Visit With Respect
Utah is filled with a variety of different state and federal designations when it comes to its connection to Native Nations. But it’s also important to understand that there is a strong cultural history to Utah's lands, even if it doesn’t fit in an official category. While many nations welcome visitors for activities and events, each comes with its own set of regulations and etiquette. Do some research to understand your destination and the customs of the people who live there. However, some general guidelines on visiting reservations include:
- Avoid taking pictures of people or events unless you have permission. Remember, this is where people live and work.
- Act respectfully at all times, but particularly at important sites and burial grounds.
- Don’t remove pottery or other artifacts you may find — this is a violation of federal law. (Watch: Voices of Bears Ears — The Archaeologists)
- You are a guest on the reservation and allowed on site with the permission. Act accordingly.
- Follow all travel guidelines related to COVID-19. Check for updates on Utah’s best travel practices before your trip.
Top Experiences by Region
Northern Utah
Home to the Fremont peoples from approximately 300 Common Era (CE) to 1300 CE, Northern Utah is known in more recent history for three primary nations. In the most northern part of the state, you’ll find the Shoshone, who have traditionally lived in Wyoming, Idaho and Utah. Their name translates as “high-growing grasses,” and they were traditionally hunter-gatherers who relied on bison as their primary sustenance.
The Goshute people live in the desert landscape in western Utah and eastern Nevada. The harsh environment meant that they remained largely isolated until Mormon settlement in the mid-19th century.
The largest group is the Ute people, with ancestral lands east of the Great Salt Lake and into Colorado. The Uintah and Ouray reservation, about 150 miles east of Salt Lake City, is the second-largest reservation in the country, at 4.5 million acres. The nation currently has a membership of more than 2,000, with about half of the members living on the reservation.
Top Places to Visit
- This is the Place Native American Village
- Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake
- Nine Mile Canyon
- Natural History Museum of Utah
Annual Events
- Living Traditions Festival | Salt Lake City | May
- Heber Valley Pow Wow | Soldier Hollow | June
- Northern Ute Pow Wow | Fort Duchesne | July
- Native American Festival and Pow Wow | West Valley City | August
- Native American Pow Wow | Tooele | September
Top Experiences
- Tour the Native American Village, directed by Navajo Meredith Lam, and interact with Native American’s dressed in traditional attire while they share their crafts and stories.
- Take a drive on Nine Mile Canyon Road and stop to see the displays of Fremont petroglyphs along the way.
- In Salt Lake City, check out the Native Voices exhibit that explores Native American art and culture at the Natural History Museum of Utah.
- See both artifacts and contemporary Native American art at the Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Art.
"If there’s water nearby, I'll go there for solace. I grew up on that [San Juan] river, stepping its rapids and floating through my childhood. Both the river and I have changed, but our course remains the same."
– Tacey M. Atsitty, Diné, about her poem "River Sonnet"
Southeastern Utah
Photo: Tom Till
Top Places to Visit
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
- Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum
- Bears Ears National Monument
- Hovenweep National Monument
Annual Events
- Annual Pioneer Celebration | Monument Valley | August
- Bear Dance: Traditional Hand and Stick Games | White Mesa | September
- Bear Dance | Bluff | Labor Day
- Navajo Fair and Rodeo | Bluff | September
Top Experiences
- Tour Monument Valley with a native guide (look up Airbnb experiences or offerings at Goulding’s who offers exclusive tours of the area).
- Visit House on Fire during sunrise or sunset to get iconic photos of this well-preserved site in Mule Canyon.
- Go inside a reconstructed kiva at Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum to get a glimpse into the ancient life of Ancestral Puebloan lifestyle and architecture, as well as a large collection of pottery and artifacts.
- Head to Bears Ears Education Center to learn how to respectfully visit the Bears Ears National Monument, one of the largest archeological sites in the world.
Southwestern Utah
A stream flowing through Zion National Park.
Photo: Angie Payne
Top Places to Visit
- Fremont Indian State Park and Museum
- Anasazi State Park and Museum
- Cedar Breaks National Monument
- Zion National Park
Annual Events
- Paiute Restoration Days Pow Wow | Cedar City | June
- Western Legends Heritage & Music Festival | Kanab | August
- Cedar Band of Paiutes Thanksgiving Pow Wow | Cedar City | November
Top Experiences
- Hike at Parowan Gap to see the impressive collection of petroglyphs, most likely made by the Fremont, just outside of Cedar City.
- Enjoy an afternoon at Navajo Lake, which was known to the Paiute Indians as Pa-cu-ay, which means “cloud lake.” Boating, fishing, swimming, and mountain biking are all popular here now.
- Take a drive on scenic Johnson Canyon Road where you can see several petroglyph sites.
- Go off-roading on the 245-mile Paiute ATV Trail in the Fishlake National Forest and explore upwards of 900 miles of spur trails you will find off the main loop.
Read the Stories
-
Exploring Mule Canyon: House on Fire and Cave Tower
Driving the up the dusty, terracotta-colored road toward Mule Canyon in Cedar Mesa, you get a sense that this is a special place, though you might not be able to put a finger on why.
-
Get a Closer Look: The Wildcat Trail of Monument Valley
The Wildcat Trail is the only self-guided trail in Monument Valley Navaho Tribal Park. Get more information here and visit Utah.
-
Goulding's Fry Bread/Navajo Taco Recipe
The final recipe the team decided on is a combination of all of the team members' input. In Navajo culture it is said that the bread must be made with love and happiness for it to turn out well!
-
Navajo: Fry Bread, Tacos, Pizza
Despite its troubling origins, Navajo fry bread is an inspired food of the nation’s people, and it can be found in many forms with various names around the southwest.
-
The Ghosts of Cedar Mesa
Cedar Mesa is a loosely guarded collection of not-so-secret archaeological mysteries, tucked into cliff walls rising above a labyrinth of slot canyons writhing across the Mesa. Even with the 2016 designation of Bears Ears National Monument and its nearby Shash Jaa unit, the area is primitive and minimally signed, requiring extra preparation, wayfinding skills and adherence to backcountry public land ethics to safely and appropriately navigate.
-
The Navajo Basketmakers
Meet the Navajo artists behind this labor intensive and traditional practice.
-
The Story of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Ancient erosion and modern cinema joined forces to elevate Monument Valley to one of the world's most iconic places to visit — but it's also the sacred home of the Navajo people. Learn more about the history, size and scenes that define the Monument Valley Utah experience.
-
The Voices of Bears Ears
Bears Ears National Monument is at the heart of southeastern Utah. These lands are imbued with layers of culture — layers of life. In this four-part video series, meet the locals who connect with the land in their own distinct ways.
-
Touring the Indian Creek Corridor Scenic Byway
Prepare to be captivated as you drive along Indian Creek Utah’s Corridor Scenic Byway. Explore the Needles District, Canyonlands NP and admire Utah’s natural beauty.
-
Bears Ears Area Starter Kit
A pair of distinctive, towering buttes stand against beautiful scenery. We call them "Bears Ears." With the help of local expertise, respectfully explore ancestral cliff dwellings and massive natural bridges in a fascinating desert ecosystem.
-
Native Spirit
Countless generations of Native Americans have called the landscapes of Utah home, from the hunter-gatherers of the prehistoric era and the Ancestral Pueblos.
-
Phoenix to Monument Valley: Exploring Utah's Historic Sites
Put yourself in the shoes of the area’s first inhabitants and imagine their excitement and awe at the same views that stretch before you as you embark on this six-day road trip to the Monument Valley Region.