Join us for an unsurpassed 3-day Bears Ears adventure! Our route begins below the 8,000 foot Bears Ears Pass, surrounded by ponderosa pine, and follows Elk Ridge, the backbone between the Abajo Mountains and the Colorado River. We’ll explore secluded canyons, rich in cultural history of the Anasazi Indians, searching for ancient rock art and cliff dwellings. The landscape changes from cool alpine to colorful desert after our dramatic descent to the boundary of Canyonlands National Park. Our final night is spent at this area’s most beautiful campsite, Cathedral Butte. For those considering doing a multi-day tour for their first time, especially those who have little or no camping experience, we’ve written a detailed description of what it’s like to go on a multi-day tour with us. Click here to read it . For further details about this particular tour, view any of the below items: PHOTO GALLERY Each photo has a text description at the bottom. Double-click the first photo, then right-arrow through the sequence for a step-by-step preview of the entire tour.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Our tour starts west of Blanding near the 8,000-foot Bear’s Ears Pass which has been appropriated as the name of our newest National Monument. On the way to our drop off point we will take a short detour to view ancient Puebloan ruins that are over 700 years old. We’ll shuttle up and over the pass to start our ride of 15+ miles to our first camp amidst the aspens and pines of this cool oasis rising out of the desert below. There will be options for additional miles today along the main route. Once at camp, relax under the ponderosa pines and take in the view of nearby canyons while our guides take care of all the details. Washbasins are available for cleanup and a solar shower is usually available for an evening during the trip. Scrumptious hors d’oeuvres and a delicious, healthy meal will cap off a perfect, action-filled day!
Day 2 – Today we’ll traverse the Elk Ridge Plateau. Aspen meadows line our route as we make our way to Big Notch – a challenging climb but well worth it for the views at the top! After lunch, the riding is rolling and fun as we travel towards the north end of Elk Ridge and our camp high above the Canyonlands below. This camp has wonderful views for the sunset and the spectacular canyons surrounding us. Mileage is approximately 20 miles.
Day 3 – 15-25 miles | 2,000 ft –
Distance: 15-25 miles | Elevation: 2,000 ft