Goulding's Lodge, Utah

Location

The lodge, also home to a trading post and museum, is situated in a remote location just north of the Arizona-Utah border and six miles from the Navajo Tribal Park in Monument Valley. Other local attractions to explore include the National Monuments of Canyon de Chelly, Hovenweep, Four Corners, Navajo and Natural Bridges, plus the Valley of the Gods and Goosenecks State Reserve.

Accommodation

The simply furnished rooms are modestly styled with authentic Navajo prints and are equipped with flat screen TV, DVD player, refrigerator, coffee maker and climate control system. All rooms have a private balcony or terrace, perfect for gazing at the panoramic vistas. The best rooms to book are the new, spacious hillside suites which are quieter and have separate living areas, at least 2 bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen.

Dining

The Stagecoach Dining Room is staffed by local Navajos and serves up traditional Navajo fare three times a day. Breakfast is a hearty affair, with a tempting range of southwestern selections on offer as well as traditional omelettes, steak and eggs and lighter options. The lunch and dinner menus focus on filling southwestern staples such as the famous Navajo Frybread, accompanied by beef stew, chilli con carne or spicy green chilli pork, alongside a wide selection of steaks, soups and salads and other satisfying meat or fish dishes. Note that due to Navajo Nation law no alcohol is served in the Stagecoach Dining Room.

Facilities

Goulding’s Lodge has an indoor heated pool open all year round and an outdoor sun deck, open seasonally. Other amenities include a fitness room with weights bench and treadmill, gift shop, historical museum and Earth Spirit Theatre. There is wireless internet available but due to the remote location the signal is not always reliable. Instead the main attractions are the specially devised tours of Monument Valley Trival Park, which are conducted in modern, open-top vehicles by local Navajo tour guides who are rightly proud of their heritage and culture.