San Juan County: Landscapes, Trails and Culture

When planning a trip to San Juan County, you can choose from a variety of nature and culture-focused experiences: archaeological structures and rock art, trails to viewpoints, river landscapes and striking sandstone formations. The routes and conditions described also vary. If you’re looking for a hotel in San Juan County, you can start by considering which of these experiences you’d like to shape your stay. The following destinations offer specific ideas to help you decide.

Structures, Viewpoints and Dark Skies

The Square Tower Unit and Cajon Unit of Hovenweep National Monument are located in San Juan County, Utah. Hovenweep National Monument is an International Dark Sky Park and the first dark-sky park to span two states. Its hiking trails are laid out around the structures and offer expansive views of the surrounding area. Natural Bridges holds a different distinction: the national monument was the first designated International Dark Sky Park.

A paved, nine-mile loop road in Natural Bridges National Monument provides access to viewpoints and trailheads. Short paths from the road lead to viewpoints overlooking the bridges and to Horse Collar Ruin. The two destinations therefore offer distinct experiences: at Hovenweep, trails connect structures with expansive views; at Natural Bridges, the loop road and short paths provide specific points of reference.

Rock Art and Archaeological Sites

Butler Wash Ruins includes residential, storage and ceremonial structures, including four kivas. The out-and-back hike to the ruins is one mile long and takes about half an hour. The distance and approximate duration provide two specific details to help plan your day. Newspaper Rock features images from several cultural periods, dating from 1,500 years ago to this century. The site has restrooms and extensive paved parking, including pull-through spaces for larger vehicles and RVs.

House on Fire Ruin is located just off Highway 95 between Blanding and Natural Bridges. This location makes its position along the stated stretch of road clear. When planning your trip, you can consider this landmark alongside the structures and rock art, while keeping in mind that their routes and visiting conditions differ.

Hiking, River Trips and Permits

Grand Gulch is a Wilderness Study Area managed by the Bureau of Land Management and part of the Cedar Mesa Special Recreation Management Area. Popular hiking and backpacking options lead to Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and rock art in a natural setting. A permit is required for hiking and backpacking in Grand Gulch.

The San Juan River flows through a series of wild canyons and is popular with visitors for river trips. A permit is required year-round for river trips on any stretch of the river between Montezuma Creek and Clay Hills. This requirement clearly differs from the permit requirement in Grand Gulch: there, it applies to hiking and backpacking; here, it applies to river trips on the specified stretch of the river.

Bears Ears National Monument offers opportunities for rock climbing, river trips on the San Juan River, photography, camping and recreation on designated routes. This range of options includes different activities, not all of which are subject to the same routes or permit requirements. When planning, it’s therefore important to specify the experience you’re looking for and refer to the relevant descriptions of the location and activity.

Sandstone Landscapes and Routes

Cedar Mesa sandstone monoliths, spires and other geological formations define the landscape of Valley of the Gods. Wind and water have eroded them over millions of years. The 17-mile loop through Valley of the Gods is a paved gravel and clay road designated San Juan County Road No. 242. It has some sharp turns and crosses several washes; road conditions vary with the weather. This destination highlights both the rock formations shaped over a long period and specific features of the loop route.

In the northern part of the Dark Canyon Wilderness Study Area, year-round streams flow for more than 10 miles through a series of travertine pools and waterfalls. The Sundance Trail is the main access route into the lower part of Dark Canyon. Conditions on unpaved roads can change after rain. The streams and waterfalls are in the northern part of the WSA, while the Sundance Trail description refers to the access route into its lower part.

Monument Valley and Hiking Options

In Oljato-Monument Valley, Utah, the sandstone formations of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park rise 400 to 1,000 feet above the valley floor. The Wildcat Trail in the park is 1.5 miles long. During the monsoon season, the 17-mile loop drive features very difficult terrain and deep sand dunes. These details refer to different experiences: the Wildcat Trail’s length describes a hike, while the difficult terrain and deep sand dunes apply specifically to the loop drive during monsoon season.

When choosing a destination, you can compare archaeological structures, rock art, viewpoints, hikes and river trips. The distances, permit requirements and seasonal conditions described apply to the specific route or activity mentioned. Check these details if they’re important to your trip planning.

Explore more destinations: Blanding, Monticello, Spanish Valley, Oljato-Monument Valley, Mexican Hat, La Sal, Wayne County, Iron.

For the broader travel overview: Utah.