Muley Point
Near Mexican Hat, UT
Muley Point
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF MULEY POINT
“And then in the desert, when the sun comes up, I couldn't tell where heaven stopped and the earth began. It's so beautiful" - Forrest Gump
This incredible location, which my friend Gordon Reichard introduced me to, is situated in the southeast corner of Utah, just north of Monument Valley. At sunrise, as the first light of the day illuminates the distant buttes and the red rocks begin to glow, time seems to slow down, and all the worries of the day fade away. You can't help but wonder how this magnificent landscape came to be and what it must have been like in the beginning.
Do yourself a favor and visit this incredible part of the world. The American Southwest never ceases to amaze.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Annual Subscription
Lifetime Membership
DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH xxxx SUMMARY
The difficulty level of this trail is 2.5 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult. The viewpoint is located on the edge of a cliff, providing a stunning view of Monument Valley. To reach this location, you need to hike down a gentle slope from a dirt road that is approximately 300 yards away. If you have a 4x4 vehicle, you may be able to drive closer. To access the trailhead for the hike to the cliff edge, follow a dirt road that can be bumpy and rough in certain areas.
Please note that the dirt road may become impassable if the ground is wet or muddy.
This location is absolutely stunning at sunrise, making it challenging to truly capture its essence. The Muley Point area stretches 2-3 miles from east to west and offers hundreds of spots along the road and rim to photograph this breathtaking vista. Each viewpoint overlooking Monument Valley provides a unique perspective.
I chose a spot that highlighted the canyons in the foreground, the red rocks on the right, and the Monument Valley spires in the center. To find the best composition, I recommend arriving the afternoon before and exploring the area to discover which angle you prefer.
For this shot, I decided to create a five-shot vertical panorama and then crop the image to achieve my desired composition. This technique allowed me to capture more detail in both the foreground canyon and the Monument Valley rock formations, which are nearly 15 miles away.
You can use focal lengths ranging from 24 mm to 80 mm at this location, depending on your desired composition. For example, the shot above is a vertical panorama composed of five images taken at 94 mm.
6,211 Ft. Elevation
Other Resources Available with Membership
KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
