Images and location summary by Tim Wier

Trail Difficulty - MODERATE TO CHALLENGING

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 situated on the edge of a cliff, offering a stunning vista toward Monument Valley. To reach this location, you need to hike down a gentle slope from a dirt road that is approximately 300 yards away, unless you have a 4x4 vehicle that can drive closer. To access the trailhead where you can hike down to the cliff edge, follow a dirt road that may be bumpy and rough in certain areas.

NOTE that the dirt road can become impassable when the ground is wet or muddy.

GPS Coordinates & Elevation

37°13'56.3"N 109°58'27.2"W

6,211 Ft. Elevation

Download KMZ Trail File

Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.

Photography Tips

This location is absolutely stunning at sunrise, and it’s challenging to capture the true essence of what you see. 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 selected a location that showcased 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 road 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 the composition I envisioned. This technique allowed me to capture greater detail in both the foreground canyon and the Monument Valley rock formations, which are nearly 15 miles away.

Directions

CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the Muley Point Overlook

From Mexican Hat - drive east on US-163 N for 3.9 miles. Then, turn left onto UT-261 and continue for about 9 miles until you reach the Moki Dugway, an unusual winding road. The Moki Dugway is a mixture of dirt and paved surfaces that leads to the top of the ridge overlooking the valley, facing Monument Valley.

Once you reach the top of the Moki Dugway, continue for another 300 yards, and you will find a dirt road on your left that leads to Muley Point. This road is mostly a simple dirt path leading to Muley Point. Be sure to set your car's odometer at this point. Drive on this dirt road toward Muley Point for 3.8 miles, at which point you’ll come to a fork in the road on the left. Take the left dirt road for a quarter of a mile.

From here, you can either park and hike down to the cliff's edge or, if you have a 4x4 vehicle with high clearance, you can drive down to the cliff's edge.

The Muley Point overlook stretches 2-3 miles from east to west along this dirt road, allowing you to explore various vantage points by driving up and back

Google Earth

EXIF Data

Focal Length – 94 mm 5 shot vertical pano
Exposure – 1/4 th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – 6:58 am
Time – April 10th

Best Time of Day to Shoot

This location is best photographed at sunrise or sunset. I prefer sunrise because it illuminates the purple rocks of Monument Valley beautifully. If you arrive the day before, you can try both sunset and sunrise.

Best Time of Year

This location is best photographed from April to August. In spring, strong winds can stir up dust, making shots difficult

Lens(es) Needed

You can shoot with focal lengths ranging from 24 mm to 80 mm at this location, depending on your composition. As mentioned, the shot above was a vertical panorama created with five images taken at 94 mm.

Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro

Permits

There are no permits required at this location.

Direction of the Shot

The direction of the shot is south at around 190°.

Equipment Needed

You will want to bring a sturdy tripod (and pano equipment if you take a panoramic shot).

Number of Other Photographers to Expect

This location is popular among RVs, campers, and those looking to spend the night. If you arrive later in the day, you might find it challenging to locate a pull-out or parking area. However, there is plenty of space along the dirt road or cliff where you can set up your tripod.

Weather

Current Weather

The area surrounding Mexican Hat has a high desert climate at an elevation of about 6,000 feet. Temperatures can vary by 30° to 40° within a day. Spring and fall are pleasant, but summer temperatures can reach the high 90s.

Muley Point