wildcat trail

We did a backcountry tour on our previous stay in Monument Valley and so, this time, we decided to do a walk. This gives you a totally different perspective from the tour and was a reasonably easy walk - it was certainly much easier to climb up through the sand at the end than we had expected. It is definitely worth starting early during the summer as there is no shade - we started out at about 8am. Good views of The View Hotel and of the Three Sisters and, obviously, of the Mittens themselves.

We did this hike after arriving in the afternoon. It's not too challenging but some great views. It is longer than the 3.2 miles listed, and although the trails are well marked for most of the journey with rocks painted white, we lost the trail on the way back around the mitten where there are a number of dry washes. Some folks coming by on horseback got us back on track

This is the only foot trail in the area (that you pay $20 to access) and it proclaims "beware as it is not maintained". Well why isn't maintained?! It is a short and relatively easy path and we don't get why a small investment of resources and effort isn't made by the authorities that own it to make it a trail to be proud off...As it is, it is pitched as 4 miles in some materials, but we found it closer to 3. It is sandy footing and there is no real risk or danger to it. Trail markings are very basic and easy to miss in some spots. Though it is nice to get close to the plants, you don't really see anything from the trail that you can't see from the hotel and gift shop area. We enjoyed walking the Wildcat as we like to hike, but as we did, we couldn't help talking about how much better it could be.

It is a decent walk with some challenges. We lost the path a few times particularly when there are dry waterways. They paint some of the rocks white but I am sure people move them :-(Some of the views down there are fantastic and write different from those at the view hotel.

My wife and I walked the Wiltcat Trail back in April 2014. We started reasonably early before the heat got too much for us. It was a fantastic walk! Its not too strenuous and it really gives you a sense of scale for how big the Mittens really are. For us it was a great start to our stay at at the View Hotel.

My son and I did this 3.2 mile walk around the West Mitten Butte in roughly 1.5 hours, taking time for photos. The distance looks a bit daunting at first as the Buttes look so much further off in the distance than they actually are. However, it turned out to be a straight forward hike physically but the changing views and landscape as you circle the Butte make this a must do if you are staying at the View. It was end of December when we did this hike and it was sunny but cold and windy. Brings lots of water if doing this in warm weather as there is no shade or water/washrooms. The last part of the return trail is a little challenging going uphill in loose sand, but it is definitely doable by most people. Highly recommended.

Could have been a great trail. But it was poorly managed. Signs are not always clear. We were almost lost on the way back. The distance of the trail is 4.2 instead of 3.2. This is the only walkalbe trail in the park.

We did this hike in winter (January) and it was freezing on the floor of the valley. But doing the hike gave us a new appreciation for the monumental nature of the landscape and how insignificant human are in comparison to the majesty of the surroundings. The hike itself is quite easy although it is uphill for the last stretch so some people may struggle with it. The views and the surrounds make up for it.

all levels of hikers can enjoy this trail. There's not any terrain that is too difficult if you give yourself time. I started the trail in a mild sandstorm but once off the higher land the winds tapered off and it was a great loop going around the west mitten. You can see animal tracks and look at the native species of plants. The terrain is a mix of sand dune, hardened earth and river-bed like sandy/gravely. Lots of different things to photograph.

This a 5.3 KM walk through the desert and around West Mittern Butte. It is a relatively easy walk until the last kilometre which is uphill through sand but despite this any visitor should try this early morning. We were accompanied by a local dog that looed like a descendent of a wolf but he was friendly enough and led the whole trail The scenery is fantastic

A wonderful 3.4 mile hike around one of the huge butts that adorn Monument Valley.....just make sure you have plenty of water and are reasonably fit...especially for the last part which is up hill on loose sand. Well worth it.

A nice little hike around the mitten that looks deceivingly easy. It was not easy at all due to the combination of elevation and extreme Summer afternoon heat with no shade. This was one of the shortest hikes on our vacation but I was having chest pains by the end of the hike from these extremes. It gave me a new respect for people who live/have lived in that harse land. The last section of the trail is uphill in loose sand. Hike the trail in the morning or evening, take lots of water and enjoy the backdrop of many iconic films!

Trail was fairly well marked.We were the only ones on this warm day in August.10 year old son made it without trouble, had to carry my 7 year old daughter a bit of the 3.2 mile hike. Mile markers were nice, but the 2 mile marker was missing making us wonder how much further we had to go!

was nice to take a hike and be able to take photos of of the monuments with different foregrounds such as just sand or plants and bushes or trees - easy loop to walk

We tried to walk this trail. We started at the head but quickly lost it. There were no markers or path that we could find and we kept ending up on the dunes. We went into the hotel to ask if the trail actually starts at the sign and which way to go but they didn't know!We abandoned the thought and just left. I know others had no trouble so I am wondering if there was another, clearly marked, way in. Sad.