I loved my visit to the Bradbury Science Museum — it's a fascinating place filled with unique artifacts and compelling stories that bring history and science to life. The exhibits about the Manhattan Project and the science behind it are incredibly well-done and informative. I especially appreciated how interactive and thoughtfully curated everything was. It is also free! The staff were also amazing — super friendly, helpful, and clearly passionate about the museum and its mission. Whether you're into history, science, or just looking for something unique and engaging to explore, this place is a must-visit in Los Alamos. Highly recommend!

This is the place to visit in addition to the National Museum of Nuclear Science to learn about Nuclear science, what made the U.S. starting to develop those weapons during WW2 and how the science still used for energy development on top of other research been created at the National Laboratory up the road. The National Laboratory was an integral part for the development of Nuclear energy and applications today still a research facility for the development of other products and research. The Bradbury Science museum is phenomenal and free to visit. Highly interactive with plenty to learn and explore while there. We spend a few hours and had a great time. You also learn about the atomic bomb and the scientists behind it like Robert Oppenheimer and the National Laboratory. While in the area check out some of the locations from the movie Oppenheimer including the house where he lived, locations around the town and other areas around New Mexico where the movie was filmed. Overall a great experience and highly recommend it for the whole family.

Bradbury Science Museum is an excellent resource for learning about the scientific method. The hands-on exhibits are informative for all ages. Watch the 15 minute film to have a good overview of the work at Los Alamos. Be sure to visit the gift shop for interesting science oriented products.

This great museum is FREE!! From the outside, this museum looks small, but it is packed with fascinating displays. You could easily spend an entire day and not go through everything. It is arranged well, so you can focus on your areas of interest, and skim over the others. Two great videos, one of the history and another of the future. It is exciting to see what is happening at Los Alamos today!

Because I did the Los Alamos history museum tour, I didn't get breakfast. And I was starving when I got to the Bradbury museum so I didn't stay as long as I meant to. However, I still managed to catch both 15 min movies that were featured in their respective auditoriums. It's an incredibly informative museum that is well maintained, with loads of interactive exhibits that really draw a visitor in, regardless of age or attention span. I'm looking forward to visiting again with my whole family! Also, entry is FREE.

The Bradbury Science Museum is a great educational experience. This museum is dedicated to everything regarding nuclear weapons. They gave plenty information about the history of the Manhattan project, nuclear weapons design, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and current safeguards in place. There were two full size models of the “little boy” and “fat man” bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There were also plenty of interactive simulations. Everything at the museum was free of charge. There is so much to learn and experience at the Bradbury Science Museum for people of all ages.

If you are in Los Alamos for a tour of the Manhattan Project, you definitely need to drop by the Bradbury Science Museum. If nothing else, I found the timeline composition to be a good backstory, add to that the analytical run-down of the different sites (buildings) which you cannot access on the lab grounds, and the full-size mock-ups of "Fat Man" and "Little Boy" the museum highlights filled-in my need for the 'science' side of the story that you will not get from the walking tour. Don't get me wrong, the history of the town is great and looking at old buildings from the '40s that were not snatched up by the park service until very recently, is kind of fun. However, seeing the wiring of the detonation mechanism for Fat Man was really cool and unexpected.

They are mostly closed for the gov shutdown, but one campground was open still. There was access to one hiking trail from the campground, Tyuonyi Overlook was accessible. Pueblo Trail is closed. Visitors center is closed. The overlook is incredibly scenic. Just do not expect to see the cave homes right now.

Super fascinating national monument showcasing the natural landscape of the area and the Pueblo culture/dwellings. Nice gift shop and visitor center too. Unfortunately the Alcove House was closed for repairs this summer when I visited, but I did the Pueblo Loop trail and definitely recommend as it goes by the majority of the cliff dwellings, some of which you can even climb up into via ladders.

🤩 what an underrated gem!! Beautiful and easy hikes to see the ruins. Climbing the ladders to the Alcove house was the highlight. Parking lot was full by noon. But there’s so longer, harder back packing trails. Don’t let this one slip by!!

It was such a privilege to visit this site in 2023. There was a visitor center with a small but great museum- including a gift shop. The grounds are open to guided tours and individual exploration. You can also get up close to the wall dwellings via some ladders which was super cool! 20/10, an important cultural site that has a lot to interact with.

I visited Bandelier National Monument and was honestly amazed by the beauty and history of the place. The cliff dwellings and trails were incredible to explore, and the scenery felt peaceful and untouched. The only downside was the limited parking and the shuttle schedule, which made getting there a bit tricky. Still, it was totally worth it for the views and experience.

I really enjoyed this park, it could easily be argued to be included as a national park the historical aspect and Native American dwellings in this area, makes it unique, especially the cliff dwellings. Unfortunately the Alcove House Trail was closed when I was there so I missed out on one of the main sites to see.

A relaxing environment with lots of hiking trails, camping, small restaurant and gift shop. A great park for families to spend the day exploring the ancient Pueblo homes and enjoying the Frijoles Canyon. Your park entry also includes entry to the nearby Valles Caldera

Register online to get the gate code ahead of time. Easy drive to the parking area and fairly easy trail. It’s sandy but mostly flat and requires minimal scrambling on the rock. This area is beautiful! You can find trails on all trails but it’s fairly easy to follow the different path. We went to the left after coming down the hill and cut between the rock formations and then over the back side and back to the parking area making the trail a loop.

Fabulous place, serene and otherworldly. It’s no wonder Georgia O’Keefe loved to paint in these areas of New Mexico. Make sure to register online to get the gate code before you visit, wear good screening clothing against the sun a d take lots of water.

What an absolute gem tucked back in the mountains. You have to register on the mosque website to get the gate code but it’s free and I so appreciate them keeping this space accessible to the public! We had an incredible time walking around amongst the rock formations, it’s an otherworldly experience. Highly recommend this hike!

This is an eerie place. First off it's on private land of a far eastern temple so you need to request the gate code. Once on the property you park in a small area and then walk down to.... not really a square but *white*. There are a bunch of towering limestone cliffs, completely surreal. Keep walking and you eventually deadend at a wall that has been cut by water flows. Awe inspiring!

This was off the beaten path, but definitely worth the extra few minutes to visit! We happened to stop at the Abiquiu Inn and asked about directions to Ghost Ranch, and they recommended that we also check out Plaza Blanca on our way. Important detail - they gave us a gate access code to enter the parking area. Amazing rock formations in the middle of what felt like nowhere. It’s definitely worth stopping and spending some time hiking around these formations. Thanks to the land owners for granting access!

You need to register to be able to access the parking lot behind the gate. They have a QR code at the gate which gives you the gate code once you register - you do not need to pay but you need to fill out a liability release. Nice meandering trail through beautiful rock formations that you could make as long or as short of a walk as you wanted.

What an incredible place! Well worth the trip. Registration is done online and is quite simple and free of charge. What a privilege it is to be able to access this special place! Visit with respect and tread lightly on the land as these formations are fragile.

The home museum is an important place to visit for anyone interested in understanding more about Georgia O’Keeffe. The tour moves briskly through her former home and studio. It’s interesting to see the environment Georgia lived in. The home is fragile and much care is shown to balance protecting it while offering access to visitors. Tickets are purchased in advance at the visitor center and online. Tickets sold out quickly.

This was one of the absolute best things we did in NM. The way this was kept just like how she left it. That was walking into a painting. Into time. It was beautiful and perfect. I felt like I was a privileged person to be able to walk in this space. To see what her eyes saw. To hear what she could hear and to feel what she felt. To see where she made, felt and loved her art. Where she shared space with friends, pets and herself. This was a moving place to be. The views, how could anyone be so lucky to be able to see this beautiful world through those windows. The sky, the earth, the colors. My goodness this is a patch of what heaven should look like. They have left her home the way she left it. That is so rare. Nothing has been staged here. This was her space 100%. I felt honored to be able to add my footsteps to it.

Georgia O'Keefe's home in Abiquiu, NM This was an awesome visit. Even if you have no real interest in the artist herself, the architecture and history are fantastic. The views are pretty amazing as well.

I dont know what to say about this place other than it was amazing, emotional, beautiful and an insight of how she lived and viewed Northern New Mexico.

Fun and informative tour led by Lea. Tour the garden, living area, and studio!

Well worth the drive to tour this home. Beautiful area to explore.

If you are in Santa Fe worth the visit to the GO museum. You can do on your own if you don't want to download an app. Very interesting as it includes both her artwork and objects from her life. It's a leisurely Sunday afternoon activity... 2 hours tops!!

These formations are pretty amazing. The "Cave loop" trail isn't difficult but isn't wheelchair friendly at all. We didn't have time for the "Slot Canyon" trail, but other visitors said it was difficult at times. The Veteran's Overlook is pretty good, though it is a dirt road for a few miles. You need both a Recreation.gov reservation and a Pueblo pass per person to gain entrance, making this a pricey proposition for groups and families. The Pueblo Visitor center where everyone has to check in has a few snacks and souvenirs as well as clean rest rooms. There is no National Park service Visitor Center, and the only literature you get going in is a single page map without any information about what you're looking at. Bottom line is we're glad we went but would not likely return.

