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In Navajo County, on the extreme northern edge of Arizona, there stands one of the most iconic natural places in the entire state, Monument Valley.

For centuries, the Navajo people have called this place The Valley of the Rocks, But to the rest of the world, it's a cinematic dreamscape etched into the mythology of the American West.

From John Ford's Westerns, to modern sci-fis, and even classic cartoons, these mesas and spires have shaped how generations imagine frontier freedom and rugged beauty.

Yet beyond the film lens lies deeper stories.

This land is alive.

It's horizon carrying the weight of both past challenges and future adventures.

This is Monument Valley.

Timeless, iconic, and profoundly Arizona.

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In the northeastern corner of Arizona stands Monument Valley, sacred to Indigenous people, immortalized by Hollywood, and carved by time itself.

But there is a dark side to this place, One that dates all the way back to World War Two.

Today we'll hike Monument Valleys trails, Marvel at its grandeur, and uncover the shadow buried beneath its beauty.

To start our journey in Monument Valley we are taking on the Wildcat Trail.

It's going to take us all around this rock formation, West Mitten Butte Let's go check it out.

The Wildcat Trail is a four mile loop with an elevation gain of 393 feet.

It's a fairly easy trail that is one of the only trails you can hike in Monument Valley without a guide.

I want to show you that the main wash in this park runs right through the Wildcat Trail.

When rain hits here, it comes in fast and it is heavy.

They try to get everyone off the trail because if you're stuck out here in a storm, you are extremely exposed.

So we're always keeping an eye on the weather.

Are we in the deserts of Arizona or on a beach somewhere?

This trail is surprisingly sandy Look at this.

It's going to be fun for now, but on the trek up, it might be a little tough, because this is one of those trails where we're not going up to a summit, we're going down into the valley So for now, let's just enjoy going downhill.

And these views.

We have made it to the Y in the path Which means it's time for us to actually start hiking around the Mitten.

At this point.

This trail is well marked, but we're not sure what to expect.

We have been warned that we need to go in a counter clockwise direction around the rock formation or we might get lost, and you know we'd never lead you astray.

We're coming around to the side of the butte And it's so interesting to see it from here, because I think that when we typically see this on film or in a photo, you see it straight on.

So from the side,it looks so thin and so different And that's why it's so fun to get out so we can see all of nature's angles.

We have made it halfway through this hike which means it's time to check how much water we have.

Everyone always wants to know, well how much water do I bring on a hike?

And that is a super important question.

But how much water you need is going to depend on your body and environmental factors.

So a good one size fits all rule I like to follow is if you are halfway through your hike, you should be halfway through your water.

So when you get to that halfway point you should always check your water supply.

We're good here, so we're going to keep on going.

(Enchanting indigenous music) We are now on the backside of the butte.

And everywhere we look, there's a magnificent view of a rock formation.

Behind us is East Mitten Butte.

And then look at what is over here.

We have made it all the way around the loop that goes around the mitten.

And we've taken in all the gorgeous sights there were to see.

Now we just have to hike a little more to get off the trail My favorite part of this hike was being on the backside, of the mitten, where every direction we looked in, we saw a different rock formation.

It was really special.

We were standing in the wash at the same time.

It just made me feel really at peace and connected to nature.

We are wrapping up the Wildcat Trail, and while this is the longest hike we're gonna do on this adventure in Monument Valley at four miles I thought that this hike was very doable.

We saw families and even the children were walking on their own, We saw lots of pets.

This is a very, very fun hike that's pretty leisurely and a little more like a nature walk with just a few steep moments on the path.

I would definitely recommend putting this one on your bucket list, because look at these views.

And this is just the beginning.

Let's see what else we can find here in Monument Valley.

Today we met with Stanley Crank, an Indigenous tour guide, who talked with us about his peoples perspective of Monument Valley.

Navajo land is like the attraction around here.

And of course, we know Monument Valley is certainly one of the attractions here.

So here, we share our culture, our heritage, and our traditions with the people here.

How can people be respectful when they're visiting?

To respect some of the privacy of these Navajo people there as they live a quiet lifestyle among some of these monuments, there.

They have a sense of pride and that they wish to be, living in a world in their own realm there.

