1. Arizona Border to Blanding
ARIZONA BORDER TO BLANDING – 129 miles
Begin your epic ride in the idyllic setting of Monument Valley. Fuel, food and lodging are available at Gouldings-Monument Valley and in nearby Mexican Hat or Bluff, but we advise booking your room ahead due to the limited number of beds in this area. Soon after you begin riding you’ll enter Valley of the Gods, site of legendary western movies and iconic sandstone towers. This scenic route has a dazzling display of warm hues painted by the rising sun and will surely motivate you to set out early. Once you rejoin the pavement, a brief ride up the amazing switchbacks of the Moki Dugway ushers you onto the top of Cedar Mesa. After riding a paved section of Hwy 261 you’ll descend eastward off the mesa via Snow Flat Road and have a short section of deep sand in Comb Wash within Bears Ears National Monument. In a short distance you’ll be riding northward on Lower Butler Wash Road, which can also be sandy, then Brushy Basin Rim Road which takes you into Blanding for food, fuel, and lodging.
1. Arizona Border to Blanding
ARIZONA BORDER TO BLANDING – 129 miles
Begin your epic ride in the idyllic setting of Monument Valley. Fuel, food and lodging are available at Gouldings-Monument Valley and in nearby Mexican Hat or Bluff, but we advise booking your room ahead due to the limited number of beds in this area. Soon after you begin riding you’ll enter Valley of the Gods, site of legendary western movies and iconic sandstone towers. This scenic route has a dazzling display of warm hues painted by the rising sun and will surely motivate you to set out early. Once you rejoin the pavement, a brief ride up the amazing switchbacks of the Moki Dugway ushers you onto the top of Cedar Mesa. After riding a paved section of Hwy 261 you’ll descend eastward off the mesa via Snow Flat Road and have a short section of deep sand in Comb Wash within Bears Ears National Monument. In a short distance you’ll be riding northward on Lower Butler Wash Road, which can also be sandy, then Brushy Basin Rim Road which takes you into Blanding for food, fuel, and lodging.
Arizona-Utah Border
Utah-Arizona Border Grab a front row seat to Monument Valley as the journey up the UTBDR officially picks up at the Utah-Arizona border. The border crossing marks the official southern edge of the route, with awe inspiring views in every direction showing a taste of what’s to come. While there’s little to do at the border itself, the views alone are worth some pictures. For a good night’s rest before hopping on the route, book a stay in Monument Valley’s The View Hotel or up the road at Goulding’s Resort. Both are also good options for stocking up on supplies before beginning the first stretch of this backcountry adventure.
Blanding - Food, Gas, Lodging
Blanding, UT You’ll need to fuel up in Blanding. There are several good restaurants and affordable hotel options in town. Visit Website »
Bluff - Food, Gas, Lodging
Butler Wash Ruins
Butler Wash Ruins Another easy hike leads riders to the site of the Butler Wash Ruins. Thought to date back hundreds of years, the cliff dwellings mark a time when the Anasazi occupied the land. One of the easier to see Anasazi ruins, the significant site sits in a large rock alcove in northern Butler Wash. The best way to view it is to park in the paved lot, then follow a well-marked trail to the overlook. While it’s not advised for visitors climb to the ruins, it’s still possible to see them up close and personal if you have the time and energy. From the overlook use binoculars or zoom in with a camera for the best shot. A slightly longer stop than the Wolfman Petroglyph Panel, the ruins take about an hour to visit. Visit Website »
Deep Sand in Comb Wash
153 South Comb Wash Rd Mexican Hat, UT, 84531, USA
Edge of the Cedars SP Museum
UTBDR POI
Goosenecks SP Viewpoint
UTBDR POI
Gouldings Trading Post - Food, Gas, Lodging
Gouldings Trading Post Make the first stop count by virtually riding onto the set of an Old West movie. Goulding’s is the place to go for a real-life western experience. Not only is it the site of a long-standing trading post, but visitors today can tour the Goulding’s Trading Post Museum for a small $2 fee. Goulding’s Gift Shop, meanwhile, is the place to pick up some locally made artwork, pottery and souvenirs. Take in a gorgeous desert sunrise from the privacy of Goulding’s Lodge, or some majestic views from a fully equipped home. Goulding’s is also the place to fuel-up and grab a bite to eat at the appropriately themed Stagecoach Restaurant. Address: 1000 Gouldings Trading Post Rd, Oljato-Monument Valley, UT 84536 Phone: (866) 313-9769 Visit Website »
Mexican Hat - Food, Gas, Lodging
Mexican Hat, UT A small town with a gas station, mini-mart, a couple of restaurants, and several lodging options. Visit Website »
Mexican Hat Rock Access