What a special place! I feel blessed I got to visit! We got super lucky and scored a last minute spot since you have to make reservations at recreation.gov. And also need a purple pass to enter the Pueblo reservation. Start at the Cochiti Visitor center where you check in with both passes, then follow a pilot car to the site where you check in again. The hike to the top and through the slot canyon was amazing, like movie like. Go all the way to the end for a great view of the rocks. Don’t sleep on this place! Get the reservations! Support our local tribes!

This place was the highlight of our trip. Yes, you need reservations at recreation.gov and Purple Pass, but easy to obtain and well worth it. Slot Canyon is a must - signs are a little intimidating, but it wasn't that bad. Cave Loop trail is relatively easy. The Veterans Loop road was closed due to previous monsoon washout. Utterly fantastic place!

Amazing geology that I have never seen before. Challenging hike through the slot canyon and to the top of the overlook peak but well worth it! You must get tickets in advance as the Pueblo only allows 150 people into the park each day.

A beautiful national monument. The trails are scenic and their variety takes one through a diversity of habitats that accentuate the natural processes that shaped this landscape. Well worth the experience. Plan ahead, since advanced reservations with BLM and the Kasha-Katuwe tribal authority are required. I’d also recommend doing the veteran’s memorial trail first which provides an overview of the monument area and leaves the most time to spend hiking the other trails which highlight canyons and hoodoos.

Incredible hiking area with beautiful hoodoos and canyons! Especially appreciated the low crowds which allowed for quiet moments throughout the trails.

One of a kind National Monument. Must see if you are in Santa Fe or Albuquerque NM. Just make sure you buy tickets in advance and then get the pueblo pass the visitor center.

A beautiful volcanic landscape perched atop the mountains. We visited briefly in mid July, it was not too hot given the high altitude, and the early afternoon storms offer relief. I can recommend the hidden valley trail, the turn off for which is on the gravel road before the visitor's center. We saw prairie dogs, coyotes, and many lovely wildflowers.

Wow! Wow! Wow! During our annual visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico, we had no idea our adventure would take such an unexpected and beautiful turn. We had planned to visit Bandelier National Monument, but due to a government shutdown, it was closed. Thankfully, a kind park ranger suggested we head to Valles Caldera National Preserve instead — and we are so glad we took that advice! The preserve was absolutely stunning. It was an overcast and cool October day, which only made the landscape more dramatic. The colors were vibrant, the views were breathtaking, and to top it all off, we even spotted a coyote in the distance. What an unforgettable place. I already can’t wait to go back!

We happened on this Preserve 3 to 4 years ago... and have visited when we are in the Santa Fe area... It has become a favorite place... today, we drove the back area... so beautiful... one of those places you can visit over and over... and never tire of...

Love the great views, elk herds, and learning about the Caldera formation. Back-country visits require passes (best purchased well ahead of time).

The Valles Caldera National Preserve is managed for us by the National Park Service who allow driving into the back reaches of the Preserve and they allow bicycle riding, horseback travel, hiking, cross country skiing and other non motorized access. For handicapped people, access by autos is allowed to see much of the Preserve. I thank the NPS for their good work at the VCNP.

Beautiful, utterly quiet. Saw coyote and prairie dogs close up, elk via binoculars.

Lame unless you want to fish 🐟 or see a stupid cabin

We went to Ghost Ranch purely for the purpose of hiking out to Chimney Rock. Having purchased our day use passes online we checked in at the welcome center and used the restroom before hiking. The hike gave fabulous views of the rock formations and area around the ranch. The trail was well marked but right at the end the path was less distinct. Definitely a place worth a visit as the drive out from Taos was lovely too!

Astonishingly beautiful surroundings. Excellent hiking trails. Very attentive and helpful staff. Recommend a day pass. Rooms are overpriced and not entirely clean. Food in dining room is OK (although their pastry chef/baker is wonderful.)

Ghost Ranch is truly an exceptional place, one of the most breathtaking spots in all of New Mexico. We took the Georgia O’Keeffe Trail on horseback, and it was an unforgettable experience. The guides were kind, knowledgeable, and made the ride both safe and inspiring, pointing out the very landscapes that inspired O’Keeffe’s paintings. The museum is small but beautifully curated, offering fascinating insight into the area’s rich history and O’Keeffe’s deep connection to it. The staff and the gift shop were equally wonderful, friendly, welcoming, and full of genuine warmth. And those views... absolutely astonishing in every direction, red cliffs, wide open skies, and colors that seem to shift with every passing minute. A visit to Ghost Ranch isn’t just sightseeing; it’s an experience that stays with you. Highly, highly recommend!

Sleeper of a place. Absolutely beautiful. Took the history your walk very well done. Did the On a Lark trail short walk in the middle of majestic scenery. Careful though some narrow trail sections . Hiking sticks would be nice.We didn't stay here .just a great day trip from Santa Fe.

The Ghost Ranch is beautiful and special. It’s a non profit and it’s absolutely worth visiting. Just be careful when booking your room. Ours was truly filthy as in looked like it hadn’t been mopped in many months after many stays. It was a bit of shock and we like rustic. This was just dirty. Peeked in the empty room next to us and it looked clean so maybe it’s hit or miss. Waited all evening for someone to come clean as promised and no one ever did. They did change out our room the next day but it put a huge damper on the first 24 hours with calling and walking to the office bunches of times all evening and morning trying to get help -instead of decompressing which was the whole point. The manager was eventually helpful but the front desk people we encountered were either too young and inexperienced to know what to do or couldn’t be bothered. One of them said that the room was only $100 as if that meant I shouldn’t be complaining. I was astounded honestly, and I had a receipt showing I paid over 190.00. It’s rural NM and probably hard to find enough staff, but people are coming a long way deserve at the very least a clean welcoming room. Side note on food: we actually liked the food well enough for what it is. Some meals better than others, but always a big fresh salad bar and roasted fresh vegetables with most meals.

Went on a fabulous trail ride with Jeff and Jobe today. It was an amazing experience and I learned SO much history!!!! It was enjoyable, comfortable, exciting and so much fun. Thoroughly enjoyed every ery minute. Highly recommend. I loved my horse Tonka ❤️🧡💛!!!!

A reach to heaven! The landscapes, the buttes and flats are nearly a painting! The hiking trail to Chimney Rock was in excellent condition. The quiet and abundance of nature inspired every step of the climb. The horse ride to O'Keeffe's ranch home was masterfully narrated by Maddie not to mention Roy, a dutiful steed, made the tour so relaxing. Can hardly wait to return and explore more!

My wife and I loved this place! The woman who checked us in was friendly, we paid and read the rules posted. The springs were incredible, some are hot and some warm. Lots of seating to lounge in the shade if you get too hot. Highly recommend going during the week when it's not crowded for a more relaxed experience.

Tranquillising hot springs, it’s in the beautiful mountains so the back drop view is breathtaking. The staff here is informative and so so sweet. Keep voices to a whisper and just relax and allow all the minerals from the earth to just do their thing.

Although we have never stayed overnight here at Jemez Hot Springs, we have been coming to soak for 2 hours on a regular basis for years. The atmosphere is beyond compare, the water is always so nice and the staff is great! Especially the manager who knows us well now 😂 We love the smoothies and we bring water bottles and a light snack like protein bar or banana or something. The views are gorgeous and I love to hear the sound of the river running right behind the pools. This most recent time we got to be in a light rain until about the end of our soak it started to pour! It was magical… The pricing is reasonable compared to like experiences available at a farther drive for us. We come here more often because it’s only an hour and a half away and we can come in the afternoon and stay to eat dinner at the local diner. Makes for a nice date day after sleeping in on a day off. I will say my one peeve is some of the people who attend seem to be completely disrespectful of the signs that are literally EVERYWHERE saying “please whisper” or “keep voices low” and it often makes causes us to move pools because we came to relax not listen to you talk about politics or religion 🙄 However that’s not enough to deter us from visiting often 😊

We had a wonderful time at the springs. Our family of four stayed at the Red Mesa cabin on site. It was such an easy process to reserve and check in and out. I know many of the reviews are reporting that the staff are rude, but that is the opposite of our experience. Staff were professional and super helpful (especially April). They made our stay that much better! The springs were relaxing and beautiful. A very serene getaway close to home! Highly recommend this place to locals or travelers.

"I recently had the pleasure of staying at and soaking in the Jemez Hot Springs in Jemez, New Mexico, and it was a wonderfully peaceful and calming experience. The hot springs themselves are incredibly therapeutic; an hour soaking literally made me feel like I'd turned back the clock! It's truly a place to de-stress and rejuvenate. I also stayed in one of their guest houses, which was incredibly inviting, spotlessly clean, and beautifully decorated with a charming New Mexico aesthetic. It really added to the overall serene atmosphere of the property. My only minor point for improvement relates to clarity on their website. While it states walk-ins are welcome during business hours, it also hinted that on-property guests might have access to the springs a little longer after public closing. Some clearer information here would be helpful. For anyone planning a visit, my top tip is to stay for two nights if you can, or at least arrive right at check-in time. This will give you the most opportunity to fully enjoy and maximize your time in these amazing hot springs. Highly recommend for a truly relaxing getaway!"