We are going to squeeze in a quick hike to Goulding's Arch.

But the thing about this hike is you can only access the trail if you're staying at Gouldings campground The good news about that is they lots of sites for all types of camping.

The Goulding Arch Trail is 6/10 of a mile long with an elevation gain of 88ft.

The trail can be a little tricky to follow, so be sure to download a map before you go.

Let's go check it out.

(Funky music plays) Okay, We are off to a technical start here.

We have these steps and they're covered in sand, so they're very slippery I have to be pretty careful.

It's funny because this is our shortest hike but it's also our most technical Okay.

Ooh, now we're on the sand.

It's like we're on the beach.

It's hard to not run a little, pick up some speed.

Going downhill that fast.

Oh, look how pretty this is.

These trees have lost their leaves, but there's so much bright greenery with this grass.

(Funky music continues) The hike started off a little bit questionable, going down those steps covered in slippery sand, But look, now, this is a really easy path.

And it's not sandy anymore, which is a nice break after our legs got a little tired hiking through all that sand on Wildcat Trail.

What I'm really liking so far about this hike is this rock wall We're seeing some different rock formations that we haven't yet seen in Monument Valley, and we get to watch this canyon just kind of play with the light as we get farther along this hike It's really beautiful.

Oh, here's yucca too.

I just think it's so special that we're in the middle of the desert, and we still find this plant life So this is yucca that we've been seeing pop up here and there throughout Monument Valley But so far, seeing a good bit of it on this hike.

Oh, look up here.

Do you see those holes in the rocks up here?

Isnt that cool?

We're just getting such a huge amount of different types of rock formations on this hike.

So if you love geology, this is definitely one for you.

I'm actually sitting here wondering, if any animals live in here?

Some of these rocks are so deep, they would make a great little hideout If you're a little critter.

That's what I'm thinking about.

Is anybody livin in there?

I am mesmerized by the beautiful toll that erosion has taken on these rocks I could stare at it all day, but we are at the halfway point, and we have an arch to get to.

(Western music plays) We're going into the rock walls This is very rocky.

Ooh, that one was moving.

Don't love that.

But when you guys see me hopping around on this loose rock like this, just keep in mind I'm not wearing regular tennis shoes I'm wearing what I love, these shoes with thick lugs on them.

They make me feel agile, like a mountain goat.

So I can just take on any type of surface.

Okay.

There are two, two ways we could go.

That one.

Maybe that's not an option.

So this must be the trail.

But it doesn't look like a trail What do we have here.

Okay.

Alright.

We're going to scramble.

Okay.

I think of scrambling like climbing a ladder.

Feet are the most important.

Whatever works for you is the right way when you're in this situation.

This is fun.

I wasn't expecting this, but I like it.

Okay.

Oh, it's right here.

I wasn't expecting it to just be right in front of us.

It's beautiful.

And it perfectly frames these other rock formations behind it.

Wow.

A little work there at the end, but overall, such an easy hike for such a beautiful ending.

There's like a little cave back here.

This hike just keeps getting better and better.

There's, there's more.

Everytime we think we've seen it all.

Should we see what's over here?

There's so much to explore.

in just this one little hike.

Oh, look at that, We can see both East Mitten Butte and West Mitten Butte from here.

That's so cool.

We're looking at an arch this way.

The formations of Monument Valley park this way.

I love this hike.

We've gotten so much bang for our buck.

While Monument Valley is beautiful, there is a dark side to its history.

For many years, Monument Valley was mined for uranium, some of which was used to create nuclear bombs during World War Two.

Today I met with Sabrina Manygoats, an Indigenous artist, jeweler, and activist who is raising awareness about the dangers of uranium.

Sabrina, tell us about your beautful jewelry and what makes it so unique.

Most definitely.

What I did was I mix traditional Navajo medicine and I actually added a twist to it.

We are adding uranium glass beads to pay homage to the Navajo uranium miners and to raise awareness about the ongoing uranium crisis on the Navajo Nation.

Tell me about how you got on this path of taking something that's, you know,not the most favorite part of your history.

And trying to turn it into someting beautiful and making it a tribute.

