description West Mitten Butte Overview
West Mitten Butte is one of the two Mitten Buttes in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, within the Navajo Nation near the Arizona-Utah border. Its isolated sandstone mass rises roughly 1,000 feet above the valley floor and includes a narrow projection resembling the thumb of a mitten. Together with East Mitten Butte and Merrick Butte, it forms one of Monument Valley's most recognizable groups of erosional landforms.
insights Ranking position
West Mitten Butte ranks #1 of 99 in the Butte ranking, ahead of East Mitten Butte.
help West Mitten Butte FAQ
Why does West Mitten Butte look like a mitten?
A narrow sandstone projection forms the apparent thumb, while the larger rock mass resembles a closed hand. The effect is especially clear when West Mitten is viewed with East Mitten from the main Monument Valley overlook.
How tall is West Mitten Butte above Monument Valley?
West Mitten Butte rises roughly 1,000 feet above the surrounding valley floor. Its summit elevation is less visually important than this dramatic vertical relief above the open desert.
Can visitors hike or climb West Mitten Butte?
Visitors cannot simply leave the public road and climb the formation independently because it stands within Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Backcountry travel and technical climbing require permission and, where offered, access through an authorized Navajo guide.
Where is the best place to photograph West Mitten Butte?
The classic view is available near The View Hotel and the park's visitor center, where West Mitten appears beside East Mitten and Merrick Butte. The formations are also seen from different angles along the park's 17-mile scenic loop.
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