6 Best Sights in Bluff, Moab and Southeastern Utah

Named for its striking pair of massive buttes, Bears Ears National Monument stretches across more than a million acres of land sacred to several Native American tribes. Countless archaeological sites and artifacts dot this remote landscape, including cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, pictographs, and a prehistoric road system. The scenery is awe-inspiring, too, with remote canyons, vast grasslands, and the kind of towering red-rock formations southern Utah is famous for. Opportunities abound here to hike, rock climb, river raft, and embark on scenic drives, and visitor information is available at both the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service offices in Monticello. Because of the long history that surrounds you in Bears Ears, being especially respectful of your surroundings is a must. In Bluff, the Bears Ears Education Center offers further guidance on how to explore such a culturally important area. 

While entering the monument is free, permits and passes are required in the Shash Jáa Special Recreation Management Area and the Cedar Mesa Special Recreation Management Area. Depending on the time of year, these can be purchased at trailheads or at  www.recreation.gov. The hike to Moon House, an Ancestral Puebloan dwelling, is so popular that only 20 hikers are allowed per day and a separate permit is required.

With grounds almost a full city block in size, this very kid-friendly restored fort is a must-see, transporting you back to the 1880s and into the lives of the Mormon pioneers who settled in Bluff. Wander in and out of tiny re-created cabins (plus one original), each representing the experience of a founding family. Their descendants even helped build and decorate the cabins with family artifacts and photos, displayed alongside written histories. Children can try their hand at roping toy steers or buy some of the house-made candy at the little kitchen, which also sells soft-serve ice cream and other snacks.

A reconstructed co-op store anchors the fort and doubles as a visitor center, displaying photos and a video that tell more of the area's past. There you can also buy crafts handmade by the fort's many friendly volunteers. Dressed in historical garb, they're happy to go into even more detail with you about the history of this place and the stunning area that surrounds it. Though the grounds are open daily, the store closes on Sunday.

A red fairyland of slender spires and buttes, the Valley of the Gods is a smaller version of Monument Valley. Approximately 15 miles west of Bluff, you can take a pretty drive through this relatively unvisited area on 17-mile-long Valley of the Gods Road, which begins on U.S. 163 and ends on Highway 261. The road is unpaved but should be drivable as long as it's dry.

For any visit to Bears Ears National Monument, this is as important a stop as the BLM office in Monticello. Run by the nonprofit Bears Ears Partnership, this is not an official visitor center for the park, but it does focus on teaching visitors how to explore Bears Ears respectfully. It's also a great place to pick up maps for your trip, and do peruse the gift shop and bookstore. Indigenous pottery shards are on display, as are more modern pieces by indigenous artisans showcasing the kind of work Native people created in the area thousands of years ago. The visitor center typically has a seasonal closure in summer and winter, though the dates change depending on visitation. The Partnership's thorough website also has plenty of up-to-date information for your journey.

The Navajo Nation manages this landmark about 65 miles southeast of Bluff and 6 miles north of Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. Primarily a photo-op spot, you'll also find Navajo and Ute artisans selling authentic jewelry and crafts, as well as traditional foods. It's the only place in the United States where four states meet at one single point. Surveyors now believe the monument—a stone and metal marker sitting at the intersection of Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico—is roughly 1,800 feet east of the correct spot. The small entry fee of $8 per person is cash-only, so be sure to get money prior to heading out.

Three miles southwest of Bluff you'll find a large panel of Ancestral Puebloan rock art. The panel includes several large images of Kokopelli, the mischief-maker from Puebloan lore.