Monticello
Hear From a Local
Local Highlights
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Bears Ears National Monument
A pair of towering buttes stand against beautiful scenery. The twin buttes are so distinctive that in each of the native languages of the region their name is the same: Hoon'Naqvut, Shash Jáa, Kwiyagatu Nukavachi, Ansh An Lashokdiwe, or in English: Bears Ears.
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Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands is home to many different types of travel experiences, from sublime solitude in the more remote stretches of the park to moderate hikes through the Needles district to the opportunity to create your own version of one of the West's most photographed landforms, Mesa Arch.
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Indian Creek
Indian Creek, in the north of Bears Ears National Monument, is known as a rock climbing mecca. Whether you get up on the wall or decide to drive, it's easy to appreciate the scenery from a lower vantage point as you cruise the 41-mile state scenic byway.
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Manti-La Sal National Forest
The Manti-La Sal National Forest consists of three blocks located in central, eastern and southeastern Utah. The area has an abundance of lakes and is great for fishing, hiking and more.
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Abajo Loop Scenic Backway
The 37-mile-long Abajo Loop, beginning north of Monticello, squiggles through the Abajo Mountains and then bends south in North Canyon. After passing Horsehead Peak, the narrow dirt road descends to Blanding. The scenic drive, open in summer and fall, is passable to most vehicles, but high clearance is recommended. Expect hiking trails, starry campsites and views to distant horizons.
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Frontier Museum
The town of Monticello dates back to 1887, when ranchers and farmers first settled the area. Explore the town’s pioneer past by stepping into the free Frontier Museum next to the Southeast Utah Welcome Center on South Main Street. The museum, housed in an old barn, details how settlers dug irrigation ditches for fields of wheat, oats, and potatoes, and ran cattle on the sloping Great Sage Plain east of town.
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Harts Draw Road
Harts Draw Road, Monticello’s best scenic drive, twists across the northern flank of the Abajo Mountains from the Welcome Center to state route 211. After 10 miles, the 43-mile road passes the Harts Draw-Canyonlands Overlook with spacious vistas of Shay Mountain, the La Sal Mountains, and the corrugated Needles District in Canyonlands National Park. Visit in the fall for the best views of golden groves of aspen that ignite the hillsides.
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Newspaper Rock
Newspaper Rock, a State Historical Monument, whispers 2,000 years of silent stone stories carved into a dark sandstone panel in Indian Creek, a unit of Bears Ears National Monument. These petroglyphs, one of Utah’s largest and best-preserved rock art sites, were created by Native Americans from the ancient Archaic and Fremont cultures to the historic Utes.
Outdoor Adventures
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Camping
Is there anything better than spending a summer night under star-studded skies in the Abajo Mountains? Campgrounds at Manti-La Sal National Forest west of Monticello provide a cool escape from the desert heat and urban grind. The best campgrounds are Nizhoni, Devil’s Canyon, Dalton Springs, and Buckboard, which include tent, trailer and RV sites.
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Fishing
If you keep your rod and tackle box in your car trunk, stop by Lloyd’s Lake — Monticello’s best local fishing hole. While anglers cast lines for rainbow trout, walkers follow a trail around the lake and enjoy mountain views. Other great local lakes for fishermen are Monticello Lake and Foy Lake in the Abajos, as well as Dry Wash and Recapture reservoirs near Blanding.
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Glamping
Enjoy a luxury, off-grid glamping experience, located between Arches National Park and the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. The glampgrounds provide stunning panoramic views and a cozy space for you to come back to after a long day of hiking and sightseeing. Enjoy the comforts of modern living while taking advantage of the great outdoors.
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Hiking
Miles of trails lace the Abajo Mountains, making it an ideal destination for hikers. Set up base camp in Monticello or a forest campground and discover trails that lead to wildflower-strewn meadows, valleys lined with golden aspens and mountaintops with forever views. Recommended hikes in the Manti-La Sal National Forest include Shay Mountain, Aspen Flat, Robertson Pasture and Skyline trails.
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Rock Climbing
If you’re a rock climber, Indian Creek Canyon is the place to go. The Creek is simply the best crack climbing area in the world, attracting experts as well as beginners. Thousands of routes with colorful names like Moon Goddess Revenge and Supercrack of the Desert ascend the canyon’s vertical sandstone cliffs. If you want to learn the ropes, hire a guide from a reputable service like Moab Desert Adventures and Moab Cliffs and Canyons.
What's Nearby
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Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum
Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum in Blanding, Utah, is the site of a prehistoric Native American village. Explore history here!
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Goosenecks State Park
Located north of Mexican Hat, Goosenecks State Park is an easy-to-get-to area with a million-dollar view. The San Juan River begins in the mountains of Colorado and travels to its junction with the Colorado River at Lake Powell.
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Moab
Moab is surrounded by a sea of buckled, twisted and worn sandstone sculpted by millennia of sun, wind and rain
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Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Monument Valley, Utah, an iconic symbol of the American West, is the sacred heart of the Navajo Nation and the ideal setting for your next adventure in the warm, high desert climate of southeastern Utah.
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Natural Bridges National Monument
As you start to descend toward Natural Bridges National Monument, the groundcover becomes more luxuriant and the trees taller. You cannot see the chaotic landscape of Natural Bridges from the highway– it is only revealed once inside the park.
Discover More
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A Winter’s Desert: Visiting Southern Utah in the Slow Months
Experiencing the peace of canyon country in the winter is an attraction of its own.
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An Adventure Guide to Harts Draw Road
Winding up into the Abajo Mountains of southeastern Utah and down into sprawling red rock canyons, the 18-mile Harts Draw Road offers the perfect mixture of snow and sand, scenery and solitude.
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An Uncommon Confluence
A solo sojourn where snow and desert meet in a lesser-known corner of Utah’s red rock country.
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Be Prepared for the Southern Utah Backcountry
Prepare for a trip out into Utah's rugged red rock backcountry by learning as much as possible about the area before heading out. Stop by a ranger station to educate yourself and pick up necessary permits. Always practice good backcountry ethics and proper safety techniques for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
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Dog-Friendly Utah: The Road to Mighty
Want to bring your furry friend on your next vacation? Utah is home to several great dog-friendly national parks and other fun destinations. Check it out and plan your trip!
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Reclaiming the Stars: Utah’s Dark Sky Initiative
Utah's Dark Sky Initiative helps state park visitors experience the cosmos by protecting night skies, encouraging astrotourism and promoting stargazing.
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Supporting Women Entrepreneurs While Traveling in Utah
Women entrepreneurs in Utah have been particularly successful at honing their expertise. Find out about women-owned businesses you can support while adventuring in Utah.
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The Art of Supporting Utah Artists
Here’s a look at six local artists whose work draws upon Utah’s diverse environments as inspiration.
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The Freedom of Wild Places
Clutching my hat with both hands, the wind roared and whipped by as I stood atop a rugged red rock formation, gazing out into the vastness of The Needles district of Canyonlands National Park.
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The Voices of Bears Ears
Bears Ears National Monument is at the heart of southeastern Utah. These lands are imbued with layers of culture — layers of life. In this four-part video series, meet the locals who connect with the land in their own distinct ways.
