Go for a hike in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park
Needles Hikers- Canyonlands- photo credit: Jacob W. Frank
The Needles District, named for the tall, slender and graceful sandstone formations, offers over 60 miles of interconnecting trails into, through, and among stunning canyon scenery. Popular day hikes include; Chesler Park, Druid Arch, Paul Bunyan’s Potty, and the Confluence Overlook. Shorter family-friendly hikes such as Cave Spring and Pothole Point are great hikes for younger visitors or anyone looking for a quick hike.
Goulding’s Tours – Monument Valley
Monument Valley, spread across the Utah/Arizona border at the southern edge of San Juan County, is one of the most photographed places on earth! 
It’s been featured in films, as the eye-catcher for ads, and on television, and the best way to see it in person is on a guided tour with one of the many tour companies in the valley. Open air vehicle tours, horseback riding tours, ATV tours, take your pick- just make sure to go with a guide to get the most out of your visit!
Natural Bridges Night Sky – photo credit: Allison Yamamoto Sparks
On March 6th, 2007, the International Dark Sky Association designated Natural Bridges National Monument as the world’s first International Dark Sky Park. In the following 9 years three more San Juan County parks & monuments have been added to that list; Hovenweep National Monument, Canyonlands National Park in 2015, and Dead Horse Point State Park.
San Juan County is home to one of the darkest night skies in the contiguous 48 states, and between our 4 Dark Sky Parks, there are ample opportunities to attend a Ranger-led Dark Sky Astronomy Program during your stay in San Juan County!
Edge of the Cedars – photo credit: Allison Yamamoto Sparks
Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum is a hidden gem in the Four Corners region and is an absolute must-see on any trip to southeast Utah. This world-class museum houses the largest collection of Ancestral Puebloan artifacts in the Four Corners region, and provides unique ‘visible storage’ which allows viewing of one-of-a-kind artifacts normally kept in closed storage. 
The museum showcases cultures dating back 11,000 years. Enter a residence built over 700 years ago and delight in the museum’s extensive exhibits of items used daily in the lives of the Ancestral Puebloan people. The museum hosts special events, shows, and exhibits throughout the year. https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/edge-of-the-cedars/
A float trip on the San Juan River in southeast Utah provides boaters with access to spectacular canyons rich in scenery, archaeology, history, remarkable geographic features, and desert wildlife.
San Juan River – Wild Rivers Expeditions
Book a trip with Wild Rivers Expeditions and sit back and enjoy the scenery and Class II & III rapids while your guide expertly navigates the river. Enjoy several stops at archaeological sites such as River House Ruin and the Butler Petroglyph Panel.
http://www.riversandruins.com/
Bluff Fort -photo credit – Allison Yamamoto-Sparks
Visitors to the Bluff Fort can see ruins of the original fort built in the late 1800s, replica pioneer cabins representing many of the families who were part of the San Juan Mission Expedition, (Hole-in-the Rock Expedition) and a replica Co-op Store Building that houses the visitor center, gift shop, and event space. Activities for kids include; wagons & handcarts, pioneer dress-up clothing, and wooden roping cows & horses. http://hirf.org/
• Go Back in Time at The Dinosaur Museum in BlandingVisiting Utah’s Canyon Country with kids? The Dinosaur Museum in Blanding, UT is home to an impressive collection of dinosaur fossils, casts, and sculptures as well as a HUGE collection of dinosaur movie memorabilia that’s sure to capture the attention and imagination of dinosaur lovers of all ages! http://dinosaur-museum.org/
Goosenecks State Park
The San Juan River twists and turns through sinuous ‘goosenecks’ as it flows toward Lake Powell traveling over 6 miles, while it advances to the west only 1 mile. The Great Goosenecks of the San Juan River is the largest entrenched river meander in North America. Within the 1,000 feet between the park and the river, 300 million years of geology is revealed in the layers exposed by erosion. https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goosenecks/
Kadyn Jason enjoys changing the landscape in the computer imaging kinetic sand box. Photo Credit: Sam Green/The Journal
The Canyon Country Discovery Center is a science and nature center, with indoor and outdoor learning stations. Developed for culturally diverse audiences, the campus allows children and adults to explore and discover the natural history and landscapes, people and places, land use and energy, astronomy, water, and climate of the Colorado Plateau.
http://www.fourcornersschool.org/
ATV Safari Arch Canyon, Photo Credit: Allison Yamamoto-Sparks
Ranging from low elevation desert trails in the canyons that take riders past ruins, rock art, and arches, to cool mountain trails that reach up to 11,000 feet in elevation, San Juan County is home to several hundred miles of ATV trails in addition to a 400+ mile loop trail that circumnavigates the county. If you’re looking for an amazing variety of true, two-track ATV trails, look no further than San Juan County, UT!
http://www.spear4all.com/maps.htm
Hideout Golf Club – photo credit: Oculus-Media
(#5 course in Utah on Golfweek’s 2016 list)
Monticello is home to one of Utah’s best kept secrets… the Hideout Golf Club! The Hideout was established in 2001, and has consistently made Golfweek Magazine’s ‘Best of’ lists ever since. 
This year Golfweek named the Hideout the #5 course in Utah, and it has reached as high as #17 on their list of the country’s best municipal courses! The Hideout boasts the highest green in the state, (green No. 16 at 7,116 feet!) and even in the peak of summer heat, the temperatures of this high elevation course remain cool and comfortable.
Just an hour south of Moab pops you up into Monticello a couple thousand feet higher and the jumping point to a few diamonds in the rough. Specifically for those who like two-wheeled, non-moto travel—full suspension and hardtailer’s alike. The Abajos have some amazing single and double track mountain biking trails; Robertsons Pasture, Bulldog, Shay Ridge, Spring Creek, Wagon Wheel, and Indian Creek.
For full list of trails w/maps: http://www.utahscanyoncountry.com/biking.html
Hovenweep – photo credit: Jacob W. Frank
The Utah portion of the Trail of the Ancients includes a network of roads that provide visitors an opportunity to experience a wide variety of archaeological, historic, and cultural sites. Drive the 17 mile loop road through Valley of the Gods to get up close with free-standing monoliths, delicate spires of sandstone, and long rock fins. Visit Hovenweep National Monument to view the unique tower structures built between 500 AD and 1300 by the Ancestral Puebloan people who once lived there. Explore Grand Gulch to see well preserved examples of Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and rock art. Visit: http://www.trailoftheancients.com/byways/utahtrail.html for maps and information on all the stops along the Trail of the Ancients.
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