An Old West itinerary for Utah’s Canyon Country: 18 pioneer sites, western film locations, trail rides, trading posts, steakhouses and frontier-style places to stay. The numbers match the map in the PDF guide.
All 18 stops at a glance
| # | Stop | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bluff Fort Historic Site | Site and attraction | 550 Black Locust Avenue, Bluff, UT 84512 |
| 2 | Valley of the Gods | Scenic drive | Valley of the Gods Road, near Mexican Hat |
| 3 | Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park | Site and attraction | Indian Route 42, Oljato-Monument Valley, UT |
| 4 | John Ford’s Point | Western film location | Within Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park |
| 5 | Cave Spring Trail | Short hike | Needles District, Canyonlands National Park (38.157222, -109.751755) |
| 6 | Bluff Cemetery | Pioneer cemetery | Northwest of the Bluff post office (37.28780, -109.55420) |
| 7 | Frontier Museum | Museum | 232 S Main St, Monticello, UT 84535 |
| 8 | Pioneer Park | Park | 16 W 200 S, Monticello, UT 84535 |
| 9 | Nations of the Four Corners | Cultural center | 461 W 500 S, Blanding, UT 84511 |
| 10 | Mountain Joe’s Trail Rides | Tours and guides | 65 Markle Rd, La Sal, UT 84530 |
| 11 | Sacred Monument Tours | Tours and guides | Main Monument Valley Rd, Oljato-Monument Valley, UT 84536 |
| 12 | Goulding’s Trading Post Museum | Shopping | 1000 Gouldings Trading Post Rd, Oljato-Monument Valley, UT 84536 |
| 13 | Twin Rocks Trading Post | Shopping | 913 Navajo Twins Dr, Bluff, UT 84512 |
| 14 | Still Steaks - Mexican Hat Lodge | Dining | 2265 US-163, Mexican Hat, UT 84531 |
| 15 | Homestead Steakhouse | Dining | 121 E Center St, Blanding, UT 84511 |
| 16 | 3 Step Hideaway | Lodging | 2430 Lisbon Valley Rd, La Sal, UT 84530 |
| 17 | Glamping Wagon at Coral Sands RV Park | Lodging | 150 6th W St, Bluff, UT 84512 |
| 18 | San Juan Stampede Pro Rodeo | Event (3 days in June) | 965 E Center St, Monticello, UT 84535 |
Sites and attractions
1. Bluff Fort Historic Site
Early settler pioneer fort. 550 Black Locust Avenue, Bluff, UT 84512
A restored pioneer settlement that tells the story of the 1880 Hole-in-the-Rock expedition. This free, family-friendly stop features original cabins and opportunities to pan for gold, pull a handcart and practice your roping skills.
2. Valley of the Gods
Scenic drive. Valley of the Gods Road (near Mexican Hat)
Often called a smaller, quieter Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods offers stunning red rock formations, towering buttes, and wide-open desert solitude, reminiscent of the backdrop for many classic western films and stories.
3. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Iconic backdrop to the Old West. Indian Route 42, Oljato-Monument Valley, UT
The quintessential image of the American West—towering sandstone buttes rising from the desert floor in a vast, cinematic landscape located on Navajo land. Many different tours and activities are available, including horseback riding and overnight hogan stays.
4. John Ford’s Point
Famous western film location. Within Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Named after the legendary film director who shot many Westerns here, John Ford’s Point offers one of the most iconic views in Monument Valley. With panoramic vistas of towering buttes and mesas, it’s a favorite photo stop.
5. Cave Spring Trail
Short hike past an old cowboy camp. 38.157222, -109.751755 (Needles District, Canyonlands National Park)
Cave Spring Trail packs Old West atmosphere into a short, scenic loop. Highlights include a historic cowboy camp with preserved chuckwagon gear, ancient pictographs, and hidden alcoves once used for shelter.
6. Bluff Cemetery
Scenic resting place of 1800s pioneers. 37.28780, -109.55420 (northwest of the Bluff post office)
Offers a poignant glimpse into the lives of the area’s earliest settlers. Weathered headstones, pioneer graves, and the resting place of Hole-in-the-Rock expedition members tell stories of hardship, resilience, and frontier spirit.