Moki Dugway Switchbacks
Moki Dugway Switchbacks Heading north from Valley of the Gods, keep an eye out for the approaching Moki Dugway Switchbacks. A fun section of the route, it’s not always easy to spot this road from afar. Carved into the southern rock face of Cedar Mesa, the graded dirt switchback is actually an engineering feat. Originally built by a mining company in the 1950s to haul ore, the route offers up views of some of southern Utah’s best sites as it twists up Cedar Mesa from the valley below. Moki Dugway is actually five tight switchbacks with a loose track and steep exposure much of the way so keep your eyes on the road while riding. For a better and safer look on the ride up, pull off at one of the viewpoints along the way. Visit Website »
Monument Valley
Monument Valley Monument Valley is a vast scenic area on Navajo tribal lands in Arizona just inside the state border with Utah. It’s filled with tall red rock towers and mesas, caves, cliff dwellings, and rock arches. General admission passes can be purchased online and they allow riders to travel into the tribal park for one day. If you plan to hike you’ll need a backcountry pass too. There are so many roads leading to picturesque places that you’ll want several hours to explore the valley. Note that some of the best things to see in the park can only be visited if you sign up for a guided tour. If you are short on time it is still worth a quick side trip to see the view of Monument Valley’s red rock towers from the visitor center. Visit Website »
Muley Point Viewpoint
Muley Point Viewpoint It’s a dusty five-mile side trip, but worth it to experience the sweeping scenery from the top of Muley Point Viewpoint. This overlook on the southern edge of Cedar Mesa serves up panoramic views of the San Juan River in the dramatic meandering canyon below. Usually you’ll be able to spot Monument Valley’s towers and buttes out in the distance if there is no dust or haze in the air. This viewpoint is slightly different than the Moki Dugway which has a direct view of Valley of the Gods. Muley Point is not only a good spot to take in some scenery, but also a spot to take a small break before continuing on the ride up the UTBDR through southern Utah. Visit Website »
San Juan River Bridge
UTBDR POI
Sand Island Petroglyph Panel
Sand Island Petroglyph Panel A short ride off the main route, it’s worth it to get a close-up look at the Sand Island Petroglyph Panel. Carved into the rock above the San Juan riverbank, Sand Island is one of the most substantial Anasazi rock art panels in the area. It’s over 100 yards long with tightly packed artwork so you can spend hours looking for your favorite. Estimated to be hundreds, if not thousands of years old, the rock art spans from animals to humans to geometric shapes. Be sure to look but not touch this archaeological site. It’s easy to spot, close to the tiny town of Bluff and the Sand Island Campground. Just keep an eye out for the Sand Island sign on the south side of Highway 191. Visit Website »
The Twist
UTBDR POI
Valley of the Gods Scenic Route
Valley of the Gods Scenic Route Stay on Valley of the Gods Road as the scenic route winds past uniquely named and shaped rock towers. A smaller version of Monument Valley, this steep and bumpy route leads past around 20 towering rocks dating back to ancient times. Try to make out Seven Sailors, Battleship Rock or Lady in the Bathtub, with viewpoints to all of the named towers along the way. Also called San Juan County Road 242, Valley of the Gods scenic route is definitely a spot to soak in some views as the route continues the climb north up the UTBDR through Southern Utah. If the hotels in Mexican Hat are full, there are dispersed camping spots along the drive and there’s even a bed and breakfast near the west end Valley of the Gods. Visit Website »
Wolfman Petroglyph Panel
Wolfman Petroglyph Panel A short hike is all it takes to reach the Wolfman Petroglyph Panel. As the next stop on the route, the rock art showcases several dozen images carved into a sandstone cliff at the base of Comb Ridge. It’s not quite as easy to reach as the Sand Island Petroglyph Panel, but worth it to park for a few minutes and make the small trek to see the artwork up close and personal. Note that if you look on the other side of the wash north of the panel, you’ll spot several cliff dwellings too. Located near the southern end of Butler Wash, it’s also a good spot to take some photos before continuing the adventure by heading up towards Butler Wash Ruins. The Butler Wash road is the access point to many Anasazi sites on Comb Ridge so if you have time and like to hike, plan ahead and you’ll have a lot to discover. Visit Website »
UT1 - AZ Border to Blanding
UT1 ALT Harder - Johns Canyon Rim
UT1 EXT - Muley Point
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