Monument Valley: 2-Hour Horseback Ride & Mitten Buttes

Ride Past the Mittens on Horseback Through Monument Valley's Red Rock

You ride horseback past the Mittens, Merrick Butte, and Sentinel Mesa with a Navajo guide who explains the geology and history of each formation. The two-hour tour includes helmet and cowboy hat, and works for all skill levels. You return to the stable with time to photograph the horses and ask final questions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Monument Valley Horseback Tour

• Arrive at Sacred Monument Tours Stable
• Meet Navajo guide and sign waiver
• Receive safety briefing
• Ride to The Mittens buttes
• View and learn about The Mittens
• Ride past Merrick Butte
• Enjoy views and photo stops
• Stop at the valley watchtower mesa
• Return to horse stable
• Ask guide questions and take photos

The experience

What does it feel like to sit in a saddle with the Mittens rising straight ahead? That's the first thing you notice when the ride starts: the two massive buttes, standing like giant hands against the sky, getting closer as your horse moves forward. You'll spend two hours in the valley itself, not in a vehicle, which changes everything about how the landscape settles into your memory. The Navajo guide meets you at the Sacred Monument Tours Horse Stable near The View Hotel, runs through a safety briefing, and hands you a helmet and cowboy hat before you mount up.

The route takes you past three main formations. The Mittens come first: the East and West Mitten Buttes, named for exactly what they look like when you see them from the south, thumbs pointing inward. Then Merrick Butte, standing 5,000 feet above sea level, the one you've probably seen in old Western films. Your guide will explain the geology as you ride, and you'll understand why early explorers and the Navajo people used these landmarks to navigate. The third stop is Sentinel Mesa at 6,200 feet, the "watchtower" of the valley. A natural landmark that's been guiding people through this desert for centuries. The photography opportunities are built into the route. You're not rushed between stops, and the guide knows where the light hits best.

Beginners and experienced riders both go on this tour, and the horses are trained for both. You don't need to know how to ride: the guide and the animals handle that part. What you do need is to be comfortable in a saddle for two hours, which is why the tour isn't recommended for people with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers. Everyone else, regardless of fitness level, can do this. The tour wraps up back at the stable, where you can ask questions and take photos with the horses before heading out.

What’s included

• Your two-hour ride includes a Navajo guide, a well-trained horse, helmet and cowboy hat, a safety briefing, and stops at The Mittens, Merrick Butte, and Sentinel Mesa.
• GST is included in the price.
• You'll have time for photographs at each formation and at the stable before and after the ride.

Information

Lasts 2h, runs every day at 09:00, 11:00 and 13:00, from US$ 180 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 4 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 11:00 and 13:00Last departure this season: 31 Dec

GroupUp to 4

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Sacred Monument Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Monument Valley's most famous formations from horseback rather than a vehicle, and you're comfortable in a saddle for two hours. The Navajo guide and the route itself handle the history and navigation, so you focus on the ride and the views.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Do I need horseback riding experience?

No. The tour is open to beginners and experienced riders alike. The horses are trained for all levels, and the guide will brief you on safety and basics before you start.

What's included in the tour price?

The guide, horse, helmet, cowboy hat, and GST are included. Photography opportunities are built into the stops.

How long is the ride?

Two hours total, including the briefing at the stable and the ride through the valley.

Who is the guide?

A Navajo guide, a seasoned cowboy familiar with the valley's history and geology.

What formations will I see?

The Mittens (East and West Mitten Buttes), Merrick Butte, and Sentinel Mesa, plus panoramic views of the surrounding red rock landscape.

Is this tour suitable for beginners?

Yes, it's suitable for all physical fitness levels and all riding experience levels. It's not recommended for people with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers.

Where do I meet the guide?

At the Sacred Monument Tours Horse Stable, near The View Hotel Premium Cabins at the end of the main road into Monument Valley.

What should I wear?

Comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. The tour provides a cowboy hat and helmet. Dust off your boots before you arrive.