Exploring Utah's Bears Ears and Cedar Mesa: A Guide to Hiking, Backpacking, Scenic Drives, and Landmarks

by Andrew Weber

Overview

This guidebook describes destinations that can handle heavy public visitation while showcasing the natural and cultural riches of the Bears Ears landscape. These destinations were selected from a list of “front country” sites provided by advocacy group Friends of Cedar Mesa (now Bears Ears Partnership) with input from the Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, and other agencies.

Multiple new destinations have been approved for inclusion in a second edition:

1. Dry Wash
2. Doll House Ruin
3. Lewis Lodge Ruin
4. Mammoth Petroglyph ADA Trail
5. River House Ruin
6. Kachina Petroglyph Panel
7. Lower Butler Wash
8. Panel House Ruin

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493089321
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	04/01/2026
Series:	Exploring Series
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Andrew Weber is a journalist, photojournalist and former director of content for Trails.com. He serves as a ranger for the Bureau of Land Management at Kane Gulch on Cedar Mesa, the crown jewel of Bears Ears. He has now lived in the Four Corners region for a decade and works closely with the Friends of Cedar Mesa. Andrew has been exploring Bears Ears since 2001. He lives in Shiprock, New Mexico.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Preface ix

Introduction 1

Weather and Climate 3

Flora and Fauna 6

Geology (with table) 9

Archaeological History (with table from Crow Canyon Archaeological Center) 11

Visit with Respect (with icons from Friends of Cedar Mesa) 13

Wilderness Restrictions, Regulations, and Permits 16

Visitor Resources 19

How to Use This Guide 25

Trip Finder 27

Map Legend 30

Comb Ridge/Butler Wash Region 31

1 Sand Island Petroglyph Panel, Drivable Landmark 32

2 Butler Wash Dinosaur Tracks, Hike 36

3 Butler Wash Ruins, Hike 40

4 Fishmouth Cave, Hike 44

5 Arch Canyon Ruin and Trail, Hike 49

Mule Canyon Region 55

6 Cave Towers Ruin, Hike 56

7 Mule Canyon Kiva, Drivable Landmark 60

8 House on Fire Ruin, Hike 64

9 Arch Canyon Overlook #1, Drivable Landmark 68

10 Salvation Knoll, Hike 72

Valley of the Gods Region 76

11 Valley of the Gods, Scenic Drive 77

12 Goosenecks State Park, Drivable Landmark 82

13 Honaker Trail, Hike 85

14 Mold Dugway, Scenic Drive 90

15 Muley Point Lookout, Drivable Landmark 94

Grand Gulch/Cedar Mesa Canyons Region 98

Kane Gulch Trail 99

16 Junction Ruin, Hike 101

17 Turkey Pen Ruin, Hike 104

18 Split Level Ruin, Backpack 107

19 Perfect Kiva Ruin, Hike 111

20 Big Man Pictograph Panel, Hike 116

21 Banister Ruin, Hike 121

22 Fish and Owl Canyons, Backpack 126

23 Moon House Ruin, Hike 132

Bears Ears Buttes/Elk Ridge Region 138

24 Bears Ears Buttes, Drivable Landmark 139

25 Arch Canyon Overlook #2, Drivable Landmark 142

Indian Creek Region 145

26 Harts Draw Road, Scenic Drive 146

27 Newspaper Rock Petroglyph Panel, Drivable Landmark 150

28 Needles Overlook, Drivable Landmark 154

Natural Bridges National Monument 159

29 Natural Bridges Loop Drive, Scenic Drive 160

30 Natural Bridges Loop Hike, Hike 164

Dark Canyon Region 170

31 Fry Canyon Ruin, Drivable Landmark 171

32 Sundance Trail, Hike 176

The Art of Hiking 182

Further Reading 215

Glossary of Terms 217

Acknowledgments 221

About the Author 222