The Best Time to Visit Monument Valley
The best months for Monument Valley are April-May and late September-October: mild, with long opening hours. Sunset lights the Mittens; the Mitten shadow falls in late March and mid-September.
The best months to visit Monument Valley are April and May, and late September through October: the days are warm rather than hot, the park keeps long hours, and the summer storms have not started or have passed. Within any day, the hour before sunset is when the buttes are reddest. Summer is the busiest and hottest season, and winter the quietest, with short hours and cold nights.
Month by month
The valley floor sits at about 5,560 feet, which keeps it cooler than the low desert but exposed to wind and cold snaps.
| Season | What to expect | Park hours (Valley Drive last entry) |
|---|---|---|
| Spring, March to May | Mild days, wind, clear light; the best all-round season | 3:30 pm to 30 April, 4:30 pm from May |
| Summer, June to August | Hot afternoons, the most visitors, and monsoon thunderstorms from about July | 4:30 pm |
| Autumn, September to October | Warm days, fewer crowds than summer, storms easing | 4:30 pm to 30 September, 2:30 pm from October |
| Winter, November to February | Cold, short days, the occasional snow on the buttes, very few people | 2:30 pm to 31 January; February hours are not published, so check |
Hours as published by Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation in October 2026. The park closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Summer storms matter more than the heat. Thunderstorms build in the afternoon, and the park warns that bad weather can close roads; flash floods are a real risk in the washes. Plan tours for the morning or the evening in July and August, and check the forecast on the day.
Winter is underrated if you dress for it. Snow on the red rock is rare and spectacular, the roads are quiet, and the tours still run. The catch is the 2:30 pm last entry to the Valley Drive, which leaves little time if you arrive after lunch.
Sunrise, midday or sunset
The Mittens stand east of the visitor center. In the evening the sun is behind you and lights their west faces, which is the deep red of the postcards. At sunrise it comes up behind them, so you get silhouettes and rays instead, cooler air and a quieter road. Midday is flat and hot, but it is the easiest time to book.
Twice a year a clear sunset produces the Mitten shadow, when the West Mitten’s shadow climbs onto the East Mitten. It falls around late March and mid-September, for a few evenings either side, and it needs a clear western horizon. Expect company at the viewpoints.
Book the light that fits your trip:
Sunset Tour with Navajo Guide
The loop and the backcountry in the golden hour, with a hogan visit.
Check sunset dates →3-Hour Sunrise Tour
The sun coming up behind the Mittens, then the backcountry before the heat.
See the sunrise tour →Full Day With Mystery Valley
The best use of the short winter hours: the guide drives, the backcountry and Mystery Valley in one go.
See the full-day tour →Prices and review counts as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026, not a quote; the $10 park entry is paid separately.
The calendar is for the Sunset Tour with Navajo Guide; start times move with the sunset:
The clock, again
Whatever month you pick, remember the time zone. The Navajo Nation keeps daylight saving time and the rest of Arizona does not, so from March to early November the valley’s clocks, and every tour’s start time, are an hour ahead of Page and Flagstaff.
Book the Light, Not Just the Day
The Sunset Tour with Navajo Guide times the Valley Drive and the backcountry for the last hour of light on the Mittens. Rated 4.8 from 1,956 reviews, from $78 a person as of October 2026, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check Sunset Tour Dates