Bears Ears
Bears Ears National Monument is a sacred and geologically striking landscape of Navajo and Ute lands in SE Utah, characterized by red mesas, deep canyons, and ancient rock-art sites.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Southwest U.S. |
| Subregion | Colorado Plateau |
| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | San Juan County |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 37.1 |
| Longitude | -109.9 |
| Maps |
12:55 PM LOCAL TIMEBears Ears National Monument in SE Utah encompasses roughly 1,400 km² of ridgetop plateaus, steep confluences, and Navajo and Ute ancestral lands. Named for twin sandstone buttes resembling a pair of bear ears, the area is a tapestry of red sandstone, pinyon-juniper, and desert scrub, carved by erosive forces into prominent peaks and broad basins. While access is primarily via four-wheel-drive routes and trailheads near Bluff and Monticello, much of the monument remains remote and best suited to multi-day backpacking, pictograph panel exploration, and cultural site visits authorized in collaboration with tribal partners. Visitors come to experience multi-colored rock formations, ancient Navajo and Ancestral Puebloan rock art, and to learn about Ute and Navajo ties to the landscape from authorized cultural guides. Respectful travel, adherence to tribal and federal access policies, and preparation for changing desert conditions are essential parts of a Bears Ears visit.
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