Community Forums

chunker · 04-23-2019, 09:48 PM

We're out west and will be in Monument Valley UT tomorrow for a few days. There are some organized tours of the area. Does anyone have any specific recommendation what tour to take?

Bahamaniac · 04-23-2019, 10:07 PM

We went on a tour sponsored by Gouldings. $75 per person and 5 to 6 hours. It was one of the best tours we have ever taken! It was absolutely spiritual! The tour guide was named Leland. We have plans to take it again next month.

chunker · 04-23-2019, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bahamaniac

We went on a tour sponsored by Gouldings. $75 per person and 5 to 6 hours. It was one of the best tours we have ever taken! It was absolutely spiritual! The tour guide was named Leland. We have plans to take it again next month.

Thanks. Does the tour go places you can't go on your own? What type vehicle is the "tour bus"? We're researching trying to find what is best. We have a Jeep and I don't mind taking it on trails but don't want to break it either. If we go on an organized tour we'd like to go someplace normally not accessible.

EDIT; We're staying at the Goulding RV park so will check with them what they have at this time.

twogypsies · 04-23-2019, 10:34 PM

There are no 'trails'. There's a circular road and that's where you'd be driving your Jeep. Absolutely no chance of it getting damaged. You'll see regular cars on it. We went out morning and night to catch the different lighting. If you're going there why not drive it yourself and then decide if you want to do a tour. The tour does take you short distances off the main road and they'll narrate it.

Smitty77 · 04-23-2019, 10:56 PM

We drove our Honda CRV with no problems. But it was about 1 1/2 weeks after a good period of rain in the area. We watched what we learned was a rental Camaro Convertible - drag many parts of it's subframe and muffler system in areas. (Sparks were flying at times - but the two 'gents' in the car with the top down and driving way too fast - did not really care...). I mention that on the times we were doing the drive, it was after a period of rain, mud, ruts - and the ruts, had not yet been warn down by the many vehicles and tour-mobiles driving over them.

So what you may encounter, will vary, based upon the preceding few weeks.

And I'll also add that a 'good tour guide', can be worth the cost of admission... History, narrative, delivery, experience with knowing the better angles - etc...

Have fun, and best,
Smitty

Bahamaniac · 04-23-2019, 11:16 PM

The tour they allow you to drive on is extremely limited. Gouldings used a small truck with the bed replaced with bench seating and a cover. The tours take you much further into the canyon. You get up close and personal with all the different spire formations. Several stops include native gathering places and petroglyphs. A friend took the self driving tour and didn't see 25% of what we saw. Plus the guides are extremely knowledgeable and have a plethora of information and legends.

chunker · 04-23-2019, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bahamaniac

The tour they allow you to drive on is extremely limited. Gouldings used a small truck with the bed replaced with bench seating and a cover. The tours take you much further into the canyon. You get up close and personal with all the different spire formations. Several stops include native gathering places and petroglyphs. A friend took the self driving tour and didn't see 25% of what we saw. Plus the guides are extremely knowledgeable and have a plethora of information and legends.

Thanks we're going to get there mid day Wednesday 24th and will drive some to see it. Probably Thursday we'll take a tour.

Bahamaniac · 04-24-2019, 01:20 AM

Plus the view from the campground at Gouldings is phenomenal! We will be there in about 3.5 weeks. Enjoy!

WorldCat25 · 04-24-2019, 07:21 AM

Here's our rig in Gouldings this past January.

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Sorry, tried rotating but can't seem to get it.

twogypsies · 04-24-2019, 03:26 PM

Years ago there was a campground (actually more like a parking lot) right in front of the famous Mittens. You could stay by donation - $5 suggestion.

Now I believe they upgraded that area a little bit and really upped the price but the view..... awesome. Dry camping.

chunker · 04-24-2019, 06:16 PM

We got in to Goulding around 1 and by the time we set up and had lunch chose to drive to the visitor's center and took the loop in the Jeep. Road was very rough, washboard in places and somewhat dusty. We saw a lot of the truck tours and there weren't many smiling faces. Tomorrow we're going to forego a tour and explore more on our own. Up toward Mexican Hat, and other places we find. We'll spend 4 nights in Blanding, and 4 in Moab before a couple days in SLC. Main destination for the trip is Promontory Point UT for the 150 anniversary of the connecting of the trains east and west. For trains buffs Union Pacific restored a Big Boy steam engine and it's coming to Odgen. There will also be a smaller mallet engine there. A 4-8-8-4 I think.

I appreciate the comments about the area and tours. Mid 70s temps, clear sky, and cold brew.

Mt. Jim · 04-24-2019, 06:52 PM

I didn't know they had the big boy done already. I've seen the challenger

chunker · 04-24-2019, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt. Jim

I didn't know they had the big boy done already. I've seen the challenger

Supposed to leave the Cheyenne facility and be in Ogden for the celebration on 10 May. I think it's due in the 8th or so. On the 12th it heads back to Cheyenne with paying customers riding to Evanston WY for a mere $5k in the Vista dome car. 3K for down below. We passed on that.

Ray,IN · 04-24-2019, 10:41 PM

We did not take any guided tours, just the DIY loop in our 4WD dually. As we were leaving the visitors center there came a big hail-storm.This was in August. Hail was so deep it covered the roads, filled side ditches and ran like a river of hail. I had to stop in the road because I could not see the road-or anything else. An hour later all hail was gone, bright sunlight.

While at Gouldings CG, look for the old man in the rock. We were there in 2005, going back this fall.