I highly recommend Jemez Hot Springs! Short version: - gorgeous property - peaceful and romantic place - no sulfur smell - excellent management - affordable It was my first time at a hot springs and I could not have loved it more. The water did not have the expected sulfur smell, the temperature was perfect (there were 4 different pools with slightly different temps so you could pick hotter or cooler). The property was gorgeous - the pics dont do it justice. The peaceful feeling, sound of birds chirping, Mountain View, landscaping… all made for a such a romantic spot The owner was very kind and gave us plenty of time to get dressed before starting our timer for the amount paid. The first day we left earlier because of unexpected hailstorm, so she just kindly offered us extra time the following day. Will definitely come back. Anyone who lives in NM should try it at least once.

The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. The changing and shower areas were very clean, which I really appreciate. It was a nice, quiet, and relaxing environment, perfect for unwinding. I would highly recommend it!

There's fuel here for both automobiles and big rigs. There's a casino too. I didn't go into the casino. There was a man (a guard, I guess) sitting in a chair in front of the casino. He didn't keep me out. I didn't even try to go in. I'm not into gambling. The women's restroom was fine. It wasn't dirty, and it had toilet paper. There is also a row of portable toilets at the edge of the automobile fueling area. The store was tranquil with soothing lighting and no loud music blasting. There is a vast selection of jerky available for purchase here, along with the usual truck stop drinks and snacks. There is a Subway sandwich shop, but it was deserted when I went into the building on a Saturday morning around 11. Seems to me that's prime lunch time. It was kind of eerie. This is a fine place to stop. Update: I came in a week later at about 9:30 on a Saturday morning. Subway was still closed. The restaurant was deserted. It looked like a ghost town Subway.

Went to the casino for the 1st time here disappointed in there no outdoor drinks or food sign but the people ask you if there's anything they can do lol don't like that neither can people enjoy the casino without being looked at every 5 minutes or so. The security is ridiculous to looking at my tot bag but there's plenty of snacks and drinks to choose from what I love on a long day of driving probably come back only to the store not the casino if the employees act somehow. Why my review is at 3 stars

I stopped here at around noon on 5/28/24. I drive a truck and have to do a 10 hour break per the DOT. I was planning on doing that here. The store was clean and employees were friendly enough. The website says they close at 7 pm. That's wrong. They closed at 2 pm. I was very disappointed. I count on these truck stop or travel center as places to get something to eat and supplies. Their lot is a good size. It's big enough to accommodate 30 big rigs along with parking for personal vehicles. Giving 3 starts because of the very early closing

Great selection in the c store, clean bathrooms, lots of free truck parking. They have truck diesel pumps also.

Husband & I stayed here for our break. They close at 7:00 so no bathroom inside .We noticed the next morning they do have porta potty . Not sure how clean they are . We went inside to grab some breakfast . We got 2 breakfast burritos . This is a beef breakfast burrito ! How awful 🤢🤢🤢 This will definitely make some one sick ! Beware of the food . Both burritos were gross, soggy & inedible. Unless given to a pig !

This little casino gas station was the most random stop I made on my whole trip from Utah to Texas. I was way surprised by this place and when we stopped here I was like why here? But when I went inside I realized that it was a good stop choice. I wasn’t too impressed with the bathrooms but luckily I only had to pee so it wasn’t to big of a deal. The selection in this place was kind of random, like if you wanted to try a new candy, treat, or drink then This could be your stop. They had an odd amount of ice cream there, maybe the casino get heated. If you’ve been driving all day and you just need a place to chill or relax then this casino is the place to stop. Just stop, shoot the breeze, and try and win some money. My moneys on you!

I had to use the bathroom so I pulled over here out of desperation. The bathroom was pretty average, nothing special and the store was a little confusing. Overall pretty average and not really worth a special stop. Of course unless you need to use the bathroom. 😉

⭐️ Chaco Culture National Historical Park – A Hidden Gem in New Mexico! 🏜️ Absolutely stunning and powerful place — full of ancient energy and breathtaking desert views. 🌄 The drive is long and partly on a rough dirt road, but once you arrive, it feels like stepping back in time. The ruins are well-preserved, and you can explore multiple sites like Pueblo Bonito and Chetro Ketl up close. 📸 Great photo spots everywhere — from the welcome sign to the cliffs and open desert. 💡 Tip: Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and snacks — there are no facilities once you’re deep inside the park. 🚗 A must-visit if you love history, archaeology, or off-the-beaten-path adventures!

If you can manage the bumpy slow drive into the park, it’s well worth your time. It’s definitely out in the middle of nowhere. Take the time to get a guide or read up on the history before attending, bc the history here is remarkable. The trail you can take to the top of the mesa is really cool and goes up in between some rock walls. The other trails are much easier. The bathrooms and picnic areas are very nice.

This place is a true treasure. Rough to get to. But it's so worth the trip. It's beautiful, you've never seen anything like it. My pictures don't do it justice. Will definitely go back. If you see the Navajos selling food, stop and support them. The fry bread is amazing 👏

I love this place. From the stairways carved into cliff faces, to miles of roads that rival modern roads, to the intricate stacking and chinking of blocks for the buildings, to the petroglyphs and pictographs, this place is simply incredible. Beautiful trails to hike and magnificent ruins that are still largely intact, this ancient village speaks to the soul.

This is such a historical and spiritual place. I can feel the vibrations from the land. There are very interesting structures to visit. Just try to envision life there 1,000 yrs ago.

Chaco Culture NHP is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once the home of the ancestral Puebloan culture, (c.850-1250AD) the park has the largest excavated ruins in the southwest and remains sacred to mant indigenous peoples. Hiking, biking, and camp sites are available. The visitors center can get you started with information, maps and an introductory film. Getting to the park is tedious. There is a 21mi. rough, rutted and washboard dirt road and you're on open range.

Pretty incredible place. Visited here in August 2024. Not too crowded or too hot. Wish we would have been able to stay overnight to see the stars. Visitor center was great: great exhibits/displays, junior ranger, and bookstore. So I had thought about going several times before, but I was scared away by the commentary made about the road. How difficult it was and dangerous to go on. Well, I decided to try it anyway because it was one of the last few NPs to visit. Drove my Ford Transit passenger van all the way from MD on this road. Not nearly as bad as I had heard. Came down from north (we stayed in Farmington night before) and rode in on the east road. You go down a regular paved road for a while before turning right. That is paved for a bit then turns into a paved road until the visitor center. For first 1/2 to 2/3 of road, I was cruising along at 55 on the washboard road. After that it was a little worse and had to slow down. Last 2 to 4 miles are the real deal with lots of potholes and bumps. Was definitely going quite slow there. I feel like you can do it in a sedan and did see one or two in parking lot. Dont let the road hold you back from seeing this great park!

Tall people beware. These ruins are great to see but will require you to duck down. There is plenty of room when you are walking through the general area and viewing the pits. What gets fun is when you stroll through the living quarters, this is where your kids will laugh at you as you squeeze through an area that they blaze through. It was fun and everyone had a good time!

I found the ruins to be fascinating. How could they be built centuries ago? It wasn't crowded so I had some areas all to myself. The museum has some interesting artifacts and a gift shop. A bonus was finding out that it didn't cost anything to enter.

Very informative visitor center with friendly staff. They also show a 15 min movie that is quite interesting. Nice static display as well. You can have a self guided walk with audio for the ruins. Bathrooms and water bottles refill station available in the center. The visitor is free.

Really cool! It’s amazing to stand in a place that was built a 1000 years ago. It’s free and was a good stop for a road trip break. About a 45 minute self guided tour. Highly recommend

We're glad we went to see these ruins, they are worth the trip. There is a lot to see and you can go in and walk through the buildings. There is one big kiva that has been reconstructed and many smaller dwellings. They have a very nice museum here too. This is a smaller archeological site that doesn't require lots of time or walking. Even the building that houses the museum/gift shop/ranger station is an historic house. There are lots of shade trees around the grounds, very pretty.

Loved this place! One of my favorite historic pueblo locations to visit now.. Very friendly staff and volunteers, great little visitor center, adventurous little hike around and through the ruins, and plenty of mysterious guesstimations about these people were doing here! I really loved the restored Kiva, as it brought home to me what all the kivas I've seen could've looked like in their heydays! Plus, walking through actual pueblo rooms, seeing cores beams, feeling the cool air within them, and understanding their size in 3D made imagining their view of the world much easier. BTW, I wouldn't have gone here if I hadn't visited Chimney Rock as well and learned how these two may have been connected.

A definite must see. Beautiful welcome center with extremely helpful staff. The ruins themselves have been preserved with love. I love it.

Love the Bisti bad lands, just wish it was better marked. We hiked for 4 hours and really enjoyed the landscapes and sites. Even saw 4 Jack rabbits.

