Bluff, Utah was only an hour drive from Monument Valley. Since there were quite a few things to see in the area, we couldn’t pass it up. Funny picture of two cows.
Valley of the Gods
The valley is managed by the BLM. Dispersed camping is allowed. There were a handful of campers in the park, but no big rigs since the 17 mile gravel road is steep, has tight turns and is bumpy in parts.
The rock formations are similar to Monument Valley. There are tall, reddish brown mesas, buttes, and towers that rise above the valley floor. It was a lot less crowded than Monument Valley and just as beautiful.
We went a second time at sunset, so the rocks were very colorful. Valley of the Gods was a part of Bears Ears National Monument. Sadly, the size of Bears Ears National Monument was greatly reduced, but that action is being challenged. Other than cattle grazing, we didn’t see other animals.
Bluff, Utah
Bluff, Utah is a small town that is listed in “1,000 Places to See Before You Die”. We enjoyed the Cottonwood Steakhouse. It had a casual atmosphere, friendly staff, and very good brisket and ribs.
Bluff Fort
Bluff was established as a Mormon settlement in 1880. A mission call went out and seventy families left Escalante, Utah to create the “Escalante short cut”. The short cut was difficult, especially through the hole-in-the-rock, a 1200 foot drop through a cliff.
The original Bluff Fort was recreated. Its very well done with a gift shop, movie about the Mormon settlement, artifacts and homes.
There were cows everywhere. Even though there were barbed wire fences, the area is open range and cows were sometimes on the roads at blind corners. Jake goes crazy over cows. Has to whine at them out of the Jeep window.
Cottonwood RV Park
We had a large pull through with good views. 50 amp service, 60 psi water pressure, sewer, and ok internet. It wasn’t crowded.
Butler Ruins
It was an easy hike to the ruins on a dog friendly trail.
Above the ruins was a small creek that had created a natural bridge. Jake climbs rocks like a billy goat!
Indian paintbrush.
Sand Island Petroglyphs
Its a 100 yard rock wall covered with ancient Anasazi scrawlings estimated to be over 1000 years old.
Sand Island is a BLM site on the San Juan River.
16 Room Cliff House
An ancient Anasazi ruin near the banks of the San Juan River.
There was little information about this cliff house. It takes determination to find it and its not far from Bluff, Utah. There were a couple poorly defined paths to get to the rooms.
Natural Bridges National Monument
Utah’s first National Monument, established in 1908. Sipapu Bridge is the largest of the three bridges. Sipapu is a Hopi term meaning “the place of emergence”.
Bridges are formed by running water carving away rock. Arches are formed by seeping moisture and frost. Kachina Bridge is named after the petroglyphs and pictographs depicting dancing figures carved on the base of the bridge.
Owachomo Bridge. The name is Hopi for “rock mound”. There is a rock formation on top of the bridge.
The area has been repeatedly occupied since 7000 BC. Homes were built from sandstone and mud packed sticks. The Horse Collar Ruin is accessible by a hiking trail.
Goosenecks State Park
The San Juan River on its way to Lake Powell twists and turns creating a deep canyon.
