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Wildcat Trail

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.8 (13)
  1. Areas
  2. AZ
  3. …Flagstaff and Northern AZ
  4. …Kayenta
  5. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
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“The only maintained hiking trail in the Navajo Tribal Park in Monument Valley. ”

Carl Ignash
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Map Key

4.1

Miles

6.5

KM

Lollipop

5,549' 1,691 m

High

5,165' 1,574 m

Low

381' 116 m

Up

385' 117 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

14%

Max Grade (8°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Views · Wildflowers

Family Friendly Family friendly as long as the heat and weather are taken into consideration.

Open year round.

Overview

The Navajo Tribal Park is the home of many of Monument Valley's most beautiful buttes and mesas. On the Wildcat Trail, you descend to the base of the West Mitten and hike around it. Enjoy the ever changing panorama as you circle this beautiful creation.

Need to Know

A small portion of the trail is in a "dry" wash. In rainy weather be alert for flash flooding.

Description

From the trailhead you descend several hundred feet and follow the trail as it circles the West Mitten. Desert plants are plentiful and the panorama is constantly changing and beautiful. This is a desert setting so take care hiking in hot weather as there is little shade. Carrying water is always a good idea on trails in this part of the country. Other buttes and mesas are nearby and in constant view.

Flora & Fauna

Desert flora exists all along the trail. Thin leaf yucca in bloom in late April and early May, Cliffrose with it's tremendous fragrance blooms in both the spring and fall, juniper trees and a variety of desert plants are present.

Contacts

Land Manager: Navajo Nation

Shared By:

Carl Ignash
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.8 from 13 votes

#1

in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

#786

Overall
  4.8 from 13 votes
5 Star
77%
4 Star
23%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Monument Valley Navajo…

#43

in Arizona

#786

Overall
8 Views Last Month
3,334 Since May 12, 2016
Intermediate Intermediate
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75%
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8%
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Add a Photo

Photos

View from the trail
Nov 23, 2022 near Kayenta, AZ
The sun rises over a sleeping Monument Valley.
May 14, 2017 near Kayenta, AZ
View from the trail
Nov 23, 2022 near Kayenta, AZ
Big Indian, Brigham's Tomb, King-on-his-Throne, Bear and Rabbit, Stagecoach (from left to right)
Jun 4, 2024 near Kayenta, AZ
Near the base of the East Mitten.
May 12, 2016 near Kayenta, AZ
Wildcat trailhead.
May 12, 2016 near Kayenta, AZ

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Apr 16, 2023
Tilman Giese
Nov 3, 2022
Stewart Carnes
Sep 14, 2022
Private User
Oct 3, 2021
Peder Bisbjerg
The area is glorious and this is the only easily accessible hike. 4.4mi — 2h 00m
Aug 30, 2019
Clara Mus
Early morning preferred — 1h 50m
Jul 4, 2019
Iana Ivanova
Apr 20, 2019
Sarah R
The trail was very easy for the first 3 mile but the last mile was a good incline on soft sand which was definitely challenging. Beautiful views of… 4.1mi
Apr 19, 2019
David E.

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