If you’re unfamiliar with the area but an avid hiker, Bisti Badlands is an amazing area to check out on your own, so long as you’ve come prepared with GPS coordinates, maps, and parking advice. I have no affiliation with it, but we used Firefall Photography’s website for excellent resources on all of that, including pinpoints for the north/south parking areas. As experienced hikers (Grand Canyon, Utah parks, Himalayas, etc.), we know our limitations, including the fact that our GPS apps often make quirky jumps in extremely remote areas, so we tried to pick and choose our priorities, ultimately deciding that we could manage the Bisti portion by ourselves. (We did the De-Na-Zin side the following day, with a guide. We had limited time to explore and didn’t want to waste it false-navigating to permitted parking sites or major landmarks on our own, especially in monsoon season, so we signed up for the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah tour offered by Navajo Wilderness Adventures for that area — absolutely wonderful!) On our independent day at Bisti, we arrived around 3 p.m., and a few sprinkles started just after 7 p.m., cutting off our desire to stay into the golden/blue hours, but it’s worth visiting no matter the time of day. Since we had only one sunrise moment to spend there, we decided to end at Wings, despite having read that the Eggs don’t photograph well in brighter light, and we were pleased with that choice in the end, since we had “near sunset” at the gorgeous hill of wings. Overall, in just under five hours, we made it from the Eggs to the Wings and hit nearly every major formation in between, including the Rock Garden, petrified wood, Hoodoo City, Vanilla Hoodoos, Manta Ray, and more. We found that some of our GPS points didn’t quite match the Firefall map (including at the Beige Hoodoos and Manta Ray), but going armed with general AllTrails locations, Firefall and AllTrails maps, Gaia, and a tiny print map with photos made it all come together, allowing us plenty of time to photograph the landscape from vantages up, down, and all around. The relatively flat terrain made our nine miles of hiking relatively simple (but do avoid it after rain where possible), and it was a fantastic journey — such mesmerizing formations and astounding landscape!

This wilderness area is a beautiful place filled with adventure and incredible scenery. A word of caution, this area is pretty desolate, and the weather can be extreme. The summer heat can be dangerous, and rain storms can make the dirt roads very difficult to drive on. Cell phones don't always have connections, so just make sure you're prepared for anything that could go wrong. Make sure to have plenty of water, proper shoes, or anything else that you normally hike with. That said , enjoy your adventure and the incredible scenery.

Wow!! The pictures don’t justify the beauty of this place. We did few trails on this BLM managed wilderness and badlands. This place is wide spread, high clearance vehicle is recommended by not necessary on dry days! Trails are not marked, we had trails and maps downloaded in All Trails App and it was easy to follow the track through app. Without maps we would not have made it to alien throne and wings! Unbelievable and awesome rock formations throughout.

A long way to see little. But it was still an experience due to the sand storm, the desertedness, off the beaten path all alone with no trails to follow.

We went in from the south entrance. I recommend taking frequent pictures of the trail as you go in so you can find your way back.

The unpaved road and lack of signal makes it very difficult to access. No restroom, or anything. You are completely by your own. We drove for 20 min without seeing any other car, that part really concerned me. What if something happens, we would have no way to ask for help 😭

Giving this 3 stars because I think it really depends what you order. The price point made sense for the chicken tenders (which are actually two giant breasts), but some of the people I were with got small portions with not so great flavors for their orders. Also all of our beers/ciders were a bit warm which was odd. I really liked my food but the portion was so big I fed it to the other people I was with since theirs was small and they were still hungry. It seems like this owner has nearly a whole block with different restaurants under the same name-so if you’re reading this before going that’s why there is more than one place listed online.

It’s always nice to find a local pub. We would recommend checking it out even if just passing through Farmington. We shared the fish n chips and nachos- both were tasty. Our server Maya was polite and prompt. A special note on the beer. We have all around the country and the world so what we quaffed held its own. The oktoberfest was on par, the Papa Bear Honey ale was quite good but the Riwaka Pilsner was exceptional - one of the best pilsens I have tasted. Let it warm a bit and the Kiwi hops flavor profile jumps out. While we did not eat it - love the concept of the Peaky Blinders sandwich- the Riwaka would go well with it. While some do not like the decorations, it is the establishment’s character and it went well with the old building (listen to the squeaky wood floors). We say good job!

Nice authentic "drug store" bar with all the old wild west vibes. The service is wonderful. And most of all the food was incredible. I had a turkey hatch Albuquerque sandwich, which is the right combination of spicy and smoked turkey and with truffle fries. We also had a ham and gouda sandwich in a sourdough toast, nicely spiced and buttered, with a side of roasted corn on the cob. You have to visit this place!

I drive down from Hesperus weekly and enjoy lunch at TRB . Usually I order the chicken fried steak, which is delicious. They have two options for the gravy, cream or green chili cream…. They should make a veal schnitzel this way. OMG delicious. Today I ordered the green chili lasagna. This needs a zip code. So good! And Story is a wonderful waitress. Kitchen rocks too!

Fab place in Farmington. It comprises a fun place with pull tables, a pizzeria, a brewery and a eatery. We went to the restaurant and Carlos has been amazing in helping me to find the best gluten free food and give great tips to my husband for a wonderful Green Chile stew. The half portion of nachos could have been the full plate. And the chicken wings were huge! Generous portions, great value for money, so warm personnel and a very nice ambiance. I would recommend it!

This place gets a five-star all day!! We had a nice waitress, the environment is pretty cozy and the food and beer are absolutely amazing!!! We had the raspberry and the honey beer.... Pot roast, chicken fried steak and truffle fries. You definitely won't leave here hungry

Excellent beers, excellent food, excellent service. You might have to wait a bit for the food as it is prepared to order, but totally worth the wait. Quality ingredients and unique flavor blends.

The tour is definitely worth it and Mesa Verde is a great park with tremendous cultural heritage. My only complaint would be that the park service guide talks continuously, so there is no time for reflection or a chance to just soak up the site. Would be nice if they left a little time for folks to be able to look around in quiet and just “be there” to imagine what it was like 700 years ago. (For clarity, there is no way to view the Balcony House except on a guided tour.)

Overall a cool experience. It’s a big tour group and you don’t really get to explore anything other than just listening to the ranger talk and then taking some photos. Really neat to see and if this is something you’re into you’d probably love it. Climbing the ladders if you’re not used to the elevation can definitely gas you out! They weren’t really hard to do and I wouldn’t say anything was challenging but it’s a little scary climbing up with someone in front of you and thinking they may fall on you… lol. It was nice and sunny when we did it, I would not want to go while things are wet. If you look up balcony house in google maps you can go there and that’s the area you will meet you’ll see a shaded area towards the trail head.

Awesome place to take the kids. Make sure you get the reservation. Bring sunscreen, and some water. The walk there is not strenuous but if you are not mild to moderately active you may have a hard time going up the ladders. But the main thing is reserve online before for the guided tour or else you won't be able to go. Such an awesome place

This is potentially the most strenuous tour on the Mesa Verde Park. It is best in the afternoon due to sun placement. You will climb up a forty foot ladder, go through a door and crawlspace about the side of a large picture frame. If you are willing to take the challenge, you will have experienced something most visitors never see. The site is impressive and the tourguide was outstanding.

It was a wonderful fun adventure climbing, crawling and climbing through the ancient ruins. Our Ranger guide did an exceptional job telling us about the Puebloan culture and ruins

This tour is amazing. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. If you're afraid of heights, and can't climb ladders this is not your tour.

I really liked the tour. You have to drive close to 40 mins from the entrance of the park. Ranger Frank was really nice in explaining the details and the background of Mesa Verde. He was eleborative and briefed us about what we can expect at the start of the tour. It is amazing to see how people used to live hundreds of years back.

🌄 Absolutely Worth the Visit – Cliff Palace is a Must-See! 🏺✨ If you’re visiting Mesa Verde, Cliff Palace is THE highlight you can’t miss! It’s truly a step back in time – standing in front of those ancient cliff dwellings is absolutely surreal. You must see it with your own eyes to believe it. 🎟️ TRAVELER TIP: Make sure to buy your $8 ticket in advance on recreation.gov — it’s the only way to access the site and tours book up fast! The tour is ranger-guided and filled with fascinating facts about the Ancestral Puebloans who built this breathtaking structure. 🚗 It’s a 20-mile scenic drive from the park entrance to Cliff Palace, so plan accordingly. I recommend the early morning tour – not only is it cooler and more shaded, but the lighting makes the views even more magical! 💧 No hiking trails around this area, and no water nearby, so come prepared with your own refillable bottle. 🚻 Bathrooms near the site were very stinky during our visit – just a heads-up! 🏞️ The visitor center, however, was a pleasant surprise: super clean, with great exhibits, awesome souvenirs, and seriously delicious food! Great spot to recharge before or after the tour. ⛰️ Whether you're a history buff or a nature lover, Cliff Palace is a unique adventure that’s 100% worth it. Just plan ahead, come early, and soak it all in!

