Monument Valley to Clarkdale: Rain, Red Rocks & Trail Mishaps

The TinMan Adventures
Nov 8
6 min read

October 2024

Family road trip through southern Utah’s red rock canyons near Escalante — scenic photo from The TinMan Adventures travel blog capturing breathtaking desert landscapes, winding roads, and adventure stops from Utah Adventure Part 2.

Welcome back to our road trip series! If you’re just tuning in, make sure to catch up on Part 1 (Page & Lake Powell), Part 2 (Escalante), and Part 3 (Green River & Goblin Valley).

In this final stretch, we rolled deeper into Utah’s wild beauty and beyond—through snow-capped mountains, western movie sets, and a few unexpected roadside hiccups. From muddy paws to Monument Valley tours, and even a surprise breakdown in Flagstaff, this chapter had more stories than we could fit around one campfire.

Monticello: Muddy Paws, Horse Views & a Hitching Surprise

We pulled into Mountain View RV Park in Monticello with a reservation for a pull-thru site—but thanks to a missed confirmation step, we ended up in a back-in spot. Turns out, that was a blessing. Our new site backed up to an open field with two grazing horses, and the view was peaceful.

The park had full hookups, spotless showers (my husband swore they were nicer than ours at home—and honestly, he might be right), plus a clean laundry room. The only downside? The dog park was more mud than grass, thanks to three straight nights of rain.

During our stay, Shilo and Maise had a breakthrough—Shilo, usually standoffish, actually played tug-of-war with Maise! Looks like there’s hope for our future lab puppy plans after all.

RV Tip: Always double-check your reservation policy—especially if it requires follow-up within 24 hours!

Canyonlands via the Scenic Route

With snow-capped mountains in view, we decided to check out Canyonlands National Park. At the visitor center in Monticello a friendly local tipped us off to a backroad connecting to Hwy 211 (North Creek Lane). Before leaving, we also wandered through the Frontier Museum inside the Visitor Center filled with antique tools, home goods, and stories from early settlers in the area.

The drive itself was breathtaking—rolling through high-elevation landscapes dusted in fresh snow. We even let Shilo run around in it, though she was more interested in sniffing than playing. We also drove thru the Manti-Lasal National Forest Campground Dalton Springs, no hook-ups, but had picnic tables.

On the way to Canyonlands we stopped at Newspaper Rock in Bears Ears National Forest. Newspaper Rock is a petroglyph panel in sandstone that records approximately 2,000 years of early human activity.

📍 Fun fact: Canyonlands covers over 330,000 acres, carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers. The park is divided into four districts (Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the Rivers), each with its own unique landscape. We only scratched the surface here.

Note: Hwy 211 has gorgeous views but also very low-hanging branches and tight curves—not ideal for tall rigs.

Monument Valley: Western Films & Windy Trails

Next stop: Goulding’s Campground in Monument Valley—surrounded by those iconic red rock buttes straight out of a classic western film. The campground offered full hookups, clean showers, and even a small museum dedicated to John Wayne and the Goulding family, who helped Hollywood discover this breathtaking landscape. There’s also a restaurant and gift shop on-site for those craving a warm meal after exploring.

Our only complaint? Site 21 was right next to a loud compressor, so we spent more time relaxing at my mom’s quieter site.

The real highlight here was our 3.5-hour guided backcountry tour. We visited traditional Navajo Hogans, watched a wool-spinning demo by a Navajo grandmother, and explored hidden areas only accessible by tour. Monument Valley has been the backdrop for countless films—from John Ford’s westerns with John Wayne to Forrest Gump’s famous “I’m tired now” running scene. Seeing it up close, with our guide sharing Navajo history, was unforgettable.

Highlight: The 3.5-hour guided backcountry tour was amazing—we visited traditional Navajo Hogans, watched a wool-spinning demo by a Navajo grandmother, and saw parts of Monument Valley only accessible by tour.

Trail Confusion: Grocery Store or Hike?

One afternoon, mom and I decided to take a trail marked “Grocery” and “Hotel.” Sounded easy enough. But after a short hike, we realized it only went toward the hotel. The grocery store was right there, but down the hill.

So what did we do? We bushwhacked our way down the slope. Probably not what the trail builder had in mind—but it made for a great story and a surprisingly scenic shortcut.

Flagstaff Adventures: Cozy Pines and a Few Surprises

With no more reservations ahead, we considered dry-docking for a couple of days before heading home. But that plan ended quickly when our water pump decided to call it quits. James reminded me that camping without a working water pump wasn’t exactly ideal (and I had to agree). So, we searched for RV parks along our route and found Woody Mountain Campground in Flagstaff.

Nestled among tall pines, this campground had that perfect “camping in the woods” feel. Full hookups made life easier after our water pump mishap. The only challenges? Sharp turns and slightly unlevel sites—we had to raise one side of our 5th wheel by two inches to level it out. The park had a small store, wine tastings, and friendly staff. The bathrooms could use a bit of TLC, and there were quite a few rules posted around, but overall, it was a pleasant stay. While wood-burning fires weren’t allowed, propane fire pits were—and the park rented them out. Thankfully, we had our own and enjoyed a relaxing evening under the trees.

Then came the next hiccup. While my mom was backing into her spot, her 2024 Honda refused to shift—no reverse, park, or neutral. Thankfully, this happened in Flagstaff and not the middle of Utah. She had it towed to a nearby Honda dealership, and luckily, it turned out to be a blown fuse (which still feels odd for a brand-new car!). To top it off, her trailer lights stopped working too, turning the evening into an unplanned repair session.

Final Stop: Spirit Rain RV Resort

Our final stop before heading home was Spirit Rain RV Resort, a peaceful park that proved to be the perfect finale to our road trip. This place had everything—level sites with full hookups, clean bathrooms, a pool, jacuzzi, dog run, and gorgeous mountain views. At night, you could even see the lights of the historic town of Jerome twinkling on the hillside.

Nearby Camp Verde and Cottonwood made for fun day trips with charming shops and local eats. We also explored the ancient ruins of Tuzigoot and Montezuma’s Castle, both offering a fascinating glimpse into the cliff-dwelling cultures that once thrived in the area.

While staying at Spirit Rain, our friends Will and Laura joined us for the day. As soon as they arrived, James put Will to work helping troubleshoot my mom’s trailer lights. After a long afternoon of testing and rewiring, he got them working again—a huge relief since none of us liked seeing her drive without them!

To celebrate, we headed into Cottonwood for dinner. Laura found a local gem called The Tavern Grille, and it didn’t disappoint. The food and drinks were fantastic—we started with coconut shrimp and a few shared appetizers, then enjoyed hearty chicken pot pies and smooth old-fashioned cocktails. Between the laughter, the stories, and the comfort food, it was the perfect way to cap off our final night on the road.

Spirit Rain was calm, scenic, and exactly what we needed after weeks of travel. The friendly staff made us feel right at home as we soaked up one last evening under the stars, reflecting on all the places we’d seen and the memories we’d made.

As we packed up the next morning, we couldn’t help but feel grateful. One thing we absolutely loved about Utah was its ever-changing terrain—you could drive just a few miles and see completely different scenery. Sometimes, the landscape even looked different on each side of the road! For photographers, hikers, and anyone who loves a good 4×4 adventure, this part of Utah is pure heaven.

Wrap-Up

With trailer repairs behind us and our bellies full of good food from a nearby tavern, we packed up for home. Utah had shown us landscapes we didn’t even know existed—from towering arches to snowy valleys to goblin-shaped rocks. Along the way, Shilo found a friend in Maise, and we found stories we’ll be telling for years.