Valley of the Gods: Simply Seventeen Miles of Solitude

If you ask me what truly stood out during our recent Eastern Utah adventure, it wasn’t the sweeping vistas of Canyonlands or the iconic landscapes of Arches National Park. For me, the real highlight came quietly on a Friday afternoon—the moment we turned off the main highway and ventured into the Valley of the Gods.

A Road to Nowhere—or Is It a Road to Your Soul?

Before we even reached the seventeen-mile loop entrance, we drove south from Canyonlands (via Moab, Utah), and the natural beauty of this plateau is truly a sight to behold. Maybe it was the fact that it was a weekday (although it was bordering on a long weekend), but we found the roads to be quite isolated. We might easily have driven 50 miles along the highways of southeastern Utah without seeing another car. The landscape was pure high desert—rugged, silent, and impossibly vast. Rocky outcrops rose like ancient sentinels from the plateau, each one shaped by centuries of wind and weather. It’s the kind of place where you half-expect to see a tumbleweed roll by, and nothing else.

Driving through this region, I was instantly transported back to the 1980s, when we used to visit national parks, and we would have entire roads to ourselves. No cell coverage, no internet, and barely a blip from the GPS. Just the hum of the car and the endless, echoing quiet. It’s hard to imagine places this isolated still exist—but here, they do.

The drive through the Valley of the Gods itself is about 1.5 hours (your times may vary based on your comfort level and how much time you want to spend there) on unpaved gravel roads. We saw maybe three or four campers who had just pulled off the road and into the wilderness and set up camp, but otherwise, it felt wonderfully remote. I couldn’t help but wonder: what draws someone to camp in such a desolate spot? The heat, the silence, the sheer remoteness… and then it hit me. It’s about finding oneness with nature. Out here, you’re not just visiting the landscape—you’re part of it and you have nothing to reflect upon other than your own self!

Vast Desert Landscape

Veena’s Off-Road Baptism

This was also a first for Veena: driving on unpaved roads with steep climbs and sharp dips—sometimes so steep you can’t even see where the road drops off! It’s an adrenaline rush, for sure, but also a reminder of how these wild places demand respect.

Valley of the Gods vs. Monument Valley

Valley of the Gods shares many of the same stunning features as Monument Valley—towering sandstone buttes, mesas, and those iconic red rock formations that define the American Southwest. Both areas feature unpaved roads that wind through these breathtaking landscapes, offering a rugged, immersive experience. However, Monument Valley is far more famous, often featured in films and travel brochures, which means it tends to be crowded and bustling with tourists. Valley of the Gods, on the other hand, offers a much quieter, more intimate experience. You can drive for miles without encountering another vehicle, allowing you to soak in the wild beauty without the distractions of crowds. If you want the awe-inspiring scenery but crave solitude, Valley of the Gods is the perfect hidden gem.

Come Prepared: No Services, No Water, No Food

One thing to keep in mind before you embark on this 17-mile off-road adventure: there are absolutely no services along the way. No water, no food, no gas stations, and no restrooms—just you, your vehicle, and the untamed landscape. While brochures might say a regular sedan can handle the road, I’d strongly recommend a four-wheel drive for peace of mind. The terrain can be unpredictable, and you don’t want to get stuck out here with no help for miles. Bring plenty of water, snacks, and make sure your vehicle is in good shape before you set out.

Rocks With Stories

The real joy of Valley of the Gods lies in its intricate details, where every rock formation tells a unique story shaped by time and nature. These towering sandstone buttes and mesas rise dramatically from the desert floor, each with its own distinct personality.

Seven Sailors Butte stands tall and proud, with its distinctive sailors' hats.

Nearby, Rooster Butte commands attention with its unmistakable silhouette, its crest shaped like the proud comb of a rooster crowing at dawn. Each formation is more than just rock; it’s a story etched in stone!

Setting Hen Butte, true to its name, looks like a small hen perched atop the butte when viewed from just the right angle. Further along the drive, Battleship Rock dominates the landscape—a massive butte whose elongated shape and sheer size evoke the image of a battleship anchored in a sea of sand.  

And then there’s the whimsical Lady in a Bathtub, a formation that seems to recline in stone serenity, inviting visitors to pause and imagine the ancient tales whispered by the desert wind. Each outcrop in Valley of the Gods is a chapter in a silent narrative, making every detail—from the colors of the rocks at sunset to the shadows they cast—a secret shared between the land and the observer;

At one point, I stopped the car, stepped out, and just turned in a slow circle. Nothing but sky, rock, and silence in every direction. It’s a rare thing to feel so small and so free at the same time.

360 Degrees of Isolation

A Perfect Close: The Valley’s Charm and a Night of Renewal

As we reached the end of the loop, we passed the Valley of the Gods Bed and Breakfast—the very place that had been recommended as the ideal spot to stay. We had hoped to spend the night there and could only imagine how unique it would be to take in the valley sitting on the porch as the setting sun played on the buttes, but also how rich the night sky might have been with not a cloud in sight. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get reservations this time. Instead, we continued toward civilization and ended up at a lovely resort in nearby Bluff, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. After a dusty day exploring the rugged terrain, the resort’s amenities provided a much-needed cleansing of the dust and grime—the perfect way to refresh and recharge before our next adventure.

If you ever find yourself in southeastern Utah, don’t just stick to the well-trodden paths. Take the detour into the Valley of the Gods. You might not see another soul, but you’ll find something even better: a place where you might encounter and spend time with your own!.