Definitely worth the tour reservation fee. I would say the reservation is a requirement because most tours are full and will not be able to accept walk-ups. We went the end of September, so it was warm, not hot. We were expecting cold and rainy, but the forecast change that morning. We arrived early ended up listening to the one ranger and almost discourage people from going on the tour due to a variety of possible health issues. We did not receive the same speech from our tour guide, just basics regarding being able to climb the ladders. I would recommend a good pair of shoes, as there is sand on the rock stairs on the way down and up. My wife is definitely afraid of heights, but has very little issue in climbing any of the ladders, so this should not dissuade you in going. The history is interesting, and should almost be reverent in realizing we are more alike as humans than we are different. I was wondering about the lighting for photography. We wanted an earlier start, and we didn't have to fight with half shadows. But I am still wondering if the late afternoon shadows provide added texture to the photos in general... Thoroughly enjoyed our tour at Cliff Palace.

Reservations required! You can go to recreation.gov and tickets are $8/person. There are also restrooms and water available at this trailhead. I’m afraid of heights, and did just fine with the ladders on this tour, so don’t worry too much about that. Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America and I loved learning about the history of the ancestral Pueblo peoples. Mesa Verde in general is such a unique place, and a must stop if you’re in the area.

Was a cool experience to be able to see how people lived in the cliff dwellings. You don’t really get to explore or take photos, just kinda listen to the ranger talk about the history and walk through. It was a nice experience, but wasn’t overall exciting.

Beautiful view of Cliff Palace. We took a visit mid-November and it was crowd-less which was nice. It’s a long drive to these views but worth it, bring snacks and a lunch. Stop at the visitor center, get your passport book stamped and then head into the park.

Absolutely worth the $8/person tour! Must be able to climb ladders and walk up/down steep steps! Definitely wear good hiking/active shoes

This was my favorite tour of the 3 we did. If your can only do one, this is the one! Ranger Jay was so knowledgeable and engaging. I was never bored listening to her speak! The exit out of the dwelling was really cool and a fun experience with ladders and ancient stairs climbing between boulders

This was so great to see! We didn't hike all the way down because we had little kids and it was hot outside but we got close enough. So awesome. I'm so glad we came! There is a bathroom not too far from here. And a museum, an old post office, and a ranger station.

To see this was our main reason for visiting the park. wasn't able to see it up close because the trail is closed but there is a nice observation area just across from it for good photos and the trail head is near the gift shop/museum. I highly recommend a visit to this NP!

Make sure you thoroughly research any national parks you're going to before taking to Google maps to post negative reviews because you can't bother to see on the NPS website that this location has been closed indefinitely for 7 years due to safety concerns. Even from a distance, this is still pretty spectacular to see. There's a pretty great overlook just behind the museum and offices - it's a little steep, but it is paved, and only a few hundred feet from the road. We were hiking the Petroglyph Point Trail and thought maybe there'd be a better vantage point down in the canyon, but (at least in July) the trees are almost too dense to see anything especially well.

You can view the Spruce tree house from distance behind the museum. I wish if I could go there but they have closed the trail and do not allow any visitors to go near Spruce tree hiuse due to safety concerns. There are no tours for this place but it is amaong to see the structures :)

Closed until 2019 due to efforts to the NPS's efforts to stabilize and protect this treasure, but it was open when I last went and it was wonderful, and had the added bonus of being the largest major ruin you could visit on a self-guided tour. Currently, there is a good view of the ruins you can access. Don't miss it.

I enjoyed watch a sudden thunderstorm over the Spruce Tree House, there were two instant waterfalls next to the Spruce Tree House and right over it. You instantly realized why the ancient natives selected this place for dwelling, maybe easy access to rain falls and water collection? I even caught a lightning on my video, it was awesome! Cheers!

Do the guided tour! You get to walk down to the ruins, and hear so much of the story of the lives of the people who lived there. So much knowledge, and facts you don't get on your own. The bus takes you there and back, and it's worth a day or half day of exploring!!

Overall, an interesting photo stop. Slightly expensive entrance fee(8$). I arrived in the afternoon, and waited in a 40 minute line to take a picture in the center 4 corners. I felt even one employee could have helped direct tourists. Some folks started to vocally voice their concerns aloud, as people in the front ‘took their time’. Was pleasantly surprised by the friendly local native people selling merchandise. They displayed hand painted art, magnets, postcards, stickers, and jewelry. I recommend to make this stop. There’s a few outdoor toilets around the area as well as plenty of dirt/rock parking spots. Surrounding the monument, there are a couple hiking paths.

This landmark has been on my must-see list for quite some time, and it did not disappoint. For just $8 per person, visitors can stand at the monument where four states meet and capture memorable photos. Surrounding the monument are numerous booths featuring handmade arts and crafts by local artists. Additionally, the outer rim of the monument offers several trailheads, providing a wonderful opportunity to explore each state. During our visit, we even encountered wild horses along the trail, making the experience all the more memorable.

⭐ Standing in Four States at Once! I visited the Four Corners Monument and it was such a fun and unique stop. The drive in is beautiful from any direction, and there are clear signs leading to the entrance. I bought my ticket at the gate and parked right next to the site — plenty of parking and clean public restrooms. Inside, there are many Native American (Navajo & Ute) craft stalls with souvenirs, jewelry, and local art. After that I walked straight into the monument area, where you can literally stand in four states at once — Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. There were other visitors but it never felt crowded. There’s a short line to take the classic photo on the exact “four states” marker, so a little patience is needed, but totally worth it. The whole area is clean, organized, and easy to explore. On the way out you can also stop by the state welcome signs for Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and the Navajo Nation for extra photos. A really cool and memorable experience. Highly recommended! 📸🇺🇸

We rode our motorcycles from Phoenix out to Four Corners, and it was an unforgettable trip. The ride itself was scenic with plenty of open roads, mountains, and desert views along the way. Stopping at Four Corners Monument was a fun experience—standing in four states at once is something you don’t do every day. The area has several local vendors with handmade crafts, jewelry, and souvenirs, which added to the charm. It’s definitely more of a quick stop than an all-day activity, but worth it for the unique landmark and the ride to get there. If you enjoy road trips and motorcycle rides, this is a great destination to check off the list.

Welcome to the American west. This was a long time bucket list item ✔️. My beloved uncle Richard and aunt Margaret visited decades ago. Their memories served to inspire mine. This is the only location throughout the continental USA where four states intersect at single point. It would be interesting understanding the reasons behind the state line decisions. I recall there being a PBS production discussing how various state lines came to be. Meanwhile, we drove scenic highway 160 from Durango. The sandstone terrain felt mesmerizing; this was a visual I had seen only in western films. There were shapes, dimensions, and formations carved into this unique dusty landscape covering millions of years, dare I say perhaps even a billion years. This area once comprised oceanic territory. Ours was a stunningly beautiful drive. Arriving, the four corners monument is well marked and easily located. We knew in advance there would be an $8 per person entry fee. Probably $5 per person would have been more appropriate but their price is the price. No reason to haggle, just enjoy. After parking, we noticed there were restrooms (porta-potty) available, food trucks, vendors, and the four-corners intersection. On this Friday, there weren’t many visitors yet, so there wasn’t overt pressure to rush photos. I highly recommend taking your time. We helped other couples take photos, while they reciprocated. This was an efficient tradeoff. Afterwards, we toured the vendor area engaging with the craftsmen, and in one case observed the final coat of paint being intricately applied to the pottery. Interesting and educational experience! The product quality was undeniably high. My only regret was not taking time to short-hike the terrain behind the monument. Afterwards, we returned immediately to Durango. If you are considering going, GO, this a once in a lifetime very worthwhile experience:

The last time I was here was 1992, and this time was staying in the area. Visited during the week in the shoulder season, so fewer visitors. The local vendors offer varied handmade art and craft works. Since I was there last, the Navajo Nation developed a short hiking trail at the end of the parking lot, the Dancing Horse Trail. I was so very happy to have the opportunity to revisit the site, on a beautiful November day.

It’s kinda cool straddling 4 states. Bit of a tourist trap. It’s really only this one spot for pictures. You get in line and snap a few. Not entirely sure it’s worth the $8 per person but it’s something to check out. There are vendors that line the area. If you’re looking for some unique souvenirs. We went off season - the vendor we spoke to said it’s usually really busy until mid Sept.

This was a FABULOUS hike. Wore me out but well worth it. Spectacular sights all the way around. Crossing it canyon was an adventure too. I love everything about this place. The air conditioned visitor center felt so good after an hour and a half in the hot sun.

Great little hiking loop around the upper end of the canyon with some close and not-so-close views of architecturally unique towers and dwellings. While we did enjoy coming out here at least once, we felt more impressed by Chimney Rock and Aztec Ruins as they felt far more interactive and personal.

Out in the middle of nowhere land. BUT, such amazing examples of the talents of the ancient ones in building housing and water gathering. Rugged and hostile in the summer. Cold and difficult in the winter. Walking tour around the perimeter approximately 2 miles. Well worth the effort. Absolutely an amazing place!

