- Locale: Elk Ridge
- Time: Half Day
- Fee: None
The namesake and heart of the landscape, these twin buttes stand over 8,700 feet in elevation. They are sacred places to many Indigenous Tribes and Pueblos who share spiritual connections to the area. Navajo Headsman Manuelito, who led a number of Navajos in an escape from the Long Walk to New Mexico, was born near these buttes. From the saddle of these twin buttes, you get stunning views of the Bears Ears landscape. There are no facilities available at Bears Ears Buttes.
NOTE: Please DO NOT hike or climb on the buttes. First and foremost, staying off the buttes shows respect for the cultural importance; the Bears Ears buttes are a sacred space for many Tribes and Pueblos and continue to be an important source of medicinal gathering. Additionally, the buttes are home to a sensitive ecosystem and subject to damage caused by social trails.
Special Considerations
The Bears Ears are high in elevation and therefore subject to stormy weather so be prepared for rain and cold. There are no facilities at the Bears Ears. Vehicle access to the Bears Ears becomes very difficult and dangerous if there has been recent precipitation.
- Tips For Visiting Here with Respect
Historic Artifacts Aren’t Trash
Leave historic artifacts like rusted cans right where they are. They help interpret the past and show who has been there before.
Stay On Designated Roads
Use existing roads that are approved for use by land managers. Driving off-road can damage fragile archaeology and ecosystems.
Remember That Ancestral Landscapes Are Sacred
Tribes and Pueblos consider ancestral landscapes a place for ceremony and a place where the ancestors’ spirits still reside. The soil, sky, animals, plants, cultural and ancestral sites are all interconnected and hold spiritual significance to Tribal nations.
- Maps and Directions
- Coordinates: 37.629660, -109.867638
- Directions:
There are two ways to access the Bears Ears: from Cottonwood Wash to the east or from Elk Mountain Road to the west. Both routes are not recommended when conditions may be wet or icy.
From Blanding: Travel south on Hwy 191 for three miles, take a right onto UT-95 N and continue for 30.2 miles west (past the turnoff for UT-261). Turn right on UT-275N. After 0.7 miles, turn right onto Elk Mountain/FR008. This 6.1-mile road will take you to the saddle between the two buttes.
From Bluff: Travel north on Hwy 191 for 21 miles. Turn left onto UT-95 N and continue 30.2 miles west (past the turnoff for UT-261). Turn right on UT-275N. After 0.7 miles, turn right onto Elk Mountain/FR008. This 6.1-mile road will take you to the saddle between the two buttes.
The Cottonwood Wash access: From the junction of Hwy 191 and UT-95 N, follow UT-95 west for 6.3 miles. Turn right on Cottonwood and proceed 5.3 miles. Take a slight left onto Elk Mountain/268. After 3.9 miles, turn right to stay on Elk Mountain/268. After 10.8 miles, take a slight left onto Forest Road 092. Follow 092 for 5.8 miles to reach the saddle of the Bears Ears buttes.