Mostly it was for empowerment I felt that we were very much, swaying away from talking about uranium.

I was only fifteen years old when, I found out about uranium contamination on the Navajo Nation.

And to me, at that point in my life, I felt like I shouldve known more, sooner.

Even as like, a young teen.

um, it just felt wrong that I was barely finding out about it when I was sixteen years old um, sixteen-fifteen years old.

And what do you hope people learn when they see your jewelry?

I hope that it sticks within their memory, and it provokes them to dig a little deeper in something that is so beautful and carries so much history, kind of like Monument Valley.

There is about sixty plus uranium mines on Monument Valley area so, it kinda speaks to that as well.

Can you tell us about some of the areas that had mines or are now uranium rich, where you're able to find this?

I mostly don't find it in these particular areas.

What I do is I get new old stock beads, and I incorporate it into my jewelry But an area that is full of contamination is right behind us There's actually a uranium mine that's within this butte, and I don't recall exactly which mine it is, but it most likley was used for weapons production and, nuclear energy.

If the Diné in the beginning were told about the destruction this would have caused and we werent lied to in regards to the cleanup that was promised and the land being returned to its original state.

We would have never allowed this to happen.

And all it took was a little bit of explanation, in our language, in Diné Bizaad, to fully keep us aware and understanding on what is going on or what happened.

Sabrina showed us there are still traces of uranium in Monument Valley that harm the land, wildlife, and people who live here.

While Sabrina searches for uranium to raise awareness, this is not a practice visitors should partake in.

Uranium mining can cause many harmful effects, particularly to people mining it, but also to the residents and animals who live in the area.

In 1987, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recognized that the current safety standards for miners do not provide adequate protection from radiation exposure that can lead to numerous health issues, including lung cancer.

Mining can contaminate the local environment, seeping into water sources and leading to a significant risk of cancer For humans and animals who drink the water.

While it's definitely safe to visit Monument Valley, long term exposure over a lifetime can result in significant health risks.

Time to take on our next and final trail of this journey, Lee Cly, and we are getting a bit of a chilly start out here The wind is picking up.

And one thing to know about Monument Valley is that there can be an extreme change in temperatures and conditions.

In the winter it can be as cold as twenty-six degrees, and in the summer sometimes it gets so hot in the triple digits they have to shut down the trails.

And if you're experiencing anything like our adventure, you're getting a little bit of everything all in one trip.

The Lee Cly Trail is 2.7 miles long with 393ft of elevation.

It's a fairly easy trail that leads you away from the visitors center and deeper into nature.

(strumming guitar plays) (strumming guitar continues) We're at a point in this hike where we have some options.

We could take Miners Loop, that would add half a mile to the adventure, but you would get some more views We do know that there's a pretty steep elevation gain if you take that route, And apparently it's extremely difficult.

We're going to continue on Lee Cly We're at the halfway point and you know that means we should be halfway through our water and we're doing great.

What we're noticing about this side of the park is that there is an abundance of plant life, like these juniper trees, and we know that this land is not only beautiful, it's rich in resources.

The trail started out sandy and pretty flat, but we've been walking through the wash hitting rocks, and now we are in for a climb.

(Gentle Guitar Plays) We have come to the end of Lee Cly Trail.

I thought that this was just a nice, gentle path that allowed us to see another side of Monument Valley.

One with some more shade and plant life.

We got beautiful views of Mitchell Mesa.

And we got to take in the sights of numerous rock formations.

I've really enjoyed this trail.

It was the perfect way to end our time here in Monument Valley.

From hiking the Wildcat Trail, where we circled the Great Mitten.

To the solitude of the Lee Cly Trail and the stunning stone window of Gouldings Arch.

Monument Valley has been full of incredible sights.

Preservation is not just about protecting a view, though.

It's about healing what has been harmed and supporting and honoring the Indigenous people who live here.

As we leave these trails behind, Im reminded that loving a place means caring for it.

Restoring what we can, safeguarding what remains and ensuring that Monument Valley continues to endure for generations to come.

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Hey, you still there?

We have something else to show you.

We couldn't leave Monument Valley without exploring one last iconic movie backdrop.

I'm pretty tired from all that hiking.

I think I'll go home now.