The Square Tower loop trail at Hovenweep NM is an easy trail with multiple Ancestral Pueblo buildings along this canyon mostly within sight of each other. I love the one within the boulder since it's unique. I attended one of the ranger talks about it while I was there which was informative.

Very neat place to see pueblo ruins. Along the cliffs. A 2 mile loop allows you to see the whole pueblo. The 2 mile loop involves climbing down and up the canyon. Well done trail. Even has benches to rest. You will be in full sun with little shade.

This place is amazing. I hiked into Painted Hand Pueblo and Cutthroat pueblo. Absolutely breathtaking. I was able to take some amazing photos and it was so quiet and peaceful. There were no crowds. I saw six other people combined at both places and there were only a dozen or so people at the Visitors Center, including park employees, while I was there. This is a must see for anyone interested in the Ancestral Puebloan peoples... Or even if they are not.

It was a bit disappointing. You a lot of walking to not see very much. I don't think its anything like the descriptions you read where it says its the best ruins anywhere. I've seen better. Much better.

In February 2025, we visited the Bluff Fort Historic Site, in Bluff, Utah, which is in Southeastern Utah. The Bluff Fort is open to the public with a free admission. The buildings, displays m, and exhibits are incredible and cleverly done. We learned about the Mormon Pioneers who settled Bluff, as they traveled over 100 miles in rugged desert terrain during the Winter of 1879 to 1880. We came away with a much greater sense of history of the sacrifices and efforts of these early settlers. It was great to walk through Bluff Fort and step inside the different log cabins and other buildings and appreciate the work of these early settlers. Bluff Fort is an amazing place and definitely worth the free admission visit.

We found this place by accident, just driving & decided to stop. So glad we did! Terry in the store, was fantastic explaining everything to us. The movie did a wonderful job of portraying the history. David gave us some great routes to explore in Utah. The Fort is very well done & it’s Free!!!

A welcomed surprise on our tour thru the four corners region. Entrance into the fort is free and the displays managed by descendants of the original settlers were well put together and interesting. We spent a couple of hours here and then came back in the evening for a free concert. Definitely recommend this place.

What a fun visit! So many things to do and see for free (donations accepted). The cookies, huckleberry ice cream and peanut brittle were so delicious. The gift shop had so many unique items and beautiful quilts.

Excellent stop on our road trip to stretch our legs. Interesting historical venue with a gift shop, clean restrooms and ice cream for our pregnant daughter. The lime and vanilla swirl in a cup was cool, refreshing and very delicious! Also bought some yummy treats - english toffee brittle and rocky road fudge. Perfect stop on our way cross country.

An amazing and free place. Much to learn about the journey to settle this area. Made for both kids and adults. The volunteers are knowledgeable and friendly. We bumped into it by accident and it is one of the highlights the kids remember. Exhibits are both indoor and outdoor so appropriate for any weather. Worth watching the movie (or at least part of it) to understand the different cabin exhibits

This historic site is open 24 hours, but the visitor center and gift shop are only open daily from 0900 – 1800 hours during the spring and summer. Entrance to this site is free but they do welcome donations, which we recommend. Besides the fort, there is a visitor center, gift shop, food court, restrooms, covered picnic areas and you can even pan for gold. For those interested in history, this is a must stop to tour this fort, which at one time was a major stopping point for travelers and traders and experience just a taste and sense of adventure and all the fort’s rugged charm.

Very easy to access. Visible from the road with binoculars, or you can get a few feet away by scrambling about 10 feet up a path that crosses in front of the rock face over a rough uneven path.

Sand Island is one of our favorite stops as we journey from Phoenix to Grand Junction CO. The Colorado River is so calming and is available with a boat ramp. The walking trail at the base of the cliffs show the artwork on the rock of pictographs and petroglyphs that tell you the stories of their journeys. It's also a beautiful photo of opportunity and there is camping & overnight parking available. The whole campground as well cared for

Very interesting. My grandson loved it a good place to stop,stretch,and take pictures.

It was a nice quick stop. Free and fast. Then back on the road

Easy access off hwy. No hiking needed. Interesting petroglyphs. Quick stop. Recommend even if you only have a few minutes

Really nice panel of Petroglyphs. Really easy to get too, drive right up to them. 😊

Great, very long wall (in 2 sections) of petroglyphs!

A lesser version perhaps of Monument Valley, but much quieter traffic, a more difficult road, but still excep-tional. Words can't describe it fully, it just has to be seen. Although it was getting near sunset so the photos aren’t the best time of day it’s a fantastic area.

One of the best places in this region, untouched nature and silence. You can easily drive any car, after the rain you can get stuck in a sedan. Lots of photos of places

Valley of the Gods was pure magic. A peaceful drive through stunning desert landscapes that feel ancient, sacred, and humbling. The kind of place that reminds you just how small we are in the grand scheme of things—and how lucky we are to witness it. The trail itself isn’t extreme, but it does ask for a little respect. Make sure your vehicle can handle the terrain. We ended up pulling a minivan out of a sticky situation, so… choose your ride wisely and let the desert do the rest.

Even though more and more people are visiting this place each year (and for good reason), it remains an absolutely magical and epic place that simply must be experienced at least once in your life. I never get bored of it.

Magical and ethereal. Not for the faint-hearted driving-wise, especially after rains, which was our case. The silence is incredible

We have been here twice, and we absolutely love it. The silence, the view it is breathtaking :) I would never be able to pass this on a roadtrip without taking the turn to drive this masterpiece of a (dirt)road.

Great Terrain and a breath taking drive. Definitely a bucket list item!

​This location is more of a large scenic overlook than a traditional park. Despite its small size, it provides day-use areas and overnight dry camping spot. Visitors will find it easy to access, clean, and offering spectacular views.

Camping is $10.00 a night 2 night max is on display. Rock fire rings and pit toilets. Water faucet is next to ranger station. Pack in pack out. Day use is to right camping is to left. Did see car campers come in after Ranger left and leave before ranger started in morning. There is an honor iron ranger for after hours. No thrills camping but camping here is beautiful. You can camp right on the rim with a long drop down.

Well not sure if it qualifies to be a state park but the view was great. Road to get here was pretty smooth and is newly built. They do charge $5/ vehicle and the view is like 200 m from tge booth. It is a small place but worth visiting to get it off the list.

Stunning! Paved road until campground, it then becomes gravel but good condition. Campground has more than 8 spaces to park rv, in fact it can take as many as you can find space to park as it goes around the rim of the cliff.

Really pretty place to stop. Easy to access if you're traveling between the Canyonlands and Monument Valley. We didn't plan for much time here, but would love to go back, especially at night! Looks like an amazing place to do some stargazing and astrophotography. Good camping right along the rim and nice views of the San Juan River.

Great stop along our roadtrip. $5 day use fee. $10 fee to camp. Totally worth it either way. The entry fee collector was cute. " its just a lookout, nothing else" there are toilets at the look out. It was just a lookout, but a beautiful one!

Amazing views and an even better night sky. We dry camped here for one night at a cost of $10. Limited amenities available so bring what you need.

Even if you are not a fan of the movie, this is still worth checking out, just for the views. We arrived at 9:30 on a Friday and there were already about 30 other people there. Crowds would come and go and for the most part everyone worked together to watch out for traffic and take turns getting photos & videos. There are plenty of pull off spaces along the side of the road, we were even able to find a spot large enough for our RV and tow car. I would imagine the earlier you can get here, the better for photos. You don't have to stand in the middle of the road for photos, in fact I think the photos that we took from the side of the road on the small hills came out better then the street ones.

Definitely a view to look at, but you won't get it without seeing people doing funny things. Maybe that's a bonus. Be careful as cars are going by high speed. Take your time and if you want to capture the view in photos, plan how you are going to frame it. Then when the road is clear, take your image. But again getting one clean image without people is a tricky one for sure.

This point is awesome, you can get the achievement of a classic movie and also review the impressive view. It was cloudy and wet day, so we barely saw the mountain behind. We stayed there for 1 hour wait for cloud fly away. It worth though hahaha. This point is on the way, watch out the car!!!

The place and the view are amazing. Not just for Forrest Gump fans. It is a normal road with cars going up and down (speed is slightly limited, but should be down to 20-25 mph for safety reasons), several pullouts for parking the cars. People we met standing, laying, walking... on the road had "no morals". There is unlimited combination of taking photo/video for a group of 3 people (camera on the road. One is running, second is running, 3rd is running, group is running, 1st is laying on the road... Each idea must be taken as a photo, then a video. From the road. From 1 meter high, from 2 meters. Each of 3 people has at least one mobile. It means that everything must be done repeatedly on every single device. It doesn't stop because they also have gopro... You have been standing there for 15 minutes, but another hero takes a tripod and goes in front of everyone and also does several photo shooting disciplines. And he is suddenly in the photos of all the other people for the next > 10 minutes)

Great spot to visit. It is $8.00 per person to enter. Parking is plentiful and paved so that is a huge plus. Great gift shop with souvenirs as well as handmade Native American items. The views alone are well worth the price of admission. There is a drive around the valley, but we did not attempt it on fully loaded motorcycles.

