Gosh, that’s frustrating. We were last there in 2014, and pulled over at that same place to take a pic. Practically no cars when we were there either. People not moving is such a pain. Every Labor Day weekend we go to Ludington, MI which has a huge car ferry that goes across Lake Michigan, holds up to 200 cars. This year they had the harbor patrol, sheriff boat, and the Coast Guard boat leading the ferry in the evening and out in the am (first time I’d ever seen that). They said the stupid fishing boats WILL NOT MOVE. They had their radio speaker out, and were yelling at the boats. The sheriff said it’s been worse since '20, but especially this year. It’s a huge salmon fishing river, but the ferry is giant; it can’t just stop or turn quickly, and those boats would have no chance. What is wrong with people!
What a bummer about missing your guided tour. And I remember the thread about the movie. Hopefully it will still be released.
We drove on north of Monument Valley to Medicine Hat area to go to the goosenecks of the San Juan which was empty then. That’s probably crowded now, too. At least we can always say we saw these places before they were packed.
In July 1990, my girlfriend (now wife) and I took a 30 minute nap under the shade of Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. While we were there, another couple came along, snapped a few photos, and left. When we took our children there for the first time in 2017, it looked like this…
We had similar experiences there. First went to Delicate Arch probably around 2000, hardly any crowds although we did hike it early in the morning. Then we took our niece back with us, also in '17, and it looked exactly like your picture. She did manage to get this picture of me though! The hordes of people are behind her…
I’ve sworn I’ll never go back to the Utah parks in the summer again. And Zion is one of my favorites, but too many masses of people anymore. But I wouldn’t mind seeing them in the winter or early spring.
We’ve been to these same sites several time in the past and noticed the same issues becoming worse with those darn tourists:grimacing:. Those of us who have been there in the “good ol’ days” are evidently spoiled (if I can humorously use that term ). And, @Ziacat, since we’re old and retired we typically travel in the late fall, just before some of the things (like Far View Lodge in Mesa Verde) close. We’ve found it to be much more pleasant in many ways! You’d love it!
We actually have done a bit in the fall or spring in the past, but it was just always harder, because my husband works at GM, and they have a 2 week shut down in the summer. Years ago we went to Zion in mid April, and it was wonderful. And Grand Canyon in April this year was just about perfect. GM isn’t having its July shutdowns as much anymore, and my hubby has more vacation time, so we are definitely going to do western spring or fall, or even winter travel.
Farview Lodge is awesome! I’ve stayed there about four times, last time was in '21.
We’ve been NNM before, but not this time. Seems like we’re always racing to get to Monument Valley and NNM is a little too far off the main road. I would like to see it again when we have more time. I would also like to go back to the Hopi Reservation. Haven’t been there in years.
Thinking about people refusing to move…I was able to get back up to Ludington again today for a couple days. The silly fishing boats are gonna lose a right away battle for sure! And I would think people standing in the middle of the road in Monument Valley are about as stupid.
). And, 
your pic. We have not been to Ludington. Looks like I’m adding it to the bucket list.