Bluff UtahATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Bluff, Utah.
1. Bluff Fort Historic Site
PIONEER HISTORY COMES ALIVE
Bluff Fort Historic Site offers visitors a glimpse into early pioneer life in the 1880s when Mormon settlers first arrived in the area. Visitors can explore the original Barton Cabin, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with replicas of other log cabins that showcase the settler experience. The fort includes interactive exhibits with historical commentary, engaging activities for children, and a Co-op that serves as the Visitors Center and Gift Shop with unique, handmade souvenirs.
2. Bears Ears Education Center
GATEWAY TO NATIONAL MONUMENT
The Bears Ears Education Center serves as an essential starting point for visitors exploring the Bears Ears National Monument located on the southeastern rim of Bluff. The center features educational exhibits, detailed maps, and knowledgeable volunteers who assist in planning visits to the monument area. Visitors can learn about the 'Visit With Respect' initiative aimed at protecting and preserving the unique Bears Ears landscape for future generations.
3. San Juan River
SCENIC RAFTING ADVENTURES
The San Juan River offers breathtaking rafting experiences through stunning scenery with views of ancient archaeology and geology millions of years old. Wild Rivers Expeditions, one of North America's oldest rafting companies, provides guided trips suitable for all ages and physical abilities. The river has attracted people to the Bluff area for thousands of years, making it both a historical and recreational centerpiece of the region.
4. Sand Island Petroglyphs
ANCIENT ROCK ART
Sand Island Petroglyphs showcases an impressive collection of ancient rock art created by indigenous peoples who inhabited the region. The site features detailed carvings that provide fascinating insights into the cultural and spiritual practices of ancient civilizations. Visitors can take a quick stop to admire these historical artifacts that offer a window into the area's rich archaeological heritage.
5. Comb Ridge
DRAMATIC GEOLOGICAL FORMATION
Comb Ridge is a striking geological formation that extends for miles, creating a dramatic backdrop to the Bluff landscape. This monocline features steep sandstone cliffs and numerous side canyons that contain archaeological sites, including ancient cliff dwellings and rock art. Hikers and explorers can discover the natural beauty and cultural significance of this impressive landform that has shaped the region's history and ecology.
6. Twin Rocks Trading Post
NATIVE ART SHOWCASE
Twin Rocks Trading Post offers a curated collection of authentic Native American art and crafts in the heart of Bluff. The trading post specializes in showcasing work from local Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni artists, providing visitors with the opportunity to purchase unique, handcrafted items. The establishment serves as both a cultural bridge and a retail destination, supporting indigenous artists while educating visitors about the rich artistic traditions of the Four Corners region.
7. Pioneer Cemetery
HISTORICAL RESTING PLACE
Pioneer Cemetery in Bluff offers a peaceful and reflective space honoring the early settlers who established the community. The cemetery contains graves dating back to the late 19th century, telling the story of the hardships and perseverance of those who journeyed over the Hole-in-the-Rock trail. Visitors can walk among the historic headstones and monuments while appreciating the scenic surroundings and contemplating the legacy of Utah's pioneering families.
8. Monument Valley
ICONIC WESTERN LANDSCAPE
Monument Valley features one of the most recognizable landscapes in America with its towering sandstone buttes and mesas rising dramatically from the desert floor. Located near Bluff, this iconic destination has served as the backdrop for countless Western films and attracts photographers and nature enthusiasts from around the world. Visitors can experience the breathtaking scenery through guided tours, scenic drives, or horseback rides that provide different perspectives of this majestic natural wonder.
9. Valley of the Gods
SECLUDED DESERT BEAUTY
Valley of the Gods offers a less crowded alternative to Monument Valley with equally impressive red sandstone formations scattered across a vast desert landscape. The area features isolated buttes, towering pinnacles, and unique rock formations that create an otherworldly atmosphere often described as a valley worthy of deities. Visitors can drive the 17-mile unpaved loop road that winds through the valley, providing numerous opportunities for photography, hiking, and primitive camping in this remote wilderness.
10. Goosenecks State Park
MEANDERING RIVER CANYONS
Goosenecks State Park showcases one of the most spectacular examples of entrenched meanders in North America, where the San Juan River twists and turns through deep desert canyons. From the park's main overlook, visitors can gaze down 1,000 feet to see the river's sinuous path that travels over six miles while advancing just one mile toward its destination. The dramatic landscape represents over 300 million years of geological history, offering photographers and nature lovers a stunning panorama of time's patient artistry.
11. Natural Bridges National Monument
ANCIENT STONE ARCHES
Natural Bridges National Monument preserves three magnificent natural bridges formed by the erosive power of water flowing through White Canyon. Named Kachina, Owachomo, and Sipapu in honor of the ancestral Puebloans who once lived in the area, these bridges represent some of the largest natural stone arches in the world. Visitors can explore the monument via a 9-mile scenic drive with overlooks or venture on hiking trails that lead to the base of each bridge, offering closer views of these impressive geological wonders.
12. Hovenweep National Monument
ANCIENT PUEBLO RUINS
Hovenweep National Monument protects six prehistoric villages built between A.D. 1200 and 1300 by ancestral Puebloan people. The monument features unique tower complexes, multistory structures, and ceremonial kivas perched on canyon rims and rock outcroppings. Visitors can hike among the well-preserved ruins, marveling at the architectural sophistication and astronomical alignment of buildings constructed by a civilization that thrived in this high desert environment over 700 years ago.
13. Cedar Mesa
ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURE TROVE
Cedar Mesa encompasses a vast area containing one of the highest concentrations of archaeological sites in the United States, with an estimated 100,000 Ancestral Puebloan sites dating back thousands of years. The mesa features numerous canyons where visitors can discover ancient cliff dwellings, granaries, and rock art panels that have remained remarkably preserved in the dry desert climate. This cultural landscape, now part of Bears Ears National Monument, offers intrepid explorers the chance to connect with the ancient human history of the Colorado Plateau through respectful visitation of these fragile sites.
14. Moki Dugway
THRILLING SWITCHBACK DRIVE
The Moki Dugway is a breathtaking gravel switchback road carved into the face of Cedar Mesa, climbing 1,200 feet from the Valley of the Gods to the top of the plateau. The unpaved section features sharp hairpin turns and steep grades, rewarding drivers with increasingly spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. At the top, travelers are treated to an expansive vista that includes Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, and the sinuous San Juan River cutting through the desert below.
15. Lake Powell
DESERT WATER RECREATION
Lake Powell is a massive reservoir on the Colorado River, straddling the border between Utah and Arizona, offering a striking contrast of deep blue waters against red sandstone cliffs. Created by the Glen Canyon Dam, this recreational paradise features nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline with countless side canyons, hidden grottos, and secluded beaches to explore. Visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, and houseboating on the lake, or venture into the slot canyons and archaeological sites that surround this desert oasis.