7. Frontier Museum
Historic artifacts. 232 S Main St, Monticello, UT 84535
A small-town gem that captures the rugged spirit of Southeastern Utah’s pioneer days. Exhibits include pioneer tools, wagons, clothing, and stories from early settlers who carved out lives in the wild canyon country around Monticello, Utah.
8. Pioneer Park
Tribute to early settlers. 16 W 200 S, Monticello, UT 84535
A small park with a replica of an old log church building used by the early settlers of the Monticello area.
9. Nations of the Four Corners
Cultural center. 461 W 500 S, Blanding, UT 84511
Sites and artifacts in a little park, dedicated to the histories of the Navajo, Ute, Hopi and Zuni nations. The site includes open-air exhibits, architecture and interpretive panels.
Tours and guides
10. Mountain Joe’s Trail Rides
Guided horseback rides. 65 Markle Rd, La Sal, UT 84530
Guided horseback rides through high desert meadows, forested trails, and breathtaking canyon overlooks, delivering the kind of frontier adventure straight out of an Old West daydream. Our mountain trail rides take you up to an elevation of 8,000 feet where temperatures are 15-20 degrees cooler than Moab and surrounding areas.
11. Sacred Monument Tours
Monument Valley experiences. Main Monument Valley Rd, Oljato-Monument Valley, UT 84536
Immersive, guided journeys by off-road vehicle or horseback into the ancestral lands and sacred sites of the Monument Valley region. See the Old West through the eyes of the native peoples who call this region home.
Shopping
12. Goulding’s Trading Post Museum
Iconic Monument Valley meeting place. 1000 Gouldings Trading Post Rd, Oljato-Monument Valley, UT 84536
Shopping and museum in the real-life backdrop of countless Western films. Once a working trading post, this site now showcases historic artifacts, film memorabilia, and the sites where Hollywood legends like John Wayne made films.
13. Twin Rocks Trading Post
Native American artifacts and crafts. 913 Navajo Twins Dr, Bluff, UT 84512
A vibrant hub of Native American art, culture, and craftsmanship. Visitors can browse handwoven Navajo rugs, hand-carved kachinas, and intricate silver jewelry—all with deep ties to the region’s heritage.
Dining
14. Still Steaks - Mexican Hat Lodge
Rustic steaks cooked over open fire. Open evenings March - October. 2265 US-163, Mexican Hat, UT 84531, mexicanhatlodge.com/dining
Dinner right in the heart of red rock country. Guests can enjoy steaks and burgers in a laid-back, outdoor setting with a Western flair.
15. Homestead Steakhouse
Hearty western fare. 121 E Center St, Blanding, UT 84511, homesteadsteakhouseut.com
A warm, rustic setting. With aged steaks, smoked meats, and classic sides like baked potatoes and cornbread, it’s the kind of place cowboys might’ve kicked back after a long day on the range.
Lodging
16. 3 Step Hideaway
Off-grid lodging. 2430 Lisbon Valley Rd, La Sal, UT 84530, 3stephideaway.com
Guests stay in rustic western style cabins or teepees, surrounded by wide-open skies, quiet mesas, and miles of untamed beauty. With horseback rides, campfires, and no cell service, it’s a rustic, unplugged experience that channels frontier living.
17. Glamping Wagon at Coral Sands RV Park
Unique overnight stay. 150 6th W St, Bluff, UT 84512, coralsandsrv.com/glamping-wagon-in-bluff
Experience the Old West in comfort with our 1800s-style glamping wagon. Stay in Bluff, learn about the pioneers, and sleep in a covered wagon—where history meets modern amenities.
Events
18. San Juan Stampede Pro Rodeo
3 wild, exciting days in June. 965 E Center St, Monticello, UT 84535, sanjuanstampedeprorodeo.com
It doesn’t get more Western than San Juan County’s annual pro rodeo; bull and bronc riding, barrel racing, roping, mutton bustin’ and more.
Utah Film Trail
San Juan County has become the unofficial backdrop for western cinema. Two (soon to be 3) of the various movie locations in the county even have physical markers at their iconic sites. Tour the Utah Film Trail at visitutah.com/things-to-do/film-tourism/utah-film-trail.
Questions about planning your trip? Call 800-574-4386.