About The Land
Planning a Visit
The area of southern Utah that is home to Shash Jáa and Indian Creek National Monuments is harsh and remote. With its towering walls and cliffs, the land and its beauty may seem indestructible, but its fragile ecosystem, ruins, and artifacts are not. Please visit with respect and tread lightly and take precautions to visit safely.
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The original monument covers a vast area and contains several different regions and climates. The Bears Ears Buttes (8,700 feet) are in the Manti-La Sal National Forest. Access is via a dirt road. DO NOT TRAVEL WHEN WET. It becomes so slick it is impassable, even with four-wheel drive. Comb Wash and Kane Gulch sit lower and are home to many ruins and great canyon hikes. Further south, Valley of the Gods has spectacular spires and buttes, but temperatures are often above 100 degrees in the summer.
Take precautions in planning your trip. Always check with ranger stations about current weather conditions and inform them of your plans in case of emergency. Some places may require a permit to camp, hike, or park. These permits and more information can be found at the BLM Monticello Field Office and the Kane Gulch Ranger Station.
Additional Links
The links below may guide you to ranger stations, accessible areas, nearby town resource, and information on how to visit with respect to the valuable antiquities you may come across.
Bears Ears Visitors Information Fact Sheet (BLM)
Visiting Bears Ears National Monument (BLM)
Bears Ears National Monument (Utah.com)
KANE GULCH RANGER STATION
Website
37.524446, -109.895777
The Kane Gulch Ranger Station is located along Utah Highway 261 about four miles south of Highway 95, not far from Natural Bridges National Monument.
Call for hours: (435) 587-1500
BLM FIELD OFFICE, VISITOR AND PERMIT INFORMATION
365 North Main, Monticello, UT 84535
(435) 587-1510
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – noon
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BLANDING VISITOR CENTER
12 North Grayson Parkway, Blanding, UT 84511
(435) 678-3662
Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. March through October
Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. November through February
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BLUFF VISITOR CENTER
550 Black Locust Ave, Bluff, UT 84512
(435) 672 -9995
Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sun 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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BEARS EARS EDUCATION CENTER
567 W. Main Street, Bluff, UT 84512
(435) 414-0343
Thursday-Monday, 9am – 5pm
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