Monument Valley & Mesa Verde Tour Bundle

Mesa Verde National Park Tour

Hi Shaka Guiders,

I wanted to share an important update about Spruce Tree House in Mesa Verde National Park.

Spruce Tree House remains closed due to structural instability, and a stabilization project is currently underway. For safety reasons, visitors are not permitted to enter the site while preservation work continues. There has not yet been a confirmed reopening timeline.

If you’re planning a visit, I recommend checking the official NPS website before your trip for the latest updates on access and project progress. 

While Spruce Tree House is one of the park’s most well-known dwellings, other remarkable archaeological sites and viewpoints remain accessible. As always, please follow posted closures and staff guidance during your visit.

Thank you for staying informed and for respecting the preservation efforts that help protect these irreplaceable places.

Safe travels,

— Rachel, Your Shaka Guide Tour Writer

Monument Valley Tour

The Road To Monument Valley Tour

Hi Shaka Guiders,

Just wanted to pop in with a friendly heads-up about the Road to Monument Valley tour. Let’s just say… this is not a “freshly paved scenic byway” kind of situation. Some of our most shakin’ stops include:

• Rincon Drive: The “hope I told someone where I was going” portion of the tour.

• The legendary Moki Dugway: Unpaved, steep cliffside switchbacks that’ll have you making a mental inventory of your vehicle maintenance. Flat out off-limits to large vehicles.

• Goosenecks State Park: A cliffside gravel road that demands your full attention.

• Valley of the Gods: Giving those shocks a harder workout than Billy Blanks Tae Bo.

• Mexican Hat: Complete with what I like to call a complimentary in-car massage.

• And of course, Monument Valley Tribal Park itself, where the gate attendant will very politely and very firmly remind you that you’re “driving at your own risk.”

The Moki Dugway is especially hazardous and not recommended for vehicles over about 28 feet in length, including most RVs and trailers. If you can’t drive it, the alternate route adds significant distance to the tour. (Utah guidelines recommend vehicles under ~28 ft/10,000 lbs for this gravel switchback section.) 

Now here’s the good news: you don’t have to take every bumpy side quest. The main highways connecting these areas are paved and manageable regardless of vehicle size or 4WD capabilities. But, yes—some of the most spectacular views come with a little extra rattle.

Could you do all of this tour without a 4WD? Possibly. Your tour producer, Adam, did—and he’s still here to tell the tale. But conditions change. Rain, sand, recent grading, and your vehicle’s clearance all make a difference.

So keep safety first. Know your vehicle. Know your comfort level. Skip what doesn’t feel right. And remember: there’s no shame in turning around.

After all, this tour is about adventure, not about testing your luck.

The landscapes out here are unforgettable. Just make sure the story you take home is about the views…not the tow truck.

— Rachel Ennis