Location

Bears Ears National Monument - Butler Wash

Season

Half day and Full Day trips available daily year round.
All hiking trips are private.

Recommended Age

No minimum age. All trips are private so if you wanna pack them feel free to bring them. Ages 3 and under are free of charge.

Duration

~4 Half-day trips
~8 Full-day trips
Half-day trip departures - 8am & 1pm
Full day departures - 8am

Price

Half-day Price: $350 1-3 Guests. $109 4+ Guests.
Full-day Price: $500 1-3 Guests. $139 4+ Guests.

Overview

A trip to Bears Ears is not complete without exploring some of the best cliff dwellings and rock art panels found along Butler Wash. Butler Wash is the east side of Comb Ridge, the backbone of Bears Ears. If you’re new to the area you’ll find many of these side canyons look identical to one another. Chances are if you venture into any of these canyons you’re going to stumble on some amazing sites, but it can be hard to navigate even with a good map. If you want to cut to the chase as see as much as possible in one day let us be your guide to these special places. Monarch Cave and Wolfman are two of our favorite sites and if you have the energy to extend to a full day we can also see the Procession Panel. Lastly, if there is a specific site that has evaded you for years give us a call and we’ll get you there.

Includes

  • 4×4 Transportation to trailheads
  • Snacks and Water
  • Professional Guide
  • Full day trip includes lunch
  • Remote wilderness
  • Monarch Cave
  • Wolfman Panel
  • Desert Flora and Fauna
  • Cliff Dwellings and Rock Art

Easy – Moderate for most hikes along Butler Wash up to 3 – 4 miles round trip with little to no elevation gain. Procession Panel is moderate – strenuous 3 miles round trip with ~500 feet of elevation gain and loss.

  • Hiking day pack to carry water and snacks
  • 2 Reusable water bottles or hydration pack (i.e. Camelbak)
  • Comfortable Hiking Shoes
  • Lightweight windbreaker or jacket (spring and fall trips)
  • Hiking poles with rubber tips
  • Camera

Meet at Wild Expeditions in Bluff, Utah. You’ll check in at the office, fill water bottles and meet your guide. Depending on the size of your group we’ll load up in a Jeep or a 4×4 van and head for Butler Wash. Butler Wash road is only a 5 minute drive out of Bluff and we’ll turn off on a dirt back road. Welcome to Bears Ears National Monument – as of January 2019 you’re not going to see any signs or trailheads. If you come visit out here on your own make sure you stay on designated roads because in recent years new roads are popping up all over this area making it harder for people to find their way. We’ll start off with a short hike to Wolfman Panel which is a mile round trip with little elevation loss. There are several exposed spots along the trail where if heights make you nervous you may want a hand, but your guide will give you a hand. This petroglyph panel is different than any other panel in the region and is a great reward for a short hike.

Back at the vehicle we’ll drive further into Bears Ears NM and stop at the Monarch Cave Trailhead. If it’s your first time here you’ll be grateful for a guide since there are many trailheads that all look the same near Monarch Cave. Monarch Cave is a 3 mile round trip and is one of the most preserved sites along Butler Wash. The hike follows the bottom of a canyon so shade is a nice relief from the summer sun. Monarch Cave and Wolfman are just two of many different sites along Butler Wash and these two sites make a nice half-day trip.

Our most popular full day trip would start with Procession Panel in the morning because it is the most strenuous and has no relief from the sun since it is climbs straight the back side of Comb Ridge about 400 feet up the sandstone. After Procession Panel we would have lunch at the vehicle followed by Monarch Cave and finishing with Wolfman Panel if there is time and energy left in your reserves. All our trips we run as small private groups so that we can fit in as much as you’d like to do. If you’ve seen each of these some other great sites include Cold Springs Cave, Double Stack and Eagles Nest. Feel free to book your trip online and we’ll reach out to you to plan out an itinerary specific to your interests and physical ability or just give us a call and we’ll help you plan and book your reservations over the phone.

Let The Adventure Begin!