Where was My Darling Clementine filmed?

The Earp brothers are hard at work on a cattle drive, moving the herd en route to California. The boys run into the Clanton family who make an offer on the cattle. The following conversation takes place between the men.

Wyatt: Howdy!

Old Man Clanton: Howdy, my name’s Clanton. This my boy Ike, my oldest boy.

Wyatt: Any sweet water up beyond?

Old Man Clanton: Ya, two, three miles straight up the trail. Cattle look pretty scrawny.

Wyatt: Ya, me and my brothers are trailing them on to California.

Old Man Clanton: If ya ain’t got ‘em committed to no ship route, I’ll take ‘em off your hands.

Wyatt: Not interested.

Old Man Clanton: Make ya a good offer. Pay ya in silver, $3 a head.

Wyatt: Nope.

Old Man Clanton: Might raise it to $5 for ya.

Wyatt: Made more than that in Mexico.

To reach the site of this former My Darling Clementine film location from Cortez Municipal Airport, travel northeast on Airport Road, making a left onto County Rd G. Continue for 25 miles, merging onto Ismay Trading Post Road. Make a right-hand turn onto UT-162 W then a second left onto Phillips Camp Road. Make a left-hand turn onto Red Mesa Road, continuing until you reach Indian Rte 35. Make a right onto US-160 W then a right onto Eagle Boulevard. You will find Red Mesa just ahead.

In this My Darling Clementine scene, Clementine has just arrived in town. She and Wyatt have met, and the two engage in this discussion.

Clementine: I love your town in the morning, Marshal. The air’s so clean and clear. The scent of the desert flower.

Wyatt: That’s me. Thank my barber.

Clementine: Marshal, may I go with you? You are going to the services, aren’t you?

Wyatt: Yes, Ma’am. I’d be honored to take you.

The two walk arm and arm to the dedication of the new church building. After the choir has finished singing “Shall We Gather at the River,” the spokesman gives a dedication to the new church in these words in one of the most funny scenes in My Darling Clementine.

Town spokesman: Now folks, I hereby declare the first church of Tombstone, which ain’t got no name yet and no preacher neither, officially dedicated. Now I don’t pretend to be no preacher, but I’ve read the Good Book from cover to cover and back again. And I narry found one word agin’ dancing, so we’ll commence by having a dang blasted good dance.

To get to this former My Darling Clementine production site, follow Interstate 90, connecting to US Highway 14 from Moorcroft. Take the exit for Wyoming Highway 24 also known as Devil’s Tower Junction. Continue to follow this route, and take notice of the signs that lead to your final destination.

Wyatt is in the saloon speaking to the bartender Mack. He asks him, “Mack, have you ever been in love?” This one scene sets the stage for the romance that is about to blossom between Doc’s former flame Clementine and Wyatt.

One of the few scenes in My Darling Clementine that was built on a film set constructed in a city on location, you won’t be able to find the saloon featured in this movie, but you can certainly stop by Kayenta to view the landscape found throughout the film. To get to Kayenta, you can travel by car, continuing just 30 miles past Monument Valley in Arizona.

Wyatt enters the saloon and commences a coughing fit. He is greeted by a saloon full of hostile gunfighters and an actor named Mr. Thorndike who is standing at a table.

Wyatt: Waiting for you at the theater, Mr. Thorndike.

Mr. Thorndike: Thank you, sir. Shakespeare was not meant for taverns. Nor was it for tavern louts.

Clanton boy: Yorick stays here. Wyatt hits the man trying to restrain Yorick over the head to stop him, and a gunfight breaks out in the tavern.

Old Man Clanton: My apologies, Marshal, I can see my friend had a little whiskey.

Wyatt: I figure they’re just having themselves a little fun. Come on, Mr. Thorndike, I’ll take you to the theater. Old Man Clanton begins beating his sons.

Clanton boys: Stop, Pa, stop, stop.

Old Man Clanton: When you pull a gun, kill a man.

To reach this former film site, you will need to travel just 14 miles from nearby Red Mesa. The best type of transportation for visiting Mexican Water is a passenger vehicle.

The Clantons, Doc, and Wyatt all arrive at the O.K. Corral for the gunfight. Wyatt walks down the main street, looking for the other men who are hiding in an alleyway between two buildings. Wyatt carries a pistol in his hand and continues to walk down the street. Old Man Clanton addresses his sons that are still hiding in the corral and behind buildings yet considering taking aim at Wyatt in one of the most riveting action scenes in My Darling Clementine by saying.

Old Man Clanton: Wait’ll you get closer, you fools.

The men climb over the corral fence and start moving toward the main street. Wyatt, sensing their presence, throws his hat on the ground. The men take aim at him from their hiding places on the buildings found along the main street.

Old Man Clanton: Finn, cover your brother.

Wyatt hits the dirt just as the first shot is fired. A team of horses, carrying reinforcements for Wyatt arrives.

Wyatt: Morning, Mr. Clanton. Let’s talk awhile.

Old Man Clanton: Ike, well, now, you go right ahead and talk.

Wyatt: I got a warrant here for your sons. Charged with the murders of James and Virgin Earp. There’s also a charge of cattle rustling. I’m giving you a chance to submit to the proper authority.

Old Man Clanton: Well, you come on right in here, Marshal, and serve your warrant.

Wyatt: Which one of ya killed James?

Billy Clanton: I did, and the other one too. And I’m gonna kill ya.

Wyatt shoots Billy dead, and the gunfight begins.

To reach this My Darling Clementine location, it is best to fly to one of the nearest cities then rent a car and drive to it. Among the closest airports within reasonable driving distance of Teec Nos Pos are Albuquerque International Airport, Montezuma County Airport, Municipal Airport, and Blanding Airport.

In the last My Darling Clementine scene, Wyatt prepares to leave town after a bloody gunfight ends the lives of Doc and the Clantons. He goes to see Clementine one final time, and the two share this poignant exchange.

Morgan: Goodbye, Ma’am. Mighty nice to have made your acquaintance. Get along, horses.

Clementine: There’s so many things I wanted to say. Now nothing seems appropriate.

Wyatt: Yes, Ma’am. I…Yeah, I know. Mayor says you might be staying here a while. Help him get a school started.

Clementine: Yes, I’m the new school marm.

Wyatt: Well, that’s mighty nice, Ma’am. Me and Morg are going out to see Pa, tell him what happened. I might come east again and get some cattle. Maybe stop by here again.

Clementine: Stop by the schoolhouse?

Wyatt: Yes, Ma’am. I sure will! Well, goodbye, Ma’am.

Clementine: Goodbye.

Wyatt mounts his horse and says, “Ma’am, I sure like that name…Clementine,” before riding off into the sunset.

Monument Valley, Utah, the property where this scene was filmed, rests along the border separating Utah from Arizona. The property is managed by the Navajo Nation and is most easily accessed by following I-163 Byway, also known as Scenic Byway 163.