Monument Valley and Hunts Mesa

[peter_rowe]

<p>Hi all, my wife has booked a 3-day stay at the new View Hotel inside Monument Valley (what a girl). We've never been there before so we don't know what to expect and if we need to get a tour or guide to visit local scenic areas. I am particularly interested in photographing the Mittens from the Hunts Mesa, do I need to hire someone to take me there? Would I need to arrange that before I go or can I get it there, is it possible to be there at Sunrise and is that the best time? Any other helpful information about locations and times of day would be greatly appreciated. I've tried the "Search' feature here but it is not turning up much.<br>

Thanks.</p>

[alan_bryant1]

<p>The travel forum would probably be more helpful</p>

<p>http://www.photo.net/travel-photography-forum/</p>

[cliff_henry]

<p>Peter,<br>

Could you get your wife to call my wife? Nice trip!</p>

<p>I haven't been to Monument Valley in several years so things may have changed, but here is what I know:<br>

There are guides available at the Visitors' Center - probably best to book the evening before you want to go so you can get an early start. Guides have jeeps or trucks that take several people at a time. They make a loop through the valley stopping for picture taking. You can book a guide to take only you and your wife and he will stop wherever and whenever you want; it's more expensive of course. You can also drive your own vehicle into the valley althought you cannot go every where the guides go. From the Visitors' Center you look north and east into the valley and you can get some nice shots from there without actually going into the valley. As always, best light will be until about 10AM or after 4PM. If you want to prebook a guide you could probably call the visitors' center and they could set that up for you.</p>

<p>This is how it was the last time I was there, maybe things haven't changed to much.</p>

<p>Have fun!</p>

<p>Cliff </p>

[charles_wood]

<p>Hunt's Mesa is an overnight. It will cost you about $550.00 for you and wife overnight. The guides will prepare your tent and meals in addition to driving you up in the afternoon for sunset shots and then to the east end of the mesa for sunrise shots. Hunt's Mesa is quite far away from The Mittens and they will appear very distant. Even so, their iconic shape will still make the recognizable.<br>

Tom Phillips is the best photo guide at Monument Valley, in my opinion. Here is his link:<br>

http://www.monumentvalley.com/Pages/english_tours.html</p>

[morthcam]

<p>I second the recommendation for Tom Phillips, we used his service in 2008, had a great time, and got about an hour longer than we paid for. </p><div></div>

[brhodes47]

<p>Yep, I definitely agree with the group, Tom Phillips is the person you want to see. I had the opportunity to go to Monument Valley for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I am glad I looked up Tom when I was there. He will take you places that most people can not get to without a guide. He will also give you a history lesson of the area, he recommends lenses for the particular area that you are at and will even show you different compositions that you may not have thought about. He meets the group in the lobby of the hotel that you are staying at. The trip to Hunts Mesa leaves the parking lot at 2:00 pm. As stated, it is an overnight trip. You will have the option to hike up to Hunts Mesa (he will take your camera gear up in his truck) or you can drive up. It is money well spent.</p>

<p><img src="../photo/9876745" alt="" /></p>

[mattb1]

<p>It was my experience that the guides had access to the park early to allow sunrise photos. There should be several and they are easy to work with. </p>

<p>I have not done the Mesa, it sounds fantastic. I need to get back down there and take some photos, especially now that I have the 5D MkII.</p>

 

[boris_krivoruk3]

<p>I've been to Hut's Mesa twice. Tom Phillpis is great. The only problem is that you cannot see mittens from the mesa. It is still probably the best view you will ever see.</p>

[peter_rowe]

<p>Thank you all very much, I did not realize that Hunts Mesa was an overnight trip so that is a really good thing to know. I will certainly look up Tom Phillips.</p>