Arches National Park lies just outside of the town of Moab. The park is best known for the hundreds of sandstone arches scattered across the landscape, although there are many other interesting rock formations as well.
Views across portions of Canyonlands National Park are reminiscent of the Grand Canyon. The dramatic landscape of the park includes huge canyons, cliffs, narrow gorges, arches, and other rock formations.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park features a unique landscape of orange rock buttes rising out of the desert. A one way drive leads past the formations, or guided jeep tours are available, taking visitors to more remote locations.
The Navajo Indian Reservation, which takes in sections of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, covers 27,000 square miles. One of the most visited tourist sites within the reservation is Monument Valley.
To the west of Arches National Park is the Dead Horse State Park, with magnificent views of the northern part of the Canyonlands National Park and the junction of the Colorado River and Green River. From there it is worth taking a short trip into the Island in the Sky area of the park.
The name of the park comes from wild horses that were captured by cowboys and left to die.
Just under 100mi/160km southeast of Canyonlands National Park is the Natural Bridges National Monument.
There are three natural bridges, the Kachina, the Owachomo, and the Sipapu. They are accessible by short hikes from the trailhead parking lots. The Horsecollar Ruins feature the remains of ancient Native American buildings.
Address: Natural Bridges National Monument, HC 60, Box 1, Lake Powell, UT 84533-0101, United States
Phone: 1 (435) 692-1234, Fax: 1 (435) 692-1111
Hours:
May 1 to September 30: 8am-6pm
October 1 to April 30: 9am-4:30pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Tips: Mountain bikes allowed only on paved roads.
No pets allowed on the trails. Hours apply to visitor center.
Near Moab is Castle Valley, with picturesque castle-like rock formations.
Address: Bureau Of Land Management Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, Suite M, Box 970, Moab, UT 84532-0970, United States
Phone: 1 (435) 259-2100, Fax: 1 (435) 259-2106
Eastland is a small agricultural community in San Juan County, located 11mi/18km east of Monticello and 15mi/24km west of the Colorado border. The town sits at an elevation of 7,050ft/2,150m.
Address: San Juan County Travel Council, 117 South Main Street, Box 490, Monticello, UT 84535-0490, United States
Phone: 1 (435) 587-3235, Fax: 1 (435) 587-2425
Four Corners Monument is a concrete slab marking the spot where Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado meet. It was established in 1868 and is the only place in the United States where four states intersect at the same point.
The Four Corners Monument in where Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado come together.
The marker at Four Corners Monument at the edge of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado.
The Gouldings Trading Post was established in 1923. It now functions as a lodge, museum and visitor information center. It is located in southern Utah just north of the Arizona border. Film memorabilia and a recreation of the original trading post are featured.
Grand County is located in east central Utah and the Canyonland travel region. It is named for the Grande River, now called the Colorado River. The county is the ninth-largest in area of the 29 counties in the state. Over 90% of Grand County is public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management.
The exhibits at the Hovenweep Ranger Station include a video about the ruins. Rangers are available for guided tours. Two hiking trails begin at the ranger station.
Address: Hovenweep National Monument, McElmo Route, Cortez, UT 81321, United States
Phone: 1 (970) 562-4282, Fax: 1 (970) 562-4283
Hours:
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Tips: Station may be closed if rangers are on patrol.
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
The Hovenweep National Monument features six groups of ancestral Pueblo ruins on 785 acres of land. The ruins date back more than 700 years. The largest of the ruins is Square Tower, with a loop trail for hiking and a visitor center.
Address: Hovenweep National Monument, McElmo Route, Cortez, UT 81321, United States
Phone: 1 (970) 562-4282, Fax: 1 (970) 562-4283
Tips: Pets must be kept on a leash. Admission good for 7 days.
Trails open sunrise to sundown.
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Transit: No commercial transportation is available.
The small town of La Sal (pop. 340) is located in northern San Juan County next to the La Sal Mountains at 7,000ft/2,133m.
Address: San Juan County Travel Council, 117 South Main Street, Box 490, Monticello, UT 84535-0490, United States
Phone: 1 (435) 587-3235, Fax: 1 (435) 587-2425
The Manti - La Sal National Forest covers 1,238,419 acres in southeastern Utah. The La Sal Division includes the ranger districts of Moab and Monticello.
The view over Manti National Forest, seen in the fall.
The Moab Ranger District is located in the La Sal division of the Manti-La Sal National Forest. It includes the La Sal mountains east of Moab, with peaks as high as 12,000ft/3,660m.
Newspaper Rock is a rock wall with petroglyphs and pictographs left by ancient Native American cultures over a period of 1000 years. It is located 26mi/42km northwest of Monticello on Route 211 on the road into Canyonlands National Park.
Address: Bureau Of Land Management San Juan Field Office, 435 North Main Street, Box 7, Monticello, UT 84535-0007, United States
Phone: 1 (435) 587-1500, Fax: 1 (435) 587-1518
San Juan County is located in the far southeastern corner of Utah. It is the largest in area of the 29 counties in the state. It is part of the Canyonland travel region and named for the river which flows through it.
Address: San Juan County Travel Council, 117 South Main Street, Box 490, Monticello, UT 84535-0490, United States
Phone: 1 (435) 587-3235, Fax: 1 (435) 587-2425
The White Mesa Ute Indian Reservation is part of the larger Ute Mountain Tribe. The headquarters for the tribe are in Towaoc, Colorado. Most of the residents live in the community of White Mesa which is located 12mi/19km south of Blanding.
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Arches National Park
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Arches National Park
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Canyonlands National Park
Dead Horse Point State Park
Natural Bridges National Monument
Needles District
Moab