Great shop to buy souvenirs, handmade jwellery and craftwork. They have a restaurant and have an outdoor seating as well. Nice view of the mo uments from outdoor swsting where you can take pictures. Restrooms were clean.

Beautiful! Some of the dirt road is rough . We have a jeep so no troubles. Well worth the trip. Says about 2 to 4 hours. I think we were there at least 5 hours. Local people selling art and jewelry. Very serene peaceful and spiritual natural area. Admire and respect the land.

This is the Indogeous people of the US, - The Dine' or Navajo. They are wonderful people. Its long overdue that we support them in anyway we can. On top of that, the views are spectacular. And they have a small but wonderful museum here, w information about the Vode Talkers. Highly recommend

The Monument Valley Tribal Visitor Center is an excellent starting point for exploring one of the most iconic landscapes in the world. The staff were welcoming, knowledgeable, and patient with every question. They provided clear information about road conditions, scenic viewpoints, and guided tour options, which really helped us plan our route. The center itself is clean, well-organized, and offers stunning panoramic views right from the balcony. The cultural exhibits and local artistry add depth to the experience, making it more than just a stop — it’s an introduction to the Navajo Nation’s history and traditions. Highly recommend beginning your visit here.

Well, let’s split this review in two parts: First: Monument Valley itself: It’s absolutely gorgeous!! You’ve seen it in the movies and now you can see it live. Absolutely fantastic and a must-see from my point of view! Second: What the Navajo tribe is doing: I’ve been to Monument Valley many times - and there are a few things that are just not okay. 1. The road through the valley is absolutely terrible! It has been for the past 25 years and it seems to me as if NOTHING is being done! I don’t expect a concrete paved road - but at least a road where I don’t have to be afraid my car is broken afterwards. You can really tell the difference between a NP and a park that is run by the tribes. 2. The Navajo want to make money out of EVERYTHING. On one of the view points in the valley drive you could also go horse riding. Well, the horses are standing there, waiting for customers. If you wanna take pictures of the horses, they urge you to give tip! I mean… WHAT?!? I should pay for taking a picture of an animal? What the heck? Then there is a very nice rock, perfect for taking picture with people standing on it. Years ago that was no problem. Now, you can’t go out there anymore, there is a fence. But you can sit on a horse on that very location and take a photo yourself for $20!! What a rip-off! Some Asian family did it and paid almost $100 dollars for the entire family to have their photo taken. Disgusting! 3. I’m super sorry to say that, but the Navajo were not too friendly to us. Whether it was in the gift shop or elsewhere in the park. What a pity. Friendliness is free and makes life nicer for everyone.

Compact building at the park entrance. There are exhibits on Navarrese culture, geology is presented there, and there is also a souvenir shop with jewelry, pottery, etc. The view from that spot is absolutely amazing.

The cottage we stayed in was most comfortable. Cottage was clean and neat upon arrival, with plenty of towels, utensils, etc. We used virtually all amenities: restaurant, laundry, grocery store and gas station. Food was well prepared and tasty. Service generally good and servers were most polite. Enjoyed the museums. The deluxe trip through Monument Valley was quite an experience: our guide/driver most helpful and answered many questions in a knowledgeable and pleasant fashion. Roads through the valley fair to quite poor; rough and bumpy ride. Bring water and sunscreen.

Beautiful historic location with restaurant, gas station and large grocery store.. Beautiful views depend on where you are though, we were in a cabin park with a kitchen and a separate bedroom about 500 meters away from the lodge which was nice but was not as clean as it should be..There is no view except for the cabins in the front row ofcourse. The restaurant is reasonable but unfriendly unfortunately.. Staff by the reception was welcoming! Also the museum which is about the lodge itself is very interesting! Overall great stay and I would still recommend it to anyone!

Goulding’s began as a trading post in the 1920s and now blends lodge, museum, cabins, RV & campground facilities. Prime location for Monument Valley access: It’s right on Navajo land near the Arizona–Utah border, giving guests close proximity to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Views are a major draw: Waking up to sweeping valley vistas and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Good amenities for the remote setting. Pricing can feel steep, but that's your only option really. The lodge offers a small indoor pool (open year-round), a restaurant on-site (Stagecoach Dining Room), and tour services using Navajo guides (that was really awesome) . The rooms at the lodge where we stayed, are 2 room cabins with a kitchenette. It was a very pleasant experience Decent value given limited options in the area Because lodging options near Monument Valley are scarce, many guests feel the lodge is a compelling choice, despite its limitations.

The Gouldings Lodge is a motel that faces Monument Valley - every room with a view. By view, I mean the paintings and the photographs in the rooms and that you have seen online are now outside your window. The attached photo is from our room window. Forget that the rooms are very clean, that there is a pretty cool museum and a nice cafe steps away - that the room comes with a fridge and micro...whatever. You are staying in a historical location situated in a natural work of art. This could have been a tent and would have gotten 5 stars. This was anamazing stay - absolutely memorable!

The location deserves 7 stars. You'll never have a room with a view like this. Rooms are nothing fancy, but have all the essentials. Great shop, free museum, and restaurant on site. Very tasty food. Had homemade soup and fry bread. Also had excellent biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Wish they were in my town.

We were charged 30% for canceling our Saturday night, October 11, reservation. I called to cancel early Thursday morning because the weather forecast was stormy with lightening and flash floods. I asked if they could take less of a percentage because this was beyond our control. We didn't feel safe driving in an unfamiliar area under adverse conditions. The manager, Mona, said no. This was an indirect answer since she relayed the message and didn't come to the phone to talk to me personally. We are planning on rescheduling our vacation in a week or two. We will not, however, stay at Gouldings. In the planning stages of this vacation I called Goulding and was quoted a price. When I called back to make the reservation I was quoted a different price. When I called to confirm the price, I was given yet another price. At no time was I told that if I canceled I would be charged 30%. I was told I would lose my deposit of $27.27, if I cancelled. I understood that. Today, when I called I was quoted yet a different price. While on that call, while waiting to talk to manager Mona, when the girl (not Mona) came back to the phone it was another price. Yikes! Do they just pull numbers out of the air??? The initial price was $233.10. Today, I was told $293.80. Somewhere along the line I was given a 20% discount from Val. Today, that discount went to 10%, and I owed $293.80. Go figure. My suggestion is this: keep on looking for places to stay. If you do decide on Goulding get a price etched in stone. These people are in the hospitality business!

Amazing views and resort. Cant beat waking up to sunrise in monument valley. Tour was outstanding and our guide had so much to add to the local history. So many westerns filmed in the area and for good reason. THIS is the way to do Monument Valley. We’ll be back!

Stopped in to grab a couple crispy wraps on my way back to Phoenix. The fries were hot. Wraps were good. The mango lemonade was amazing. Service was good and the staff was friendly and welcoming. No complaints. 5 stars.

Haven’t been to a BK in almost a decade but decided to stop here due to the code talker exhibit. Food was outstanding, whopper had great grill flavoring, chicken nuggets were juicy, fries hot & crisp. Friendly service as well as the aforementioned exhibit which was very interesting.

The lady that took our order was nice. Very patient and friendly. I had a Whopper, Jr -- really good. Area where drinks are filled was well stocked. Sitting area is large and spacious. Love the Code Talker display -- such a great tribute to great men.

Good food clean inside and out. I am very thrilled my truck and trailer fit here and there is room to park behind. Thankful a place transporters don’t have to walk a long way to or park illegally. I love the big breakfast burrito and coffee is good. They have a small museum next door and many EV chargers. I really appreciate the display they have inside of the Navajo Coders.

Make yourself a favor and go inside to order... I ordered online. First, they could not retrieved my order. Then, of 3 products I ordered they got 1 right.. The ice tea.. I did not get my fries, got to go back, and asked for it.. The lady did not even check the order before giving it to me. Not even a sorry.. Then I asked for Swiss cheese in the burger and paid for it...I got regular American cheese.. One would think that fast food should be straight forward to make.. But apparently not..

Best tasting burger king ive had. Service was great, employees where kind and courteous. The Navajo Code Talker display had some interesting pieces in it and is worth taking a look at.

BLOWN AWAY! Was not expecting to happen upon this detailed tribute & micro museum honoring the Navajo Code Talkers from WWII. What a find. If you are in the area, passing through or a local, please stop in, grab breakfast or lunch and take in this wonderful exhibit that is loaded with many many artifacts. This location is well-staffed with friendly cheerful employees and the food was perfect. Hats off to the owners for honoring our country's Native Americans who provided an invaluable service at our country's time of need.

Absolutely amazing and to believe it is free to visit is crazy! 3 trails, two are fairly easy but the one to the relic forest is pretty steep coming back up but worth it for thay view. They have a little museum at the visitor center and tons of educational things to read along the trails. Very fun and my kids loved it.

