The 1.35 million-acre Bears Ears National Monument is a newly protected landscape in southeast Utah. History was made when the monument was designated by President Obama because it honored five Native American tribes - Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Ute Mountain Ute and the Uintah-Ouray Ute Tribe - who sought to have their traditional lands set aside for preservation and continued traditional, recreational and scientific use.
A Unique Cultural Landscape
The Bears Ears landscape has been used since time immemorial by tribes. Many modern-day Pueblo tribes trace their ancestry back to the canyons and mesa tops of Bears Ears where the archaeology gives hints of their past. The monument is not just a stunning region of arches, towering buttes, red rock canyons and forested areas: it is an area with cliff dwellings, historic hogans, thousands of years of rock art, and locales for modern-day Native American activities like wood cutting, herbal gathering, and ceremony.
When exploring the Bears Ears, please consider the many Native American and historic pioneer connections that make enrich the history of the area. Honor past generations and futures on by visiting respectfully.
Explore Bluff's Backyard
Bluff is the perfect basecamp for your travels in the Bears Ears National Monument. Located on the southern boundary of the monument along the route to national parks like the Grand Canyon, Arches, and Mesa Verde, Bluff offers lodging, restaurants, picnic spots, guiding services, and more.
January 12th – 14th 2018 The Bluff International Balloon Festival is returning to Bluff for its 20th anniversary. Save the date for Martin Luther King Day Weekend! Sponsorship packages available You can, individually or through your business, sponsor a balloon for $325.00. Click here…
The 28th Annual Utah Navajo Fair will be held this weekend (October 26th -29th) in Bluff. This year’s theme is “Honoring our Elders”. Back by popular request is the parade down the Main Street (Highway 191) of Bluff on Saturday morning. Be sure to…