Explore Bears Ears: By Foot

Explore the spectacular Bears Ears National Monument, a stunning red-rock landscape that is sacred to five sovereign Native tribes and home to the highest concentration of ancient cultural sites in the country.

Hear about the historic coalition of tribal governments, community organizations, and Earthjustice attorneys that assembled to protect this one-of-a-kind landscape when former President Trump rolled back federal protections to open the area to oil and gas drilling, mining, and other industrial activities. The swift action of Bears Ears defenders helped to stave off some of the worst industrial activities until the Biden administration was able to fully restore protections to Bears Ears in late 2021.

Gain a deeper understanding of this place from Earthjustice experts, Louis Williams, a Navajo adventurer who was born and raised in Navajo country, and experienced guides from Ancient Wayves, the first and only Navajo-owned outfitter within Bears Ears and on the San Juan River.

Mountain Girl Photography / Getty Images

We have two different five-day, four-night trip formats to choose from:

Land-based trip

Spend each night in a hotel. Daily activities include short and easy hikes to petroglyphs and cliff dwellings.
Register for Land-based Trip

River-based trip

Float trip down the San Juan River includes two nights of camping. A calm, congenial river, the San Juan offers a relaxing float trip livened up by fun Class II rapids.
See River-based Trip

Bears Ears National Monument

Gain a deep understanding of Bears Ears National Monument. These mesas, cliffs and canyons are home to over 100,000 Native American archaeological and cultural sites, some dating back to 12,000 B.C.E. Today, this place remains sacred to five sovereign Native tribes: the Hopi, Navajo, Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute, and Zuni.

Louis Williams & Ancient Wayves

Spend your days walking and paddling alongside the experienced guides of Ancient Wayves who have ancestral ties to this landscape. Their goal is to provide guests with unique, authentic and fun experiences to share the beauty of this land and the rich cultures that exist in the region.

Earthjustice at Work

Following the leaders of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition who sued President Trump the day after he rolled back federal protections of Bears Ears, Earthjustice represented nine conservation organizations in a lawsuit, charging that the administration’s actions violated the 1906 Antiquities Act and the U.S. Constitution, stripping protections from priceless cultural and natural heritage that belong to all. These actions stalled the worst of industrial activities until the Biden administration was able to fully restore protections to Bears Ears in late 2021.

Steven St. John for Earthjustice

Friday, May 16 — Tuesday, May 20, 2025

5 Days, 4 Nights

DAY  1

Welcome to Bluff, UT

Friday, May 16

Overnight

Desert Rose Resort & Cabins - Bluff, UT

Welcome! If flying into Durango LaPlata County Airport (DRO), you will be met by your Iconic Trip Leader at baggage claim. A two-and-a-half-hour private shuttle will take you to Desert Rose Resort & Cabins, our base for the next four nights. After settling in, meet your fellow travelers, local community, and Earthjustice leadership for a brief orientation and welcome reception at the resort. This evening, we’ll walk the short distance into town for a group dinner.

Steven St. John for Earthjustice

DAY  2

Hiking Bears Ears National Monument and Cedar Mesa

Saturday, May 17

Overnight

Desert Rose Resort & Cabins - Bluff, UT

We’ll start the day at Bears Ears Educational Center, which provides a fabulous introduction to the geography we will be exploring over the coming days and instructions on how to respectfully visit this culturally rich area.

Steven St. John for Earthjustice

Enjoy two short, easy hikes to House On Fire and Cave Towers. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the shade of the beautiful canyon walls and hear details about the intricate petroglyphs, ceremonial sites and prehistoric ruins surrounding us. As we head back to the lodge for rest and relaxation this afternoon, we are reminded that these ancient sites and land continue to be important places for Native American tribes.

Mason Cummings Katherine Frey / The Washington Post via Getty Images

DAYS  3

Paddling the San Juan River

Sunday, May 18

Overnight

Desert Rose Resort & Cabins - Bluff, UT

Today, we enjoy the San Juan River with another day exploring, this time from an inflatable kayak. During this leisurely 8-mile paddle from Sand Island to Comb Ridge, we’ll visit Kachina Panel, one of the largest rock art panels in North America, and River House Ruin, a one-thousand-year-old cliff dwelling. We’ll refuel with lunch on the river in the middle of this sun-washed landscape.

Steven St. John for Earthjustice Josh Ewing / Getty Images Steven St. John for Earthjustice

After our day on the water, we’ll return to the resort where you can rest before dinner. This evening we’ll enjoy dinner in town as a group.

DAY  4

Exploring Hovenweep National Monument

Monday, May 19

Overnight

Strater Hotel - Durango, CO

After breakfast, we’ll head to Durango, CO, while stopping at Hovenweep National Monument, which was once home to over 2,500 people and six different Puebloan villages built between A.D. 1200 and 1300. We’ll hear an introduction to Hovenweep and meet with an Earthjustice partner and archaeological expert who will guide us on the Square Tower Group loop trail to observe the multistory towers perched atop canyon rims and balancing on boulders.

Mobilus In Mobili / CC BY-SA 2.0

After a picnic lunch, we’ll drive the remaining two hours to Durango, CO. The historic Strater Hotel welcomes us for our final evening; known for its iconic red brick facade, intricate woodwork and lively saloon, you’re in the heart of this Old West town. Explore Main Avenue until we meet as a group this evening to share final reflections on the week and toast to these memories over a group dinner.

Steven Martin / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

DAY  5

Departure Day

Tuesday, May 20

It may be hard to leave this sacred land full of archaeological, scenic, and scientific treasures as you’ve built a meaningful connection with Bears Ears National Monument, the local people, and Earthjustice staff. But today, you wake up rested with a renewed sense of determination. Catch your flight back home and share stories from your journey with your loved ones.

Steven St. John for Earthjustice

• Dates: Friday, May 16, 2025 — Tuesday, May 20, 2025
• Group Size: 12–16 Guests
• Minimum Age: Guests must be at least 7 years old

Package Rate

• Double occupancy $6,100 per person
• Single occupancy: $6,775 per person

Register for Land-based Trip

See River-based Trip

Julie Kinamore  |  Iconic Adventures

An invoice for your deposit will be sent within 24 business hours of registering. For more information about the trip, please contact Julie Kinamore from Iconic Adventures at concierge@iconicadventures.com or (877) 941-9412.

CST#2104024

Matt Horst  |  Earthjustice

If you have Earthjustice-related questions, please contact our travel team at travel@earthjustice.org or (312) 800-8308.

At Earthjustice, we go to court for the future of our planet. But we are more than just lawyers in a courtroom: our litigation, advocacy, and communications work lead to real change on the ground.

As a valued Justice Partner and Evergreen Council member, you’re invited to travel with us to experience firsthand how our legal wins matter profoundly for people and the environment.

Each trip is intentionally customized to explore major environmental and public health fights alongside Earthjustice attorneys, local experts, and community advocates. Pairing a behind-the-scenes look at our regional work with comfort and adventure, your experience will color the stories you tell friends and families for years to come while building relationships with the magnificent places we fight for.

Our trips are priced only to cover expenses and are not intended to help fund our organization. In partnership with renowned tour operator Iconic Adventures, we offer these trips to you as an opportunity to connect with our shared mission.

All 2025 Explores Trips

Steven St. John for Earthjustice