Incredible and stunning. This park is not well-known, but should be. Such an interesting area. The visitor center is first class, with lots of information and helpful staff members. Plan enough time to hike some of the trails in the area. One goes down into the canyon, which is absolutely beautiful. This trail isn't too long, but there are lots of stairs. Another trail ends at an overlook where you can see the Betatakin site. Well worth the walk, which is longer than the first trail, but much flatter. We stayed at one of the two rustic campgrounds at the park. Absolutely loved the site. Nice level area with picnic table and surrounded by trees. The campground has a restroom area with flush toilets. No other amenities. We stayed at the campground that's closest to the visitors center, but there's another campground nearby. I believe it has pit toilets.

What a beautiful place! The hike to see the cliff dwelling is really nice and the views are amazing! The campground is fantastic too and it's a really great place to spend some time.

Such a scenic and awesome national monument! My only complaint is that you can’t get closer to the ruins.

Nice short hike with great views of the ruins. I took two kids. The path was easy and well maintained. Great views on the way out to the over look. Then you get a nice payoff with seeing the Cliff dwellings. In the distance inside the huge arched rock formation. There were longer trails I saw others taking. Signs asking the path have interesting descriptions of the plant life. Easy trail. Visitor center and bathrooms were closed due to the government shutdown during October. No facilities were available at all.

A lesson in history. The venue is shut at the moment, but visited all the same & was a lovely experience, getting to know a little more, about the ways of life in the area.

An amazing place to learn about the Navajo people and get an understanding of the cliff dwellings settlement. Visitor Center had great display of how life might have been here in the past. Also possible to see a dino footprint. Not too long paved walking trail to the overlooking of the Cliff dwelling itself. Along the way you could also learn about plants and their usage in the area. Very interesting.

We had an awesome tour guide - Jennifer Whiterock - who walked us out and showed us what was what and told us stories about the finds. We saw a lot of really cool things, and she encouraged us to touch the bones, stand on them, etc - there is no other place I have ever been or very likely will - who would let you do that. Our guide brought a water bottle to add water to the finds to make them more visible. She made sure we were okay to continue exploring in the heat when a member was falling behind. She is so sweet. Be respectful of where you are. This belongs to the Navajo, and they chose to share this with you. Do not take bones or stones. Leave the environment as you find it. Listen to the stories and learn. Our guide told us payment was up to us, that we could pay as we saw fit. We bought some jewelry from her as well. If you can't pay, it's fine. Obviously, if you can, please do. This is a treasure they are sharing. Let your children see the wonders, even if you can't afford it. This is a once in a lifetime experience.

There are an abundance of tracks, and they look really cool with the red dirt water in them. Our guide was Jennifer. She told us where to park and greeted us when we got out. Her guiding style was show and identify a track, then walk to the next one and wait for us to take our pics and catch up to her. One track she said was a brontosaurus, and knowing better, I can say that it was not. But didn’t comment to her about the error. About 200’ into the tour, she declared that she was too hot, and returned to the jewelry stands. It wasn’t very hot that day, and she had a sweatshirt on that she could have taken off. So the tracks were really neat, but the interaction with our guide was sorely lacking. We gave her a good tip anyway, just because.

Well worth the stop! Orlando Whitestone was my guide when I was there and was incredibly knowledgeable! I highly recommend accepting a tour from a guide; they’ll point out the best tracks, fossilized eggs, fossilized dung piles, and point out the ancient river beds. The guides work off donations, $10-20 is a good range to tip for their service.

What a cool thing to see. So random, at first you're wondering if you're going to the right place. Middle of nowhere, sign that says dinosaur tracks. You just pull in and drive up to where the Natives have their little jewelery huts. Donate what you want for them to give you a tour, because they know where all the best tracks are. Tip heavily, they deserve it. They stand out in the heat all day. If it was bought out by some company and made into an attraction, you'd be paying a lot. I appreciate it being in its natural state.

Interesting and very cool. A local Navajo guided us through the place, showing us the different dinosaur footsteps (about 10-15 minutes). If you need a small break from driving or just like dinosaurs, this is a great place.

The site itself is very interesting and worth stopping to see — there are real dinosaur track fossils here. In particular, the large three-toed tracks found in this area are consistent with Dilophosaurus, a real early Jurassic theropod that lived in this region around 190 million years ago. That part is accurate and scientifically supported. However, just a note about the guided explanations: the guides here are local individuals, not trained paleontologists, and some of the information offered can be incorrect. For example, we were told that there were T. rex and Velociraptor footprints here, but that is not possible — those dinosaurs lived over 100 million years later, in much younger rock layers than the ones at this site. So those particular claims were not accurate. My recommendation: Enjoy the site for what it truly is — a rare chance to see authentic Dilophosaurus-era tracks in the open desert. Just take the spoken explanations with caution and look up the scientific details afterward if you’re curious. Overall: Great stop, real footprints, but verify the dino facts independently.

What a wonderful experience!!! Connie was an amazing host who is patient and vey thoughtful. She shared accurate accounts of the dinosaurs and beautiful expressions of her culture.

Antelope Canyon honestly felt like one of the biggest tourist traps I’ve ever experienced. Tickets are extremely expensive over $100 per person for what is basically a short guided walk through the canyon. Yes, the rock formations are beautiful, but the whole experience felt more staged than authentic. Our guide was friendly, but right before entering he told everyone to switch their cameras to the “vivid warm” setting so the colors would pop more in photos. That’s the moment I realized it was more about creating Instagram pictures than actually appreciating the natural wonder. It felt forced, and honestly, a bit like a scam. The tour itself was rushed, with groups lined up one after another. We were constantly told where to stand and how to pose for photos, which made it feel less like exploring nature and more like being herded through a photo studio. It was also crowded, noisy, and hard to actually take in the canyon without bumping into another group. For the price, I expected something longer, calmer, and more meaningful. Instead, it was over in less than an hour and felt like nothing more than a very expensive photo op. Overall, Antelope Canyon is beautiful but massively overpriced, crowded, and commercialized. If you’re looking for a real nature experience, you’ll be disappointed.

Antelope Canyon is one of the most beautiful and surreal places on Earth — a true natural wonder! But you can't get in for free! Keep in mind that the ticket costs around $150! The colors, the shapes, the light beams cutting through the narrow walls — it’s like walking inside a living piece of art. Every step feels magical, and every photo looks unreal. 📸 However, it’s important to know that entry to Antelope Canyon is only possible with a guided tour — you can’t explore it on your own. It’s located on Navajo land, and access is strictly controlled to protect the site and ensure safety. Tours can be a bit pricey, but they’re worth it — guides help you find the best angles for photos and share stories about the canyon’s history and meaning. If you don’t manage to book a tour or want to explore on your own, don’t worry — there are plenty of beautiful free spots nearby! You can visit Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, or drive through the desert roads around Page — the landscapes there are stunning and completely open. 🌄 Antelope Canyon is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but the whole area around it is breathtaking too — full of places where you can feel the same spirit of the American Southwest. ❤️

We did the Upper Antelope Canyon tour and were rendered speechless at the beauty therein. Our guide, Mike, is amazing at capturing photos with whatever cellphone he was presented with.

Having visited one of my travel bucket lists with my bf finally during US Trip in Oct this time!! It’s an absolutely breathtaking spot which is surreal and stunning for the artistry of nature. It’s in Arizona & located on Navajo Nation land. This magnificent spot is well-known for its sculpted sandstone walls and the light beams that illuminate the passages. The spectacular scenery looks so unreal when it exists in front of me!! This spot must take a guided tour to enter and it’s available to choose either the Upper or Lower sections and we finally went for Upper one as the original tour to Lower section is being cancelled due to flood warning. Although it’s more costly than lower section, we were glad that we have made this decision as the tour guide was so professional to have photo shooting for us with the best angles (capture the most memorable moments!!) as well as share the history of Canyon. To supplement from some research earlier, the best moment to visit Upper Antelope will be Mar - Oct during midday (1100-1300) in which sun is high enough to create famous light beams. If you will visit Arizona, it’s highly recommend to feature it into your itinerary and is definitely a place that must visit once in a lifetime!

My sister and I road tripped from FL to AZ specifically to tour the Upper and Lower Canyon! Worth the drive! My husband now wants to do the same trip next year and tour the Canyons! Best trip and experience of my life!

Antelope Canyon is one of the most unique natural features you’ll ever see! It’s stunningly gorgeous and walking through the canyon feels almost otherworldly at times. While the guided tour is expensive and moves you through the canyon quickly, there are other slot canyons in the same area you can explore if you want a different experience. We appreciated the guide’s tips for where to take photos, as she revealed unique shapes that only become visible from certain angles as the light hits the canyon. Would have loved to take the photography tour, but unfortunately we were short on time and the lower canyon tours were cancelled due to recent rainfall.

What can I say what an experience this was , the tour guide took the time out with everyone and put himself out to be as helpful as he could . It was very enjoyable and amazing to see something different and amazing around every corner . Well worth a visit if you're in that part of the USA . We had such a lovely time and made another fabulous memory. I would highly recommend paying it a visit it's very photogenic so have plenty of space for pictures. For more content finding me on Instagram Inspirational_ninni All photos are taken with a Google pixel pro7