The Ultimate Southwest Road Trip Guide: Navajo Nation, Monument Valley & Sedona

We didn't plan a single thing. On New Year's Day 2026, we decided we were going to the Southwest — to the Rez. What followed was one of the most spiritual, visually staggering, and fulfilling trips of our lives. This is your ultimate insider's guide to traveling through New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona — with stops at sacred landmarks, Indigenous-owned tours, the best Navajo shopping, and hidden culinary gems along the way.

Stop 1: Gallup, New Mexico — The Heart of Indian Country

Sleep Like a Movie Star: Historic El Rancho Hotel

Your Southwest journey must begin at the legendary Historic El Rancho Hotel on Route 66 in Gallup, New Mexico. Built in 1937 by R.E. "Griff" Griffith (brother of Hollywood director D.W. Griffith), this National Register of Historic Places landmark was the on-location home for Hollywood's golden age royalty — John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, Rita Hayworth, and Ronald Reagan all slept here while filming Westerns in the surrounding landscape.

Historic El Rancho Hotel Lobby in Gallup, New Mexico

The lobby alone is worth the stay. Think: wrap-around upper balcony John Dutton-style, railings draped in vintage Navajo rugs, stunning Yéʼii paintings by the late Chester Kahn, and an authentic John Wayne cowboy hat on display. The second-floor library is lined with books on the American Southwest and Indigenous teachings, alongside signed headshots from every star who passed through. Each guest room is named after a celebrity — we recommend booking early if you want the John Wayne Suite.

Pro tip for ghost enthusiasts: . We had two friendly late-night visitors — a blonde and a brunette with a bob — who apparently just wanted to chat and laugh all night. You've been warned (and welcomed). 

📍 1000 E. Highway 66, Gallup, NM | elranchohotelgallup.com

New Mexico's Best Kept Secret: The Gallup Flea Market

Every Saturday, the Gallup Flea Market comes alive — and it is, without question, the single best place in the United States to buy authentic Navajo jewelry, pottery, rugs, and art directly from the artists who made them. No middlemen. No markup. No reproductions.

Skip the trading posts on Route 66. Instead, wake up early on Saturday and head to the Flea Market, where hundreds of Navajo artisans set up directly from the back of their trucks. Back your own truck up, open the tailgate, and listen to live music from the main stage after you browse.

Gallup Flea Market features hundreds of local vendors

What to buy:

• Authentic Navajo and Pueblo jewelry (turquoise, coral, sterling silver)
• Hand-woven Navajo rugs and Sash Belts
• Navajo Wedding Baskets
• Cedar bags with stunning ribbon work
• Navajo tea and herbs
• Paintings and leather goods

The most important find: Piñon nuts. If you've never tasted freshly foraged Southwestern piñon nuts, your life is about to change. They're a delicacy — and a deeply personal one for us, tied to memories of grandparents and childhood.

Don't miss: LT Leather at the Flea Market. Ask for Navajo Ghost Beads — the Navajo equivalent of the Greek evil eye, worn to protect against bad spirits. After our overnight ghostly encounters at El Rancho, we were grateful for ours.

Shop Gallup Like a Pro: The Insider List

City Electric Shoe Shop — 230 W. Coal Ave., established 1924. This is the best selection of handmade moccasins in the United States, crafted in-house for all ages. They also carry leather belts, colorful chaps, and most of the leather supplies used by Native artists on the Navajo Nation. This place puts every other leather supply store to shame. A one-hundred-year-old institution.

Thunderbird Supply Company — 1907 W. Historic Hwy 66. Where the pros go. This is the flagship resource for Navajo jewelry-making essentials: finished stones, silver findings, turquoise cabochons, tools, and more. Since 1971, Thunderbird has been the cornerstone for Native American silversmiths and jewelry makers — and it shows in every artist you'll meet at markets and galleries across the Southwest.

House of Stamps by Lyndon Tsosie — Handmade Navajo stamps for silversmithing. Located close to Thunderbird Supply. If you're a silversmith or jewelry collector, this is a sacred stop.

