Day 10 - Monument Valley & Mesa Verde (13.10.2016)

After our second night at Lake Powell, we start early, quickly go shopping in Page, and then leave Page heading east to reach our next stop on the journey at Monument Valley. After 2.5 hours, we arrive at the Visitor Center of Monument Valley (please note that you have to pay a $20 fee per vehicle to get there) and use the viewpoint to take various photos.

There is a scenic route through the valley, but it is described as very bumpy and only suitable for vehicles with large ground clearance. We contemplate for a long time whether we should still venture on it with our Dodge Charger, especially because our rental car is not insured for off-road trips. However, when we see similar vehicles with damage to the underbody that have driven the route, we decide to play it safe and settle for the view from the Visitor Center.

To be honest, it must be said that the $20 fee is only worth it if you have rented the right vehicle to drive this route. If you don't want to drive this route, you should save the $20 and just enjoy the views from the highway.

We eat our packed lunch and then continue towards Mesa Verde National Park. It takes us about 3 hours to reach the national park and then within a few minutes, we ascend about 100 meters above the valley floor, which provides us with stunning views of the plain.

After a short stop at the highest point of the park, we continue to our hotel "Far View Lodge", where the name says it all. From the rooms, you have an incredibly wide view of the national park.

After check-in, we go straight to the Far View Lounge to grab some food. When we enter, Thursday Night Football is already playing, and we can't leave until the game is over. The San Diego Chargers win 21:13 against the Denver Broncos.