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Scenic Attractions around Monticello

After dropping your children off at YFA you may wonder what to do for the next several days. There is a myriad of things to see, do and experience in the surrounding area. Below is a list of towns, State and Federal Parks, and Navajo Reservations that are preserving the natural wonders of this area. There is hiking, camping, biking, museums to visit, movie sets to explore, art galleries to see, ancient ruins and much much more. There is something here for the whole family.

 

Attraction/City

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Monticello, UT
As the gateway to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, Monticello is perched at the base of Blue Mountain, on the Great Sage Plain of southeastern Utah. Resting at an elevation of 7,069 feet, the community is surrounded by highly acclaimed tourist attractions, including Canyon Rims Recreation Area, Manti-La Sal National Forest, Needles and Anticline overlooks, Lowry Ruin, Newspaper Rock and the Anasazi Heritage Center. Lodging, camping, outfitting, dining, shopping and gallery opportunities are widespread in Monticello, while thrills of outdoor adventure await. http://www.monticelloutah.org/
 

Blanding, UT
Nestled between Monument Valley to the south, Mesa Verde to the east, Lake Powell to the west and Moab to the north, Blanding offers the perfect base camp for all your Four Corners adventures! http://www.blandingutah.org/tourism.htm

 

Edge of the Cedars
State Park and the site of an Anasazi ruin and a museum with ancient Indian artifacts
http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/stateparks/parks/edge-of-the-cedars

 

 

 

Dead Horse Point State Park
Dead Horse Point State Park sits atop a narrow peninsula 2,000 feet above the Colorado River. At the end of the peninsula are breathtaking 270 degree views of the red-orange canyons of Canyonlands National Park and surrounding areas. http://www.utah.com/stateparks/dead_horse.htm

 

 

 

Bluff, UT
Located in the San Juan River Valley, it borders the Navajo Reservation and is surrounded by canyons and mesa-tops. These areas can be easy day hikes from roads just outside of town and offer rock art panels, ruins left by the Anasazi and great views of the amazing desert. http://www.bluffutah.org/index.html

 

 

Canyonlands National Park
Some of the most scenic and inspiring landscapes on earth are located within the Canyonlands National Park. The 530 square miles of the park contain countless canyons, arches, spires, buttes and a myriad of other spectacular rock formations. It is composed of five unique regions: Island in the Sky District, The Needles District, The Maze District, Horseshoe Canyon and The Rivers. http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/canyonlands.htm

 

 

Moab, UT
The city of Moab is the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Dead Horse Point State Park, the Colorado River and the beautiful La Sal Mountains. Within Moab there are art galleries, museums, and movie sites to explore.
http://www.discovermoab.com/whattosee.htm

 

 

Arches National Park
Considered a red rock wonderland, this National Park contains the world's largest concentration of natural stone arches. It is a red, arid desert, punctuated with oddly eroded sandstone forms such as fins, pinnacles, spires, balanced rocks, and arches. Over 2,000 arches are located within the park's 76,518 acres. http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm

 

 

 

Cortez, CO
Cortez serves as the base for visiting the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park and its neighbor, the Ute Tribal Park, Hovenweep, Canyon of the Ancients, Crow Canyon and the Anasazi Heritage Center. http://www.go-colorado.com/Cortez/Attractions

 

 

 

Natural Bridges Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument covers a relatively small area in southeast Utah. Unlike Arches National Park, with over 2,000 classified arches, there are only three bridges here though the monument also contains Anasazi cliff dwellings, pictographs and white sandstone canyons. Natural bridges are formed by running water and hence are much rarer than arches, which result from a variety of other erosional forces.
http://www.desertusa.com/natbridges/du_brid_vvc.html
 

 

Hovenweep Monument
The ruins of Hovenweep, in San Juan County, are some of the finest examples of ancient stone architecture in the southwest. The name Hovenweep is Paiute/Ute meaning "deserted valley." The area was home for several prehistoric Indian farming villages. Throughout the ruins, there are castles, towers, check dams (for irrigation), cliff dwellings, pueblos and petroglyphs (rock art). http://www.utah.com/nationalsites/hovenweep.htm

 

Mexican Hat
A tiny desert community of 50 or so people near the southeastern corner of Utah. Mexican Hat gets its name from a rock formation north of town that resembles an overturned sombrero. It is a convenient base for those exploring the San Juan River, Goosenecks State Park, Muley Point Overlook and the Valley of the Gods. http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/mexican_hat/

 

 

 

Goosenecks State Park
The park offers views of the goosenecks in the San Juan River as it carved its way through the desert 1,000 feet below. The river meanders back and forth, flowing for more than five miles while progressing only one linear mile toward the Colorado River and Lake Powell.
http://www.utah.com/stateparks/goosenecks.htm

 

 

Mesa Verde National Park
Located in southwestern Colorado, Mesa Verde is best known for its spectacular cliff dwellings and mesa-top villages which were built between A.D. 450 and 1300. Visitors may walk, drive, or take a bus tour through the park. Hiking and climbing ladders in and out of cliff dwellings is one option, or walks through less rigorous self-guided routes are also available. http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

 

 

Monument Valley Tribal Park
Straddling the border of Utah and Arizona, the Monument Valley Tribal Park preserves one of the most stunning landscapes on earth – a large collection of striking spires, mesas and sandstone buttes. The park lies entirely within the Navajo Indian Reservation. Its towering formations range in height from 400 to 1,000 feet. The park’s visitor center features exhibits about the area’s history, the Navajo Nation, a souvenir shop, restroom facilities, and a restaurant. Native Navajo vendors sell arts, crafts, and souvenirs at various roadside stands. http://www.desertusa.com/monvalley/index.html
 

Four Corners Monument
The state lines of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico meet at a single point in the desert on the Navajo Indian Reservation. Here a person can stand in four states at the same time. There is a small visitor center, some Navajo arts and craft booths, picnic tables and portable toilets. There is a small fee charged per vehicle. http://www.utah.com/playgrounds/four_corners.htm

 

 

 

Lake Powell
Lake Powell, in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, offers sandy beaches, cool blue water, and exceptional red-rock scenery. It is excellent for boating, skiing, kayaking and fishing. Boat or hike to Rainbow Bridge, or explore any of its many canyons or sand dunes. With a shoreline longer than the whole western coast of the continental United States, Lake Powell offers adventure for everyone.  http://www.utah.com/lakepowell

 

Grand Canyon National Park
Touted as the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Grand Canyon is the most spectacular gorge in the world. No-one forgets their first sight of the Grand Canyon and it will never fail to impress or offer something new, no matter how often it is visited. http://www.grand.canyon.national-park.com