Can’t Make It to Monument Valley? Try This Wyoming Alternative

Growing up, my parents kept John Wayne movies running day and night, so I felt like I knew the Southwest like the back of my hand long before I ever visited in person. If you're like me, when you picture the American West’s most legendary landscapes, Monument Valley on the Utah-Arizona border often comes to mind. Its colossal sandstone formations and sweeping desert vistas are etched into the collective imagination of aspiring cowboys everywhere. But for travelers who crave those fiery red views and striking monoliths without the crowds, Shell Canyon in Wyoming offers a Monument Valley alternative, a quiet, unassuming region with its own wild and rugged beauty.

Located at the eastern edge of the Bighorn Basin, where the high desert meets the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming, the town of Shell sits at the heart of a surprisingly diverse landscape shaped by volatile geologic processes, erosion, and deep time. From a distance, the jaw-dropping sights don't seem like much, but immerse yourself in the area, and you'll quickly discover this entire region is surrounded by some of the most dramatic and unexpected red rock formations in the state, all beautifully set against a backdrop of sprawling sagebrush flats and steep canyon walls. These ancient pillars rise from the earth with a grandiose majesty that's reminiscent of Utah's Monument Valley, with its iconic Mitten Buttes and Merrick Buttes, but is wonderfully overlooked.

For many travelers, their first impression of the Bighorns is as they travel down the Bighorn Scenic Byway, which runs 58 miles from Dayton to Shell, winding through the stunning Bighorn Basin before climbing east through the canyons and mountains. Shortly before entering Shell Creek Canyon, you'll see the landscape shift from quiet irrigated farmland and arid desert basin terrain to stunning red rocks—and they're absolutely spectacular.

As the scenic byway passes over Shell Creek, the canyon creates a narrow, impressive entrance to the rugged Bighorns. Shell Falls, which is located just off the main byway, is a draw for many as they travel through this gorgeous stretch, but Chimney Rock in the distance is the centerpiece of the desert, where red rocks and redlands stretch out as far as the eye can see.

Note: The Shell Falls Interpretive Site is closed to public entry through December 2026, including trails, viewing areas, parking, and access roads. For updates, call 307-674-2600.

Rising hundreds of feet above the valley, Chimney Rock is a thick, blocky column of Triassic sandstone, stained deep rust-red by iron oxide and undeniably similar to the large-scale red rock formations found in Utah. In fact, many of the rock formations around Shell are even older than those found in Utah! Others, however, are still young and wild, which is why, in true Forever West fashion, they have plenty of character to them. The rock surfaces in this area are rough, fractured, and weathered, showing a ruggedness that Monument Valley’s smooth buttes and pinnacles don’t have.

Just a few miles away, Needle Rock is another easily recognizable formation that points skyward like a giant spear, slender and angled with its noticeable "eye," cutting a clean silhouette against the Wyoming sky, much like Utah's Totem Pole.

Both of these Wyoming rock formations are part of the Chugwater Formation—layers of sediment laid down over 200 million years ago and sculpted by relentless wind and water. Their rusty hues blaze brightest at dawn and dusk, turning the surrounding desert into a fiery sunset canvas tinged with gold. Nearby, Trapper Canyon and Beartooth Butte are equally massive and impressive. 

Unlike its national park and monument counterparts farther south, the vast Shell Canyon area doesn't have nearly as many established means of exploration. Most travelers are limited to the scenic stretch of US-14. However, horseback riding is absolutely legendary in this area, and a guided horseback tour is a bucket list adventure if there ever was one. Since much of the land around here is private property, booking a stay at one of the local guest ranches, like The Hideout in Shell, is one of the best ways to get a full immersion in this rugged slice of Wyoming backcountry and actually enjoy it up close.

On one of these ranch-led horseback outings, you'll get to overlook the sweeping high-desert surroundings and feel like you're standing at John Ford Point, but without the long line of fellow tourists waiting for their photo op. Although you won't regret enjoying the views from a distance either.

But that's not all. For a more laid-back, impromptu weekend getaway, the seasonal Shell Campground is a low-key hub hidden away in the cottonwoods that shows off this scenery to perfection. Or, for even more red rock beauty, the Red Gulch/Alkali National Backcountry Byway is a stark, underrated 32-mile scenic drive through the foothills of the Bighorns that shows off even more larger-than-life formations.

About an hour away, the Medicine Lodge Wilderness Study Area and Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site both offer some stunning sights of their own. And just south of Shell, the Devil’s Kitchen badlands show off a completely different kind of red rock spectacle. Soft clays and sandstones erode into otherworldly hoodoos, ridges, and gullies painted in pinks, reds, and creams, uniquely set in a basin. This area is a little more hiker and climber-friendly, with numerous informal trails weaving through the otherworldly formations.

This is only one corner of the state, but one could easily say that Wyoming has quite a few lookalike natural wonders spread all around. However, I personally think that Wyoming's ancient, Mother Nature-forged scenery is 100 percent unique. Whether or not you've already been there, places like Shell Canyon in Wyoming prove there’s no shortage of Monument Valley alternatives, no matter which way you turn. The Cowboy State is full of hidden gems packed with ancient history and jaw-dropping views—no crowds or national parks pass needed.

For more information on planning your trip, check out the official website of Travel Wyoming.