Valley of the Gods facts for kids
The Valley of the Gods is a beautiful sandstone valley. You can find it near Mexican Hat in southeastern Utah, United States. This area is famous for its amazing rock formations. These tall, reddish-brown rocks look like mesas (flat-topped hills), buttes (smaller flat-topped hills), towers, and even mushroom rocks. They are all that's left of a very old landscape.
The Valley of the Gods is a bit like Monument Valley, which is nearby. It's located north of Monument Valley, just across the San Juan River. This land is public and protected. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, a government agency that looks after public lands.
Exploring the Valley of the Gods
You can explore the Valley of the Gods by driving on a gravel road. This road is about 17-mile (27 km) long. It winds around all the cool rock formations. The road can be a bit steep and bumpy in some places. But regular cars can usually drive on it when the weather is dry.
The western end of the road connects to Utah State Route 261. This is just before a 1,200-foot (370 m) climb up Cedar Mesa called Moki Dugway. The eastern end of the road starts about nine miles (14 km) from the town of Mexican Hat. It begins along U.S. Route 163. From there, it heads north, crossing flat land. It follows a seasonal stream called Lime Creek. Then, it turns west toward the big buttes and pinnacles. Besides the main gravel road, there are also dirt trails for off-road vehicles.
Visiting the Valley
The Valley of the Gods is public land. This means it's open for everyone to enjoy. There is no fee to enter the valley. Also, there are no services like shops or restrooms inside the valley.
You can camp in the valley, which is called dispersed camping. This means you can set up your tent in places that have been used for camping before. However, campfires are not allowed. It's important to keep the area clean and protect the natural beauty.
