Bears Ears Adventure Trip
RIDING TYPE
Introductory | Intermediate
DURATION
4 Days
SEASON
April - May / September - October
Bears Ears South Adventure: Cycling, Hiking, and Ancestral Puebloan History
Discover the magic of Bears Ears National Monument on our Bears Ears South trip, an ideal way to explore this stunning landscape and fascinating history. At Western Spirit, we believe everyone deserves to experience the wonder of public lands, and this supported tour makes getting outside and enjoying Utah’s unique beauty effortless. We handle everything, so you can focus on the ride, the incredible cultural sites, and the joy of discovery.
This trip, venturing deep into the heart of Ancestral Puebloan history, includes cycling back in time and captivating hikes as we visit several incredibly well-preserved cliff dwellings. This supported trip combines great outdoor activity with deep cultural immersion.
-DAY-BY-DAY
Itinerary
From our meeting place in Moab, Utah, we will head south to the heart of Cedar Mesa.
Our adventure begins at the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum. This place houses thousands of artifacts that bring to life the Ancestral Puebloans, from pottery mugs to 1,000-year-old feather head pieces. Plus, there is a reconstructed kiva for us to explore.
After lunch, we’ll bike the dirt roads near Cyclone Flat, continuing to Sheiks Flat before arriving at the Yellow House Dwelling. After exploring this ancient structure, we will continue on to our base camp for the trip.
Today we will use our bikes to travel along some fun two-track roads as we make our way to the Moon House dwelling.
Our hike takes us along narrow pathways and a challenging scramble where teamwork will keep us safe.
This Ancestral Puebloan dwelling dates from the 13th century and includes multiple rooms and pictographs. It is the pictographs representing the night sky that give this place its name.
We will see living areas, granaries for storage, and a possible ceremonial kiva, all protected by an outer wall and inner courtyard. We will visit very carefully by shining a light inside each room without touching or entering the structure.
After lunch with a view, we will make our way back to camp for some stargazing of our own.
We bike to a large cliff dwelling, dramatically situated on a rock peninsula overlooking a deeply carved canyon. The hike includes a narrow ridge, making it easy to imagine why this place was chosen.
The nearly 800-year-old structure is known for its defensive features, which leads to great discussions about why the Ancestral Puebloans chose this spot and exactly what their lives were like. Why did this civilization, descended from more nomadic peoples, decide to put down roots and build this structure? We will encounter many clues today to answer these fascinating questions.
Today we leave our camp and head to Muley Point by bike. This gentle cruise takes us to the edge of the mesa and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the San Juan River, Monument Valley, and the Valley of the Gods.
After lunch at this special spot, we will descend the scenic Moki Dugway before shuttling back to Moab, with a newly acquired knowledge and respect for the fascinating people who came before us.
-TRIP NOTES
The fine print
Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.
Road Surface
Dirt roads. Hard packed sediment. Sandy sections and some short steep, rocky sections.
Overall Rating
Biking is introductory, hiking is intermediate due to some scrambling.
Technical Difficulty
Easy to moderate.
Physical Difficulty
Moderate, some strenuous climbing.
Altitude
4,100 - 6,500 feet
Biking Mileage
Hiking Mileage
No hiking mileage
–Travel Logistics
Getting there.
Moab, UT, 7:30 AM MST at the Aarchway Inn, 1551 North Riverview Drive. Ending time: return to Moab 3:00-4:00 PM last day. Getting there: 30 mi south of I-70 on Hwy 191; fly into Salt Lake City (SLC), Grand Junction (GJT), or Moab (CNY).
Lodging Before Your Trip
Aarchway Inn
Where the trip meets (10% off for WS guests) Use Hyperlink above or mention your a Western Spirit guest over the phone for discount.
PACKING
What we provide
- Meals
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Camp mugs & dining ware
- 1 cycling water bottle
- Camp chairs
- Solar showers
- Sunscreen & bug spray
- Bike stand
- Lube
- First aid kit
Bring or rent
- Bike
- Helmet
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Cycling & camp clothing
- Rain gear
- Personal items
- Tipping cash (10-20%)
Bring or rent
Bringing or renting
- Bike (rentals come with flat pedals)
- Helmet (gratis w
- Rental bike)
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
Cycling clothing
- Cycling shoes
- 3-5 pair cycling shorts
- 3-5 cycling shirts
- Long sleeve cycling shirt
- Long sleeve cotton shirt or solar sleeves
- Cycling socks
- Windbreaker
- Tights or leg warmers
- 2 pair cycling gloves
- Rain jacket & rain pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
- Warm layer
- Sunglasses
Camp clothing
- Camp shorts/shirts
- Warm socks
- Long underwear
- 2 pair warm long pants
- Fleece/sweater
- Pile or down jacket
- Warm gloves and hat
- Brimmed hat
- Bathing suit
- Hiking shoes
- Sandals
- Rain gear
Personal
- Toiletries
- Medication
- Towel
- Biodegradable soap
- Wet-wipes
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Sunglasses
- Optional day bag
- Stuff sacks
- Cash for tipping (10-20% of trip price)
Optional
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Favorite beverages
- Books
- Maps
- Portable USB charger
Need more information about our bike trips?
Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732.
Need more information about our bike trips? Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732
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4 Days · Biking is introductory, hiking is intermediate due to some scrambling.
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