St. George to Bears Ears National Monument

One of the most visually stunning cliff dwellings in the Southwest. Morning light illuminates the striated sandstone above the ruin, creating the appearance of flames. Located in South Fork Mule Canyon, accessible via a moderate 2-mile round-trip trail.

An easily accessible set of Ancestral Puebloan ruins including a kiva, tower, and cliff dwelling connected by an underground tunnel. Interpretive signs explain the site. Located directly off UT-95 with a short quarter-mile walk.

Six circular stone towers perched on the canyon rim, believed to have served as defensive structures or astronomical observatories. The towers are interconnected underground and offer panoramic views of Mule Canyon below.

A 52-mile canyon system containing over 100 archaeological sites, including well-preserved cliff dwellings and petroglyphs. Backpacking permits are required. Turkey Pen Ruin and Junction Ruin are accessible on day hikes from the Kane Gulch Ranger Station.

A short 1.5-mile round-trip trail leads to a canyon overlook with sweeping views of a large Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwelling complex. One of the most accessible and impressive sites in the monument.

A single massive sandstone panel covered in over 650 petroglyphs spanning 2,000 years of human history. Located just off US-191 near Monticello on the way to Bears Ears. One of the densest concentrations of rock art in the Southwest.

An 80-mile sandstone monocline that rises abruptly from the desert floor. The ridge has been a natural barrier and landmark for millennia. Drive along its base on US-163 or climb to the top via unmaintained 4WD tracks for panoramic views.

The high plateau at the heart of the monument, accessed via UT-261 from US-163. At the north end, the Moki Dugway — a steep, unpaved switchback road — descends 1,000 feet from the mesa top to the Valley of the Gods below. Breathtaking and not for the faint of heart.

A remote, 17-mile loop road through a landscape of isolated sandstone buttes and spires that looks like a miniature Monument Valley without the crowds. Accessible to most passenger cars in dry weather. Sunrise and sunset are spectacular.

The twin buttes that give the monument its name rise to 8,700 feet and serve as sacred landmarks for five Native American tribes. The surrounding viewshed is visible from dozens of miles away and anchors the spiritual geography of the region.

A stunning 12-mile backpacking loop through a canyon containing over 100 archaeological sites including cliff dwellings, pictograph panels, and granaries. Water is available seasonally. One of the premier wilderness experiences in Bears Ears.

One of the most intact and remote cliff dwelling complexes on Cedar Mesa. The site requires a day permit (obtainable online) and a challenging 4.5-mile round-trip hike. The ruin features multiple rooms, kivas, and intricate white-painted plaster walls.

Located within the broader Bears Ears landscape, this monument protects three of the world's largest natural stone bridges — Sipapu, Kachina, and Owachomo. The 9-mile loop trail visits all three. The night sky here is among the darkest in the continental US.

The river canyon along the monument's southern boundary offers multi-day rafting and canoe trips through stunning sandstone gorges with Ancestral Puebloan sites visible from the water. Outfitters in Bluff organize trips of 3-7 days.

The largest town near Bears Ears (population 3,500) with motels, a grocery store, gas stations, and the excellent Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum — an outstanding introduction to Ancestral Puebloan culture with a real kiva you can climb into.

A tiny, artsy town of 300 people along the San Juan River. The Bluff Dwellings Resort, Comb Ridge Eat & Drink, and Recapture Lodge provide a perfect base with genuine Southwest charm. Several outfitters here offer guided 4WD and river tours.

The BLM ranger station at the primary Cedar Mesa trailhead. Rangers can provide current conditions, campsite recommendations, and required trail registration. Open spring and fall; limited winter hours.

Located in Blanding, this museum holds one of the finest collections of Ancestral Puebloan pottery and artifacts in the Southwest. An outdoor archaeological site with a real kiva is open for exploration. Essential context before exploring ruins in the monument.