T&R Market — Come for the mutton and head, Bluebird flour, and traditional Navajo staples. Stay for the legendary "Grandma Packs" and "Bonus Buckets." A must-see on the Navajo Nation.

Gallup Coffee Company — 201 W. Coal Ave. The best food in Gallup, full stop. A local roaster that makes drink syrups from scratch and roasts beans on-site. Bonus: it's located on a stretch of Coal Avenue with beautiful murals and walkable shopping that includes City Electric Shoe Shop steps away.

Ellis Tanner Trading Post — If you visit one trading post in Gallup, make it this one. Ellis Tanner carries a premium, curated selection of unique work from local award-winning artists — not the redundant pawn jewelry you'll find elsewhere. For us, it's personal: it features our great-grandfather, David Skeet, in the stunning Circle of Light Murals by Chester Kahn, honoring his lifelong passion for bringing education to the Navajo people.

Day Trip from Gallup: Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

Beauty Way Jeep Tours — A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

The drive from Gallup to Canyon de Chelly is gorgeous (just watch for escaped livestock on the highway). But nothing can prepare you for what waits inside the canyon.

Canyon de Chelly is one of the most sacred and spectacular places in the American Southwest — a 26-mile canyon system on Navajo land in Chinle, Arizona, home to cliff dwellings over 1,500 years old, ancient Anasazi and Navajo petroglyphs, and dozens of Navajo families who still farm and ranch on the canyon floor today. You cannot enter without a Navajo guide. Full stop.

We chose Beauty Way Jeep Tours — and it was the highlight of our entire trip.

Our guide was Leander "Lee" Staley, current owner of the family business originally founded by his great-grandfather Chauncey Neboyia — the first Navajo archaeologist and the first Navajo man to guide tours in Canyon de Chelly. The family has been running tours here since the 1940s. The most famous Edward S. Curtis photograph taken in Canyon de Chelly was shot just steps from their family property.

For two hours, Lee guided us past cliff dwellings with original staircases and rock-climbing slits still intact, water basins, food storage chambers, and hundreds of petroglyphs. He shared Navajo teachings, traditions, and ceremonies with warmth and depth. We watched the sunset turn the canyon walls from amber to deep violet while the most breathtaking stars appeared overhead. At the final cliff dwelling, stars had been etched directly into the rock — a reminder that countless people before us looked up at the same sky from the same sacred ground.

Anasazi Cliff Dwellings and Petroglyphs in Canyon de Chelly

We left fulfilled in a way that's hard to put into words.

Book your Beauty Way Jeep Tour here → 📍 Chinle, AZ | (928) 674-3772 | beautywayjeeptours.com

While in the area, don't miss:

• Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise — Window Rock, AZ: authentic Navajo-made goods, officially certified. Woven wool rugs, sterling silver and turquoise jewelry, baskets, sand paintings, wood carvings, dolls, pottery, and assorted other finished goods and Native craft products.
• Hubbell Trading Post — Ganado, AZ: the oldest continuously operating trading post in the Southwest. A National Historic Site and deeply important institution in the history of Navajo art and commerce.

On the Road to Utah: Shiprock & the Navajo Night Sky

As you drive north from Gallup toward Utah, watch for Shiprock — a 1,583-foot volcanic rock formation that erupts from the flat desert floor like something out of a Star Wars film. The Navajo call it Tsé Bitʼaʼí (Rock with Wings) and consider it deeply sacred. Pull over. Take the photo. Feel small.

One thing no travel guide adequately warns you about: the night sky on the Navajo Nation. Away from any light pollution, the Milky Way stretches overhead in full glory — more stars than you've ever seen in your life, close enough to feel like you're inside them. Plan an evening outside, anywhere on the Rez, and look up.

You'll also encounter thousands of wild horses roaming freely across the high desert. It's one of the most unexpected, quietly majestic sights in the American West.

