To access this magical area, you’ll first need to head to the Monument Valley Tribal Park Visitor Center. You can pay your entrance fee and hit the 17-mile Valley Drive there. It’s bumpy and dusty, but you’ll be driving slowly, anyway. If you want to venture beyond the road, you have one option without booking a Navajo-led tour: hiking the 3.2-mile Wildcat Trail, which will take you to and around The Mittens.
A tour—there are several types and durations, including sunrise—is an excellent option if you have the time (roughly 3 hours) and want to truly get a feel for this sacred landscape. Those can be booked at the visitor center upon arrival or through Viator.