Monument Valley's iconic Arizona rock formations and views

The formations of Monument Valley have come to define the American West for generations of moviegoers.

The only public access to the interior of the park is a 17-mile dirt road that loops through its stony heart.

The campground at the View Hotel offers impressive panoramas.

The formations of Monument Valley have come to define the American West for generations of moviegoers.

Clouds and cloud shadows and big sky become part of the landscape at Monument Valley.

The Lee Cly Trail was dedicated in the summer of 2016 and makes a 2.1-mile loop across rolling sandy hills with excellent views.

Goulding’s Lodge sits just outside the tribal park and offers rooms, cabins, a campground, restaurant, grocery store and museum.

John Ford Point was a favorite shooting location for the Hollywood director.

The View Hotel and the valley floor are visible from the Mesa Rim Trail.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park shelters over 91,000 acres and is still home to dozens of Navajo families.

Straddling the Arizona-Utah state line, Monument Valley is the centerpiece landscape of the Navajo Reservation.

A view from the North Window, Monument Valley.

Adriel Heisey picture of Monument Valley is featured in "Visions of Arizona."

The Wildcat Trail in Monument Valley circles the formation known as West Mitten.

Monument Valley in Arizona on Monday, March 17, 2014. Michael Schennum / The Arizona Republic

Even the mighty monoliths of Monument Valley are dwarfed by the sky. Erik McCorvey of Anthem shot this frame toward the end of a nine-day road trip that also included the Rocky Mountains and Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. See more of his photos at instagram.com/wedscvr.

"I spent an hour here photographing the changing light at sunset," writes Sue Kerr of Sydney, Australia about her visit to Monument Valley. "The next morning the valley was totally engulfed in fog!" See more photos from her Arizona trip at instagram.com/sooziegirl.

The full moon rises over on of the mittens in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.

The view of West Mitten Butte and other rock formations from the Wildcat Trail in Monument Valley.

The view from the Wildcat Trail in Monument Valley.

View of the Mittens from The View Hotel in Monument Valley.

The View Hotel in Monument Valley.

View from a balcony at The View Hotel in Monument Valley.