Stop 2: Monument Valley, Utah/Arizona

Stay: Bluff Dwellings Resort & Spa

We based ourselves at Bluff Dwellings Resort & Spa in Bluff, Utah — a stunning boutique hotel built directly into sandstone cliffs, with rooms and structures designed to reflect 3,000 years of ancestral Puebloan architecture. It sits perfectly between Monument Valley and Canyonlands, and the on-site HóZhó Spa offers a deeply restorative experience after days of hiking and driving.

📍 2625 S. Hwy 191, Bluff, UT | bluffdwellings.com

Hike the Wildcat Trail

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is managed by the Navajo Nation — so your America the Beautiful National Parks pass does not apply. Entry is $8 per person. Like Canyon de Chelly, most of the valley can only be accessed with an authorized Navajo guide.

The exception: the Wildcat Trail — the only self-guided hike in the park. This 4-mile loop descends onto the valley floor and circles the entire West Mitten Butte, with sweeping views of East Mitten and Merrick Butte throughout. It takes about two hours at a comfortable pace. Bring plenty of water, wear proper shoes, and go at sunrise or sunset for the most dramatic light and temperature.

The scale of these formations is impossible to fully grasp from photos or from the overlook. Walking among them — feeling the red sand beneath your feet, looking up at walls of ancient sandstone towering hundreds of feet overhead — is a completely different kind of encounter. Go.

Alternatively, drive the 17-mile Monument Valley Loop in an AWD vehicle for a scenic self-guided tour.

Don't skip: Stop at The View Hotel to take in the world-famous panorama from the lookout. Tour the hogan and sweat lodge on-site. The hotel is the only lodging directly overlooking the Mittens — every room faces sunrise.

📍 Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation: navajonationparks.org

Dream Tour: Private Monument Valley Storytelling with Don Mose

If budget allows, this is the ultimate Monument Valley experience — and one we'd put on our bucket list without hesitation. Monument Valley Safari offers a 3.5-hour private tour led by the legendary Don Mose, an 81-year-old Navajo elder whose wisdom, storytelling, and ceremonial knowledge are without equal.

Don is not simply a guide — he is a living embodiment of the Navajo spirit. He played a pivotal role in developing Navajo language curricula for Rosetta Stone and the San Juan School District, and his tours are as much cultural immersion as they are landscape adventure. As you travel through restricted areas of the valley inaccessible to the general public, Don shares the rich tapestry of Navajo history, sings traditional ceremonial songs that echo off the canyon walls, and performs a traditional Blessing Way chant — included with every tour.

The private itinerary takes you to the most extraordinary sites in the valley, including the East and West Mitten Buttes, John Ford's Point, the Three Sisters Spires, Sun's Eye Arch, Ear of the Wind Arch, ancient petroglyphs on Anasazi Mesa, Pottery Arch, the Totem Pole Spire, and a demonstration at a traditional Navajo hogan. Everything is fully customizable based on your interests.

You'll travel in a private enclosed vehicle, with bottled water provided. No shuffling through crowds. No itinerary designed for the masses. Just you, the valley, and one of its most revered storytellers.

Pricing: Starting at $600 for up to two people; $100 per additional person. Meet at The View Hotel guided tours loading area.

Book the Don Mose Private Tour →

📍 Indian Route 42, Oljato-Monument Valley, AZ | monumentvalleysafari.com

Eat: Amigo Cafe — Kayenta, Arizona

After Monument Valley, drive to Amigo Cafe in Kayenta. This is the best restaurant in the Monument Valley region — period — and one of the most underrated dining experiences in the entire Southwest. Open since 1983, Amigo Cafe serves what we call Mexijo — Mexican-Navajo fusion made entirely from scratch using generations-old family recipes.

We had: Elote Ribs (yes, you read that right), the absolute best Navajo Taco of our lives, and for dessert, Fry Bread with ice cream, whipped cream, blueberries, piñon nuts, drizzled in caramel and chocolate with cinnamon sugar. Stacy loved it so much she bought the whole merch set — coffee cup, tote, and hat — on the way out.

