USA Castle Butte

The Valley of the Gods is a smaller, quieter alternative to Monument Valley, offering similar sandstone buttes and vast desert landscapes without the crowds, entrance fees or access restrictions. Castle Butte rises prominently from the valley floor, surrounded by open desert and dramatic rock formations.

From a certain angle, the formation almost looks like a giant stone needle, a perspective that works especially well from the air with a drone.

Valley of the Gods is accessed via a dirt loop road off US-163, between Mexican Hat and Bluff. The road is unpaved and can be rough or sandy, so a high-clearance vehicle is recommended. After rain it may become muddy and difficult or impossible to drive. The loop can be driven in either direction, and Castle Butte is visible from several pullouts along the route.