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Trying to decide how long to spend in Monument Valley. Initial thought is to take an early morning guided tour then do the 4-mile loop trail mid-day then drive do the 17-mile drive in the late afternoon then drive to Mexican Hat that night for lodging. Is that a good plan for photography?

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Like so many places whose appeal comes from monumental landforms, Monument Valley is best seen --and best photographed-- by spending more than a day. At best, being there from pre-dawn to well past sunset usually nets the best shots, but time and/or personal constraints often preclude doing what's ideal, and the weather --or more specifically, the sky-- is a complete wildcard. If I were to advise a first time visitor, I'd suggest this: arrive early or mid-afternoon. Maybe drive the loop, surely to shoot, but mostly to get a sense of which landform is where and how it relates to the sky and the light; remember those for the following day. Stay at Gouldings or camp in the campground --not in Kayenta or Mexican Hat-- so that you can watch the evening/twilight play of colors, and be right on site to get up an hour or so before first light (actual sunrise time can sometimes be too late) and return to a shooting spot --a composition-- you'd scoped out the previous afternoon. That won't be fully in the park somewhere, but you'd be surprised at the view from much more accessible places near the start of the loop. One moment, the better view may be facing east, another moment it could be west, and either of those directions will be determined by the sky rather more than any of the buttes, spires or mesas. An hour or two after sunrise, things will become less intense; that's another possible time to drive the loop. Remain in the area until the last of the twilight is gone, or leave earlier if you see that an overcast or boring sky is not going to contribute to much, and continue along your way to your next destination. Make reservations if you're visiting the area between March and November.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

I agree with Cany on all but one point; where to stay. While I was there I stayed at The View, a modern hotel right in the park. If you'll check-out my shots, some were taken right from the patio of the hotel: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-522411-1.html

JayRay Loc: Missouri

I highly recommend the View Hotel.
It is pricey, BUT it is on site and you can get incredible sunrise, sunset (golden hour with golden glow and blue light at twilight), star, Milky Way, and moon rise shots all from the private balcony at your room (rooms all face east)! Get a top (3rd) floor "star view" room as far away from the lobby as is available (get reservations far in advance during peak travel times). Recommend a minimum stay of 2 nights. The 17 mile loop drive is a must for both (early) morning and late afternoon.

miket22 Loc: Northern Massachusetts

Agreeing emphatically with the ideas above. You have to both be there and outside taking photos for a full sunset and outside and awake is the hard part for a full sunrise cycle at least an hour before the actual sunrise. As hard as it is to get up at 4:30, you just have to do it. You turn magically into a great photographer in this place during the good light hours.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Sounds good to me.