📍 US Hwy 163, Kayenta, AZ | (928) 697-8448 | amigocafekayenta.com

Stop 3: Page, Arizona — Via Ferrata in a Slot Canyon

Antelope Ridge Adventure Park — Skip the Crowds, Get the Adventure

If you've been to Antelope Canyon and felt like cattle being shuffled through a chute, we have your alternative: Antelope Ridge Adventure Park — a Navajo-owned and operated slot canyon adventure park located just 20 minutes south of Page, near LeChee, Arizona.

What is Via Ferrata? The term comes from Italian — "iron way" — and originated in the Italian Alps during World War I, where iron rungs were bolted into mountainsides to allow troop movement. Today it describes a style of mountain climbing where metal rungs, cables, and anchors are fixed into rock faces, allowing climbers of all skill levels to tackle routes that would otherwise require technical rock climbing expertise.

At Antelope Ridge, the Via Ferrata course is the only one in the world located entirely inside a slot canyon. No prior experience required. You begin with a 70-foot rappel down into the canyon floor, then weave through winding sandstone walls, shimmy along iron rungs bolted into ancient rock, and traverse passages as narrow as 12 inches. You're clipped to a safety cable the entire time.

Theo Martin, who founded Antelope Ridge with his wife Nicole, was raised playing in these canyons. The course was mapped from childhood hikes — land his family has occupied for generations. Their guides are CPR and First Aid certified Navajo community members who bring both safety expertise and deep cultural knowledge to every tour.

The result is everything Antelope Canyon promises visually — swirling sandstone, light beams, cathedral-like rooms — plus the physical thrill of actually engaging with the canyon itself. Zero crowds. Maximum awe.

They also offer a zipline course for families or those seeking a different kind of rush.

📍 Near LeChee, AZ (20 min south of Page) | anteloperidgeadventurepark.com

Horseshoe Bend

After your Via Ferrata tour, make time for Horseshoe Bend — the iconic overlook where the Colorado River makes a 270-degree bend around a dramatic sandstone peninsula, 1,000 feet below your feet. The sunset here is extraordinary. We shot several Cowgirls & Indians pieces against this backdrop and the photography was everything.

Insider tip: We heard from someone at the Heard Indian Market that kayaking tours are available at the base of Horseshoe Bend. If you have time, this is an incredible way to experience the bend from the river level.

Stop 4: Sedona, Arizona — Red Rock Country & World-Class Native Art

Sedona is one of the most visually dramatic cities in America — nestled inside a cathedral of red sandstone buttes, the kind of red that seems to absorb the afternoon light and glow from within. The city has a vibrant gallery scene and, for collectors of Native American art, two world-class destinations that belong on every serious buyer's itinerary.

Garland's Indian Arts — The Gold Standard

There is no better introduction to Sedona than arriving at Garland's and being greeted by a six-foot Kachina out front.

A family-owned institution since 1976, Garland's operates two locations: Garland's Navajo Rugs at 411 State Route 179 in downtown Sedona, and Garland's Jewelry at Indian Gardens in Oak Creek Canyon. Together they represent one of the finest collections of authentic Native American art in the world — working directly with over 500 artists, some across multiple generations.

Navajo Rugs on display at Garland's Sedona

Navajo Rug Education: Jane at Garland's gave us a masterclass. Navajo rugs are classified by regional style and historical period, including Chief Blankets (the oldest and most iconic), Storm Pattern, Two Grey Hills (extremely fine-weave, natural wool colors), Yei (depicting spiritual figures), Teec Nos Pos (intricate borderwork), Pictorial, and Chinle (banded, vegetal-dyed). All are hand-woven by Navajo weavers on vertical looms using methods unchanged for over 300 years. The quality being produced today is the finest it has ever been — and with fewer weavers working, these pieces are becoming increasingly rare.

