Spread across northeastern Arizona and southeastern Utah lies the vast red desert of the Colorado Plateau.

It is famous for its isolated sandstone buttes, towers, and monoliths, some reaching 1,000 feet in height. So many classic Western movies, television commercials, and landscape photographs have used this majestic expanse as a backdrop that it has become one of the quintessential images of the Southwest.

The valley is near the Four Corners area, where Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico meet. It is actually a vast desert expanse rather than a valley, and the famous rocks are mere remnants of a great layer of sedimentary rock that has eroded away over millions of years. It is traversed by scenic US-163.

Straddling the Arizona-Utah border is Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, part of the Navajo Indian Reservation, the nation’s largest. The park helps to preserve the Navajo way of life as well as the inspiring landscape.

The most famous rock landmarks are concentrated around the small Native American town of Goulding, just across the state line in Utah. A visitor center 4 miles southeast of US-163 provides information on self-guided and guided tours by horseback and 4WD vehicle, park lodging, camping, and picnicking.

Visitors can drive themselves along a 14-mile dirt loop road from the visitor center through the park, but you need a guide to drive or hike elsewhere in the park.

The park and visitor center are open daily except for Christmas Day and afternoon on Thanksgiving.

A small entrance fee is required. Visitors should not photograph the Native Americans or their property without permission. If permission is granted, a gratuity is usually appropriate.

Check at the visitor center for additional restrictions.