It's been years since I've been through there (worked on reservations
in AZ in the early 1980's), but remember to check with the Navajo
Tribal office for access and information.  It's their land and their
rules.  They're pretty accommodating if you are too.

Good luck.

At sunrise you can only go to the parking lot area unless you have a guide and
sign up for a sunrise tour.  You can still get some decent shots of the famous
Mittens backlit at sunrise but the light on them is much better later,
especially at sunset.

You can hire a guide at the visitor center.

You can drive the 17 mile road inside the valley once the gates open (which
will be well after sunrise though).  Some good spots there, depending on the
light.  For many of the iconic shots like the dunes in front of Totem Pole or
Teardrop Arch you will have to hire a guide since access is limited.

Basically to do much you need to hire a guide, unless you get a break with the
weather.  I'd recommend a couple of my Navajo friends who live in the Valley,
Vergil Bedonie of Totem Pole Outfitters or Daniel Chee of Daniel's Guiding
Service.  Also Fred Cly of Fred's Guiding Service has worked with several
famous photographers (Fatali, Tom Till, Dykinga), worked as a consultant with
movie crews and done stunt-man work and even appeared in Chevrolet commercials
and knows exactly where to go for best light.  You can get their phone numbers
at the visitor center.

If you want to see some MV shots look at this unfinished web page, where five
of the photos are from MV ...
http://members.aol.com/canyonimge/gallery/g_cc.htm ... or this one, where three
of the photos are from MV ...
http://members.aol.com/marlinazul/gallery/g_cc.htm ... if you have any
questions about where these spots are let me know ... of the 8 shots from MV I
had a guide for only two of them, Totem Pole moonrise and Teardrop Arch, the
rest you can reach on your own.

What you really want is a fast moving storm with rain and then a rainbow :)
Good luck.

Bill

You could do worse than picking up a copy of "Monument Valley -- the
Story behind the Scenery" (KC Pubs, $8 or so), which is filled with
Josef Muench's classic MV fotos. Lots of cool MV/Muench lore, too.
<http://www.silcom.com/~manatee/muench_monument.html>

And don't miss the Goosenecks of the San Juan, nearby. For that matter,
a Navajo taco at the cafe in Mexican Hat is de rigeur for any proper MV
visit.

Cheers -- Pete Tillman