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Through Bears Ears Country

Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway

Scenic Byway Through Bears Ears Country with Road alt

ABOUT THE DRIVE

This 120-mile drive begins in Bluff and connects a dozen of the most amazing sites in southeastern Utah. The drive has one wow after another!

Explore from your car the timeless landscapes on the Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway through Bears Ears country. These lands are wild and ancient showcasing some of Mother Nature’s best. This is also a living, cultural landscape. Indigenous people once inhabited these lands and today Tribes and Pueblos consider this landscape sacred.

View the video below for a glimpse of the wonders that await you on this scenic drive. Find important travel tips and information on each site in the e-book and map. Be sure to download the e-book and map before you go, as you may not have cell service on the drive.

Sights on the Scenic Drive

Driving

This is backcountry. Check the weather. If a recent, heavy rain has occurred, or if rain is expected, consider another day.

Some sections are unpaved but are drivable by passenger cars. High clearance cars are recommended.

The Moki Dugway is an unpaved road with a series of steep inclines and tight turns.

Some sites on the drive do not have parking areas. If you stop, pull all the way off the road for your safety and to let others pass.

Checklist

Fill your tank. There are no gas stations on the drive.

Bring lunch and/or snacks. And, in the desert, it’s always a good idea to bring water with you.

Not all sites have restrooms/toilets. Note those that do.

You may not have cell phone service.

Charge your phone and camera. Check storage space for photos as you’ll want to take lots of pictures.

Visit With Respect Logo

Familiarize yourself with the Visit with Respect tips below to keep these lands Forever Mighty®.

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Stay on Designated Roads

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Don’t Bust the Crust

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Don’t Touch Rock Imagery or Make Your Own

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Guide Children Through Site

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Know Where Pets Are Allowed

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Pack Out Trash and Waste

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Avoid Cairns (stacking rocks)

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Steer Clear of Walls