At Garland's Jewelry, our guide Kaitlin of Astrology & Psyche introduced us to the shop and helped us find the most stunning Ron Bedonie concho belt on leather — a breathtaking piece. She also pointed us toward the Heishi Coral necklace made by Joe Jr. and Valerie Calabaza — one of the most technically extraordinary pieces of Native American jewelry we've ever held.

About Heishi Jewelry: Heishi comes from the Santo Domingo (Kewa) Pueblo word for "shell" and describes tiny, handmade disc beads created from shell, stone, or coral. Each piece of material is sliced into strips, cut into small squares, drilled through the center, strung together, then shaped and smoothed against a turning stone wheel. In the process, 60–70% of the original material is lost. The Santo Domingo Pueblo artists are the most skilled Heishi producers in the world, and the work of Joe Jr. and Valerie Calabaza represents the finest the tradition has to offer.

The people at Garland's — Jane, Kaitlin, and the entire staff — are among the most passionate, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic people in the Native art world. The owner speaks fluent Navajo. The respect they have for artists and for the tradition they steward is palpable in every conversation.

📍 Garland's Navajo Rugs: 411 AZ-179, Sedona, AZ | garlands.com 📍 Garland's Jewelry: 3953 N. State Route 89A, Oak Creek Canyon | garlands.com

Hoel's Indian Shop — Oak Creek Canyon's Hidden Gem

After Garland's, Kaitlin pointed us north up Hwy 89A toward Hoel's Indian Shop — and we almost missed it because it's located inside a private residence 10 miles north of Sedona in Oak Creek Canyon. Look for the sign on the left.

Founded in 1945 by Don and Nita Hoel, the shop has been under the guidance of David and Carol Watters for decades. Carol is one of the great buyers in the Native American jewelry world — her eye is impeccable and her inventory is deeply curated. Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and Santo Domingo artists come almost daily to sell directly to the shop.

Don Supplee turquoise and mediterranean coral Necklace on display at Hoel's Indian Shop in Sedona, AZ

We spotted a Don Supplee reversible gold necklace that stopped us in our tracks. Don Supplee is a Hopi goldsmith whose work combines traditional overlay technique with the warmth of 14kt gold — and is increasingly difficult to find.

Hoel's also carries vintage and antique pieces for collectors who appreciate old-pawn and pre-1970s Native American jewelry. The depth of knowledge here — and the quality of what Carol curates — is extraordinary.

Call before you go — it's a private residence and hours can vary: (928) 282-3925

📍 9589 N. State Route 89A, Sedona, AZ (Oak Creek Canyon) | hoelsindianshop.com

Bonus Stop: Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona

If you have time as you pass through Flagstaff, stop at Lowell Observatory — where Pluto was discovered in 1930. On clear nights, they open the famous Clark Telescope and the six advanced telescopes of the Giovale Open Deck Observatory to the public. Snow forced the closure during our visit, so call ahead to confirm. It's a spectacular experience for stargazers — and after the Navajo Nation night sky, you'll have a new appetite for the cosmos.

Travel Tips for the Navajo Nation

• Tribal land requires tribal guides for canyon and backcountry access. This is the law, and it's also the only way to truly understand what you're seeing. Honor it.
• National Park passes don't apply on Navajo Nation lands. Bring cash for entry fees.
• Time zones will confuse you. The Navajo Nation observes Daylight Saving Time; the State of Arizona does not. Your phone will bounce. Lock your time zone settings before you drive.
• Livestock on the highway is real. Drive carefully, especially at dawn and dusk.
• Buy local, buy Navajo. Every dollar spent with Navajo artists, guides, and businesses directly supports the community and the continuation of a 1,000-year artistic tradition.

We are not affiliated with any of the businesses mentioned in this guide. We simply went, we loved them, and we want you to find them too.

Share this guide with anyone planning a Southwest road trip. Tag us on Instagram @cowgirlsandindians and use #CowgirlsAndIndians and #NavajoBound so we can follow your journey.