was a beautiful vista of many of the valley’s sandstone formations at sunset atop Hunt’s Mesa - when the sun hit the bluffs, it was breath-taking.
The next day we were guided through the valleys by Sean, a Navajo, who was an expert on the history of the Navajo people. He knew everything that there was to know about the Navajo and their relationship with Monument Valley and the less-known Mystery Valley. He was familiar with the trails and caves, cliff dwellings and geology of the area. He was easy to talk with and had many insights into the history of the area. He was well-read and eager to explain the Navajo history over the past few centuries in the area.
We would highly recommend either of these guides of Navajo Spirit Tours for any trips or trails in the area. Believe me - you probably see less than half of the park if you don’t have a guide.