Cedar Mesa

Cedar Mesa SRMA https://www.blm.gov/visit/cedar-mesa-srma https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Mesa Cedar Mesa is a popular area for hiking and backpacking to see Ancestral Puebloan cliff ruins and rock art in a natural setting. Many miles of spectacular canyons lined with cliffs cut across the mesa. Some ruins are amazingly inaccessible, perched high on ledges and under overhangs. On its eastern edge the mesa's caprock dips sharply downward toward Comb Wash. Many canyons cut through this area. Other attractions include the scenery and wildlife, as well as the solitude of desert canyons.

Cedar Mesa Trip Planner Bears Ears National Monument Welcome to Cedar Mesa! Bears Ears National Monument protects one of the most significant cultural landscapes in the United States, and is the first national monument to be established at the request of federally recognized Tribes. Abundant rock art, ancient cliff dwellings, surface structures, and countless artifacts provide an extraordinary archaeological and cultural record, surrounded by deep sandstone canyons and high mesas. Rare perennial springs and streams sustain vigorous riparian ecosystems and the wildlife that depend on them. The Bureau of Land Management and Manti-La Sal National Forest manage approximately 1.36 million acres of land as Bears Ears National Monument. Within the Monument, more than 400,000 acres of land on Cedar Mesa is managed as a Special Recreation Management Area. This includes 210,370 acres of roadless Wilderness Study Areas. The area is sacred to members of many Native American tribes, including the Hopi, Navajo, Ute, Zuni, and others who visit their ancestral homelands for ceremonies and to collect medicinal and edible plants. Visit with Respect Ancestral Puebloans inhabited these canyons and mesa tops between 700 and 2,500 years ago. Many of their dwellings, farming areas, and sacred sites remain in excellent condition. The structures, stone and bone tools, pottery pieces, and other artifacts give us a peek into the lifestyles of these people and are protected by law. Cultural sites are sacred to Indigenous peoples and integral to American history, so it is essential to treat everything you find with care and respect. Leave all artifacts where you find them and refrain from touching walls or rock imagery. Remnants of past cultures are more fragile than they appear so don’t enter dwellings or historic buildings. Join us in protecting this special place! View Sites from a Distance This act honors Tribal beliefs and protects cultural resources. Go to the Bathroom Away from Sites Pack out all toilet paper - Do not burn it! Camp and Eat Away from Archaeology Food attracts animals to fragile sites. Leave All Artifacts Where You Find Them Don’t take artifacts or add them to “Display Rocks.” Enjoy Archaeology without Ropes Using climbing gear to access sites is illegal. Historic Artifacts Aren’t Trash Leave artifacts like rusted cans in place. Don’t Touch or Damage Rock Imagery Don’t add anything to panels you see. Know Where Pets (on leash) are Allowed Pets are never allowed in archaeological sites or springs. Stay on Designated Routes Driving off-road can damage sites. Steer Clear of Walls Structures can be easily damaged. GPS Reveals Too Much Remove location data before posting photos online. Pay Your Fees Your small fee supports protecting this area. Leave the Grinding in the Past Don’t touch or use grinding slicks. Don’t Disturb Fossils or Bones Leave fossil remains where you find them. $ No Fires in the Canyons of Cedar Mesa Use existing fire rings when on the rims. Do Your Part to Protect Cedar Mesa and Bears Ears National Monument U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Monticello Field Office 365 North Main; PO Box 7 Monticello, Utah 84535 Cedar Mesa Permit Desk Open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 12 noon phone: (435) 587-1510 email: blm_ut_mt_cedarmesa@blm.gov Visit the Cedar Mesa website For more information, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Flickr @BLMUtah and at @UtahPublicLands on Instagram. Permits A permit is required to hike and backpack in the canyons of Cedar Mesa and in parts of Bears Ears National Monument. A special permit is required to visit Moon House. There is no fee for mesa-top camping. Advanced reservations for overnight trips and Moon House day use may be obtained on the Recreation.gov website by searching for “Cedar Mesa Permits”. Day use permits for locations other than Moon House can be reserved in advance on the Recreation.gov website or purchased at trailheads with exact change. America the Beautiful Passes are not valid. All commercial and organized groups (including universities, schools, and clubs) must contact the BLM Monticello Field Office for information on additional Special Recreation Permit requirements. IN AN EMERGENCY CALL 911 Planning ahead and recreating responsibly can help prevent many emergencies. Cell phone service is unreliable in this area. You may need to walk or drive to a high point in order to get reception. Service may only be available where Navajo Mountain or the Rocky Mountains are visible. Tows from remote locations may be expensive. Rescued parties may be financially responsible for helicopter flights. General Information Information Centers The Kane Gulch Ranger Station and the visitor center at Natural Bridges National Monument are the only information centers on Cedar Mesa. Kane Gulch Ranger Station is open seasonally from March 1 - June 15 and Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The visitor center at Natural Brid