Images and location summary by Tim Wier

Trail Difficulty - MODERATE TO CHALLENGING

The difficulty of this trail is 2.5 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult). The location of the shot is on the edge of a cliff overlooking a grand vista toward Monument Valley. To get to this location, you must hike down a modest hill from a dirt road about 300 yards (unless you have a 4x4 vehicle and can drive). To get to the location to hike down to the cliff edge is a dirt road that can be bumpy and rough in a few spots.

NOTE: The dirt road to this location can be impassable when the ground is wet/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 is hard to capture the true essence of what you see.

The Muley Point area stretches 2-3 miles from east to west, and there are hundreds of locations along the road/rim to shoot this incredible vista. Each location looking toward Monument Valley will have a different perspective. I chose this location as it displayed the canyons in the foreground, the red rocks on the right, and the Monument Valley spires in the center. You should arrive the afternoon before and drive up and down the road to find the composition you like best.

I decided to shoot this as a five-shot vertical pano and then crop the image to the composition I was looking for. This enabled me to get better detail in the front canyon and the Monument Valley rock formations (almost 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, turn left onto UT-261, and drive about 9 miles until you see an odd-looking winding road called the Moki Dugway. The Moki Dugway is a dirt/paved/dirt road that takes you to the top of the ridge overseeing the valley facing Monument Valley.

Once you reach the top of the Moki Dugway, drive another 300 yards or so, and there will be a dirt road on the left that goes to Muley Point (this is a simple dirt road for most of the way to Muley Point) - stop and set your car's odometer. Drive on this dirt road toward Muley Point for 3.8 miles, where you will see a split in the road to the left. Take this dirt road for a 1/4 mile. From this point, you can park and hike down to the cliff's edge, or if you have a 4x4 high clearance vehicle, you can drive down to the cliff's edge.

As mentioned, the Muley Point overview stretches 2-3 miles east to west from this dirt road; you can drive up and back to find alternative locations.

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 can be photographed at sunset or sunrise. I prefer sunrise as the sun illuminates the purple rocks at Monument Valley. If you arrive the day before, try both sunset and sunrise.

Best Time of Year

This location is best from April through August.

NOTE: In the spring, the winds can be strong around this area, which can kick up lots of dust, which makes for a difficult shot.

Lens(es) Needed

You can shoot anything from 24 mm to 80mm at this location (depending on your composition). As mentioned, the shot above was a five-shot vertical pano taken at 94mm.

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 is a popular spot for RV, campers, and overnighters - so if you arrive later in the day, you may have a hard time finding a pullout or parking area. However, there is PLENTY of space along the dirt road or cliff to place your tripod.

Weather

Current Weather

The area around Mexican Hat has a high desert climate at about 6,000 ft. elevation. The temperatures can vary up to 30° - 40° a day. Spring and fall are nice, but summer can get into the high 90s.

Muley Point